Riding windrock

[Scottal]

Tour guide, well, we didn't have a "rig" showing us around, but, in our case a co-pilot @BigSouth was invaluable. LOL, we only had issues when "I" was saying where to go! Which made the navigator have to become the winch bitch! (Sorry Brian) but, the app worked very well for us. Trail 23 give us the most issue, and then had to turn around halfway through when @Paul rode to the exit and found out there were trees down and no way out! Saved our asses! WInching up those ledges would have been terrible! Bottom line, you can see the type trails you seek a lot better with the app guiding you!

We are actually pose to go to atomic ridge t23 this Saturday. It’s always a good time, kinda . But you have to always have a saw because of stuff like you mentioned.

 

[Scottal]

Does anyone here ride SxSs at Windrock? I haven't been there in a decade, and i was in jeeps back then. Are there plenty of trails that are challenging but not crazy for a SxS? Thinking along the lines of the "Black" trails at hatfield McCoy? We are planning a trip there this spring but not sure what to expect.

Yes, there’s literally anything you want at windrock

 

[rcalexander105]

More pics of that sweet buggy?

Was literally about to post the same...exact...thing!!

 

[Scottal]

I got told by a former friend (he can eat a dick) to head to this “awesome trail” that supposedly had massive boulders and was like driving in a dry creek bed. Turns out it was a long trail of basket ball sized rocks and took forever to get to. I was sorely disappointed. We did in fact have a guy that knew the park well, but the fearful leader of our group only wanted to ride trails fit for a near stock Jeep. So we didn’t get see much of anything great. The guy showing us around was great, and just doing what the majority wanted which is fine and no hard feelings towards him.

The coolest stuff we rode was on Friday we hit Waldens Ridge, and Stair Step. Those were awesome. I got to see the first 20’ of trail 15 but we wound up recovering a guy that had been flipped over and stuck alone out there for 24 hours. When we were done it was about dark and we were hungry so we just turned back.

I see pics and videos all the time of amazing stuff at Windrock though so I know I need to go back with people that like to wheel harder stuff. But before I do that I need to get some spare parts and some dedicated tools for the Jeep. I currently carry very little with me cause I’m used to never being far from my stuff. But Windrock is not like that.

The typical buggy route at windrock isnt really any farther than going from evarts or putney to mason jar/lions den. Most of it is fairly condensed or at least on one same section of the mountain. Theres an endless amount of exploring though and thats where people get screwed up. Well that and the map is designed for sxs's so a lot black labeled trails are actually leaf looking stuff. We are looking into adding a few more rock crawls in a couple of hidden places that I wont be able to advertise but would gladly show you in person. The thing about Hobby Lobby rock crawl off of trail 16 is it is actually legal by windrock. The rest may or may not be.

 

[Scottal]

A casual stroll should include, from the main parking lot, t22 to t21, 21 will put you back on the main asphalt below t15, t15 to t46 (little mule), t38 (school bus), G5 or G6 (cant remember) to t26, take t26 to t44 (more hidden stuff if you can find it), from top of t44 go to g6 to g39 to t39. Go all the way through t39 and up the exit (Cadillac Hill), turn around at the top and drop back off caddy hill into rail trail t40. Rail trail t40 will take you to g3, g3 to t3 which will put you back on g39. There is a few optional lines on t3 called Shelia Hill. From this point go back to rattle rock or to t16 into hobby lobby. To do this in one day would be moving at a fast pace with no problems. It would take most a whole weekend to do this trail list. The area is condensed similar to a typical harlan loop though. Hope this helps some of you if and when you make it to windrock.

Other options include making a day out of t23 atomic ridge, t75 waldens ridge, and then t7. They are all close together towards the north side of mountain.

There is also a ton of riding on the north side that has a lot of scenic stuff to offer. I wont get much into it unless somebody is really interested though.

Not sure how many of you are on terrible social media but if you are, check out windrock buggy riders group on facebook. I designed the group to be completely terrible and full of terrible people like myself. It is not the normal windrock riders group, they banned us for the most part

 

[Scottal]

I'm planning to hit windrock next month. None of us have ever been. Just starting to look into what trails to do. Any recommendations? we're a group of 3 TJ's, on 35's, 36's and 37's all locked with skid plates and winches. Looking for a fun challenge, but not to just straight up destroy them.

