Canadian Invasion

Mud Lite

New Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Location
Ottawa , Ontario Canada
Hello all. I was planning a trip to Tellico in August 2008, but with the closures , it isn't worth the 18 hor drive. What other ORV parks in the area would give us the biggest bang for our Canadian Buck? The original plan was 6 days in Tellico and 6 days in Harlan.

What is Mountain City like?
What is at Crozet?
Is Big Dogs too busy?

The current plan was 3 days in Tellico,5 Harlan and 3 either in Crozet, Mountain City, Big Dogs or Rauch Creek.

Since you guys seem to be in the middle of everything, and seem to hit all the spots through the year, I figured you would be best to ask. Our group will be mostly Trailer Queen Jeeps, Zuks and Buggies, with the odd Moderately modified truck ( they will skip the hard bits).

What would you sugest for two weeks of wheeling!!

Mud Lite

President Ottawa Valley Offroaders

www.ovo.ca
 
Harlan for sure. Windrock at Coal Creek (http://www.coalcreekohv.com/) is a quality venue also at $15/person/day. If you are in that area Callalantee OHV Park in Mountain City, TN is worth a visit IMO. About 3 hours from Harlan. Nothing as major there as Windrock or Harlan but lots of trails and some challenging areas. Don't know if you want to venture as far as Morris Mountain or Grey Rock which are in AL on the AL/GA line west of Atlanta, about 6 hours from Harlan.
 
Paragon is 6 hours away and we have been going there untill it closed. We were hoping to hit Lower 2 before it closed, but I guess it is too late.

The plan was for the first two weeks in August. This would allow us to hit Big Dogs on the 16th weekend. Are Mountain City, Harlan and Winrock open during the week for trail rides? Where is the best place for maps and trail ratings for Harlan, Mountain City and Winrock?

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to seeing some new trails. I'm getting tired of loosing our favorite spots!!! :shaking:
 
Mountain City, Harlan and Windrock are open all the time.

You can get a map of Harlan at : http://www.harlancountytrails.com/shop.php

You can get a Mtn City/Callalantee map at the pay station or this link to one one of the board members has worked on: http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6422935

Windrock maps are available where ever you buy your trail permit IIRC, Jim's Off Road in Oak Ridge TN and several of the convenience stores in Oliver Springs TN close to the trail head.
 
Can you make Windrock a daytrip from Murphy? I know it says 3 hours using mapquest, but that isn't always accurate.

so how would you rate the following of need to see:

Tellico
Harlan
Mountain City
Windrock
Big Dogs
Rauche Creek
 
Well, you can make it from trail to trail in under 2.5 hours. I grew up in Oak Ridge, TN, five minutes from Windrock which is in Oliver Springs, TN. Usually went down I75 to Sweetwater, TN, cut across on 68 to Tellico Plains and on into the State Campground trail access on River Road. Took us about 3 hours back in the day but I've done it in just over two with the new interstate, road improvements, etc. If Tellico's as far as you're going south I'd probably come over from Windrock for a couple of days riding at Tellico then back out to I75 never making it to Murphy.

My .02
Tellico - 1 (IF you can ride all the trails)
Harlan - 2 (Possibly #1 if parts of Tellico are closed)
Windrock - 3
Mountain City - 4
Big Dogs -Never Been
Rauche Creek - Never Been
 
So with the closures at Tellico , are the other trails worth an 18 hour drive? I keep hearing different things about 4,5&6. Some say they are harder than ever and other say they have been paved? I'd hate to drive all that way, ren cabins andjust spend a day to run 11 & 12.

:bounce2:
 
That doesn't really answer the question. Are they groomed to the point of being too easy, or are there some challenges? I haven't been since 2001 so I have no referance. Is Tellico worth doing without Lower 2, 9 , 7 & 8 ?

Can one have enough fun on Upper 2, 4,5,6 11 and 12?
 
By fun, do you mean tough or challenging? Upper 2 has one spot that is difficult. 11 has guardrail and helipad which are fun, not terribly difficult for most. 12 is fun and challenging to go up.
 
tw89yj said:
By fun, do you mean tough or challenging? Upper 2 has one spot that is difficult. 11 has guardrail and helipad which are fun, not terribly difficult for most. 12 is fun and challenging to go up.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm not asking this right. I have been to Tellico and know the trails. My question is, has 4,5,and 6 gotten any more challenging over the years? or is the only challenge left at Tellico Guard Rail and Heli pad? Without 2 and 9 , is it still worth an 18 hour drive?

:driver:
 
What is around Harlan to see? Is the park close to a town? How is the town for Buggies and cops? Is there enough hard core trailing to keep the Buggies happy? How busy is the park on any given weekend?
 
really it depends on what kind of rig you are bringing..

4, 5 and 6 are fun trails ( trail riding ) no big obsticles.
guard rail and helicopter pad are always fun as long as you DO NOT take the bypass.

upper 2 is fun and has 1 nice obsticle..

3 is very bumpy scenic trail

back side of eleven has the squeeze which is not a big deal unless you loose power steering :)

with the closures tellico would be a fun DAY trip.. not a weekend trip..

I would suggest stop do tellico one day then go to Harlan for a day or two.. get the best of both worlds
 
Mud Lite said:
What is around Harlan to see? Is the park close to a town? How is the town for Buggies and cops? Is there enough hard core trailing to keep the Buggies happy? How busy is the park on any given weekend?
Click to expand...

Around Harlan? Nothing at all.. But the park is just a few minutes from the place most people camp, and ATV's are legal to ride on the road there, so they don't even blink about a straight-piped diesel powered buggy on 49's rolling around..

Harlan is alot of fun, and yes, there's plenty for the buggies. Definite 2 days.
 
Mud Lite said:
What is around Harlan to see? Is the park close to a town? How is the town for Buggies and cops? Is there enough hard core trailing to keep the Buggies happy? How busy is the park on any given weekend?
Click to expand...

If you search Harlan on this board you'll likely find plenty of info on it.

The park is pretty much sandwiched between two towns. Evarts is small but located directly beside the park. Harlan is a short drive away but has hotels and eateries. The town of Evarts doesn't have a problem with buggies driving through as long as you drive like you have some sense. The park has all the "buggy lines" you could ask for. The place can get busy but its so big that its hard to notice how many people are there. I've been on some of the most crowded wknds and never had a problem congestion on the trails.

It would be smart of you to try to line up a guide before you get there to show you all the good stuff. It can be hard for someone thats not been there before to get around.

This might help http://harlancountyridgerunners.googlepages.com/advertisers
or try www.kymc.org
 
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