Gulches Off Road Park - Review

J.C.

J.C.

Volunteer
Moderator
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Location
Greensboro, NC
Gulches Off Road Park – March 08
“The Good, The Bad & The Ugly”

Thanks to GoGrannyGo for snapping some pics for me!

Pics: http://good-times.webshots.com/albu...freshPhotos&albumID=562730589&security=PjkRBM

I made the trip to Gulches trying to avoid the cold weather wheeling I experienced at Callalantee and Harlan in January and February, only to run into and early spring storm which was dropping record snows from Atlanta north. Luckily, Gulches escaped with only flurries and gale force winds but the heavy rains that had preceded the front had left the park a quagmire. This must be the slickest stuff east of Tellico and we dove in headfirst!

First a disclaimer. This is a private park and as such the owner is fully within his rights to operate as he sees fit, it was my first trip there and I’m sure things change from time to time and Gulches is still a very new 4x4 venue and as such will obviously experience growing pains as well as growth spurts. The owner is working to make it a desirable wheeling destination. This is just my opinion. That said, on to “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly”.

The Good

Friendly owner and staff.
Reasonably priced at $20 a day for driver and rig with additional passengers $5 each.
Reasonable camping fee of $10, with use of old farm house kitchen (stocked) and bathroom.
Camping available at the far end of the park by the river, complete with tire swing.
Conveniently located to Laurens, SC and larger, Clinton, SC.
Local gas, lodging and dining prices are very affordable. Restaurants and fast food chains.
The small size of the park (80 acres) means you are always close to the parking lot, your tow rig, parts, etc.
Gulches offers an inexpensive lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixings (make your own) with chips, drinks & snacks all for $1-$2 each.
Some excellent obstacles for all levels of rig build, trails mild to wild including DEEP (20’) mud holes.
Most all obstacles have bypasses and excellent viewing areas.
Vehicle testing area with incline ramp, tire yard and culvert pipe stack.
Owners genuine pleasure at the fun you have.
Friendly and knowledgeable free guide services.
Park rangers to police trails.
Sandy mud cleans up easily.
There is obvious effort put into trail maintainance.
Don’t have to worry about messing up their place, it’s already dirty.
Lots of enforced rules.

The Bad

Lots of rules.
“Operating Hours” which ranged from 10-5 on Saturday to noon-5 on Sunday.
If entrance gate is locked there is not much room for waiting around for it to open. 3-5 tow rigs max.
Long, especially if crowded, sign in process.
No night riding.
One bathroom of marginal quality.
Lots of mud.
Few trees in parking/camping area for shade in hot weather.
10 miles to nearest gas, food, etc.
Obstacles are short.
Some of the tougher obstacles/trails can be “Death Wheeling” runs as they are extremely steep.
Occasional closure of trails. Two of the few hard trails were closed during my visit.
T Shirts and caps available but the designs leave a lot to be desired.

The Ugly

All dirt parking/camping area. Need for 4x4 tow rig at times and probable dust storms during dry spells.
No water or electric hookups.
Overall junkiness of entrance/office area and disrepair of said facilities.
Broken parts hanging from the only tree in the parking/camping area.
Lots of spare tires as erosion barriers, not appealing to the eye.

Recommendation

This is a fun place to go. It’s not nearly as far as some of the places we wheel thus saving money on fuel costs. Lots of good, challenging obstacles and plenty of spectator viewing. I’ll definately be back to The Gulches and recommend that you make a trip to check it out!
 
I know i for one had a really good time. The group i rode in did a lot of different stuff, everything from mud, to rocks, to trails.It was not the typical ride. It's a true playground, it's not big but it has a lot to do. I think if you go with that mind set and don't expect too much, or try to compare it to other places you probably won't be disappointed. I broke a winch and suffered some body damage, fortunately the guy behind me in line helped winch me out of a mud hole on heartbreaker that swallowed my 38's. I had a good time and will go back some time in the future. Tony
 
I had a good time and will go back if the CTB decides to. Other than just being small it was alright four wheeling. This weekend was my first time on pipes maybe my last??? I was hoping John had posted a picture of my impression of a see-saw. If you got a picture of that John I would like to see it Thanks.
 
I had a good time. Could have done without the wind that still has me sick today, but all in all, a good time. I dont think Ray Charles could get lost in this place, and at times it felt like 'Groundhogs day' the movie. Everything led me back to ''point A''. Definately some danger spots, that I would only attempt in an icelandic truck. Lots of easy riding, and lots of the stuff that allowed the xj to surprise me. I probably owe a ''thank you'' to John C. for talking me out of doing the ''can opener'' rock. It probably would have taken out my left side xj glass. Maybe in the summer time , John, when the glass is less important~! lol Nice write up John.
 
I knew going in it was going to be some major Goo, and it was. When the owner takes you in the office and starts telling you where you will sink, and where others had already sank, that's a good indication. I don't remember which trail it was, but there was some major goo, and at the end of the first section there was a 44 eating hole and an almost sheer clay ledge. Maybe on a dry day, but not this trip. Had to winch. Was impressed with my winch though, Jeremie was anchored to me with his winch and I pulled us both up and out of there with my Warn 10000.
 
lockedup5 said:
I was hoping John had posted a picture of my impression of a see-saw.
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Sorry, didn't get that, too busy assessing the situation :) That was actually a double see-saw. One high centered on the pipes and the other with a winch at both ends tuging you sideways!
Dylan W. said:
Could have done without the wind that still has me sick today. Everything led me back to ''point A''.
Click to expand...
Dang, that means it's gonna be awhile before you can do my tile :) For me and Don, everything led back to 2A :)
upnover said:
When the owner takes you in the office and starts telling you where you will sink, and where others had already sank, that's a good indication. I don't remember which trail it was, but there was some major goo, and at the end of the first section there was a 44 eating hole.
Click to expand...
Yeah, and that talk is like the enegizer bunny :rolleyes: We did see one ATV with only the rear wheels sticking out of the water and heard of another that was completely submerged.
 
I've only been down to Gulches two times, but both of those trips were loads of fun. I don't mind that the place is small. Saves me some propane and I still have a blast. :driver:
 
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