Gorges State Park/ Chestnut Mtn Road (1 Viewer)

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little_joe said:
Take a look at Silky saws. If you're adding a bow saw, you could go with Silky and save space and have one amazing saw. I got a small Gomboy some time ago, it is almost a work of art and the blade cuts incredibly quickly and well.
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I carry a Silky Gomboy in my backpack when I go mountain biking. It is a fantastic trail saw and through anything very quickly. I need to pick up a bigger Silky and toss it in the truck.
 
Anyone available and interested in hitting this trail to the explore, I am planning on going much further this coming Saturday. Planning on hitting the Gorges state park early Saturday. Need to return Saturday evening but will scout for campsites, etc for future longer trips.
 
Halloween with the kiddies this Saturday, but I'd be game for making it a weekend some coming weekend.
 
My kids want nothing to do with us this Halloween!

But that's a deal. I will explore more of that area, has a lot of the punch list items I think we like. Toying with the idea of heading out Friday and camp overnight, hit the trail Saturday early. But Gorges camping area is a 1.5 mile hike, no cars.

The punch list:
  1. Explore multiple trails with challenging areas
  2. Water crossings
  3. Camping areas - primitive
  4. Hikes to waterfalls
  5. Cold and colder running water
  6. Butterflies
  7. Wifi and cell reception with hot towel service
I hope I can fix my front locker before I go. But I think, even if the locker doesn't work, the fact that it does in my mind is all it takes.
 
Wanted to join you but wife would kill me. We have 4 kids who love halloween.
 
I can answer a few questions for you. I spend many weekends every year in there hunting and exploring. My house is only about a 30 minute drive.
Izzyandsue said:
My kids want nothing to do with us this Halloween!

But that's a deal. I will explore more of that area, has a lot of the punch list items I think we like. Toying with the idea of heading out Friday and camp overnight, hit the trail Saturday early. But Gorges camping area is a 1.5 mile hike, no cars.

The punch list:
  1. Explore multiple trails with challenging areas-There aren't really any areas in the Gorges or Musterground that even really need 4x4 anymore. They run a grader over it every year and dump a ton of gravel.
  2. Water crossings-There are two that I can think of, neither of which will even cover your axles.
  3. Camping areas - primitive -There are a ton of nice spots in there, but they are occupied by hunters much of the season on a FCFS basis. No permits or anything are needed. The section of the road that remains open all year (to Jumping off Rock) has 5 or 6 sites that I can think of, with 2 being on the water. You can fit several trucks into these spots.
  4. Hikes to waterfalls-Never tried to seek this out.
  5. Cold and colder running water-There are several streams running through there that are easily accessible. Also, you can follow the main road all the way down to Lake Keowee to an old abandoned boat ramp. Nice place to launch kayaks from, or camp.
I hope I can fix my front locker before I go. But I think, even if the locker doesn't work, the fact that it does in my mind is all it takes.-You won't need it.
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With all that being said, it's still an awesome and beautiful place to explore. I just wouldn't get your hopes up about finding challenging 4x4 areas. Also, from now through the end of December the campsites and woods are going to be filled with hunters. January-March is small game hunting only, and I've never seen another small game hunter in there during these months, but all the roads are still open.

If you want to be closer to water, camping on the Gorges side is your best bet. However, you can get a lot deeper and more remote into the woods from the Musterground entrance at the Duke Energy Bad Creek Project. The roads in this section are also a lot more fun to explore IMHO.

Make sure you call the game warden over the area or email him before you plan a big trip, just to make sure all the gates are open. They are weird about it sometimes. I'm out this weekend, but in the future let me know if you go out there and I'll meet up with you.
 
The route I was thinking is starting from Gorges gate, connecting to Jocassee trails and Musterground Road. The sections I did the Thursday prior to the Overland Expo where good and muddy and watery, not looking for hard crawling as I am, like Woody told Sam in Cheers, a wussy chicken.
 
Izzyandsue said:
The route I was thinking is starting from Gorges gate, connecting to Jocassee trails and Musterground Road. The sections I did the Thursday prior to the Overland Expo where good and muddy and watery, not looking for hard crawling as I am, like Woody told Sam in Cheers, a wussy chicken.
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Ha-ha, I was trying to talk it down, if that's how it came across. Was just giving my impressions. It's a beautiful place in there.
 
Oh no, I am a wussy chicken, ask Rafael! And you are welcome anytime I head up that way, specially if you are that close and know the area. Have the Jocassee pdf map loaded in iPad, on paper, and Gaia GPS all locked and loaded. When I went during the week didn't see a soul, I can imagine weekends are different.
 
I'm down for a weekend camping/fishing trip - November 20th - 22nd looks free..

If the planets align, my 80 will be ready by then. If they don't, the 40 is now highway and trail ready
 
Not sure if I can come that weekend. Have in-laws coming to town for Thanksgiving and I love them and miss them too much to leave them alone to criticize and share in hate and discontent....
Wait, let me reconsider...
 
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Yeah usually the gate right past bearcamp creek is always locked. Never hear of it being open. Like Teddy said the mustard grounds might be open from the west entrance near the bad creek project.

A little further west you have the Chattooga river. The SC side is pretty well gated but the GA side isn't. Lots of cool camping sites on the river to drive to and some great water crossings. Also there is a cool place to camp up off earls ford rd. But beware of bringing alcohol. I've been busted twice in Gorges state park and up off Earls Ford rd for having alcohol in the truck. They don't play around.
 
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Thanks! The only alcohol I am bringing is the ethanol in the cheap ass gas in the tank. So good there. Will attack Musterground from the NC side, and document trails/sites etc in gpx file for anyone else who may want to go later.

Found Earls Ford road where it connects to Warwoman on one side, and the river on the other. That would be a nice expedition area. I downloaded the map files from Georgia Overland too, that looks like a good trail area too.
 
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2 feet of slow moving water is a completely different animal from 2 feet of very rapidly moving water ... just saying ;)
 
How about a Cruiser
 
Deepest I was ever in hummer had water crossing over the floorboard to my jungle boots. Those guys are nuts, they need a periscope.
 
Izzyandsue said:
Those guys are nuts, they need a periscope.
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Careful, or Ryan will add some periscopes to his Chinese parts order and start doing snorkel package deals! Holy crap...that might not be a bad idea.


...via IH8MUD app
 
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