Havent forgot about you yet, just gotta get in front of a map. Options that may push you are t15 and waldens ridge t75. Waldens ridge is worth it though, its the best trail ride on the whole mountain imo. Be sure to go in from the waldens ridge road side and exit onto hwy 116 side. If you do this, go ahead and ride t50 to t60, t60 to t64, then take g53 to the radar base (should be marked on the map). If you go past the radar base on g53 itll take you to a massive overlook out past the coal signs telling you not to go in there, the gate should be open though. If time allows, make your way to the flats from there. T16 is decent and sees a lot of mild build jeep traffic also as well as t26 to t36 I think are the numbers. Go up and see the windmills and the "top of windrock" while up there. If you liked t15 then go on to t38 for something else that will be pretty rough on 37s and 35s.

 

[Bebop]

@Scottal : Devil's elbow.

 

[Scottal]

@Scottal : Devil's elbow.

*devils butthole

 

[ihaterice]

Havent forgot about you yet, just gotta get in front of a map. Options that may push you are t15 and waldens ridge t75. Waldens ridge is worth it though, its the best trail ride on the whole mountain imo. Be sure to go in from the waldens ridge road side and exit onto hwy 116 side. If you do this, go ahead and ride t50 to t60, t60 to t64, then take g53 to the radar base (should be marked on the map). If you go past the radar base on g53 itll take you to a massive overlook out past the coal signs telling you not to go in there, the gate should be open though. If time allows, make your way to the flats from there. T16 is decent and sees a lot of mild build jeep traffic also as well as t26 to t36 I think are the numbers. Go up and see the windmills and the "top of windrock" while up there. If you liked t15 then go on to t38 for something else that will be pretty rough on 37s and 35s.

I'm one of the 3 in this group, the smallest on 35's but locked, winch, skids, fenders, etc...Watching a lot of videos of T15 looks like a good challenge but doable...if its not wet... and along the lines of the type of stuff we want to hit. Just riding trails over skull size boulders is not our idea of fun, but challenging climbs, ledges and larger rocks that take thought to get over is what we are looking for. As Yodaman88 stated, we just don't want to completely destroy them like winching them on their sides along boulders and splitting them open like a can opener.

 

[tobaccoroad4wd]

@ihaterice

That’s me going up 15, for the first time this past year. (Met Marvin from Flex, Rocks and Rollovers, at the general store right before it)
A TJ on 35s I was with decided not to go up after the first ledge when he almost flipped over backwards.

EDIT: I think it’s possible for a locked TJ to make it up 15.

 

[ihaterice]

@ihaterice

That’s me going up 15, for the first time this past year. (Met Marvin from Flex, Rocks and Rollovers, at the general store right before it)
A TJ on 35s I was with decided not to go up after the first ledge when he almost flipped over backwards.

EDIT: I think it’s possible for a locked TJ to make it up 15.

Looks tough, but possible....if its not wet! looked like it was fairly dry for you and you definitely had to work it to get through. I guess I'll see how it goes near the entrance and first ledge, but I'm hoping my 35" pitbulls at 5 or 6psi will get me through. Might be riding with some friends in an XJ on 44's and some other bigger rigs on 40's+ so worst case we'll get a little tug if needed.

 

[Black Bear]

How do you get to the abandoned train?


Saw the tunnel and found the prison today.

 

[tobaccoroad4wd]

How do you get to the abandoned train?


Saw the tunnel and found the prison today.

IIRC, take g5 to g6, then follow g6 all the way to pavement. Turn right, and when you get to the coal wash plant turn right. The train is behind the plant.

 

[GotWood]

IIRC, take g5 to g6, then follow g6 all the way to pavement. Turn right, and when you get to the coal wash plant turn right. The train is behind the plant.

View attachment 360241

The wash plant has shut down the entrance. The only way in at the moment is through the trail system, but it still crosses private property.

 

[Black Bear]

The wash plant has shut down the entrance. The only way in at the moment is through the trail system, but it still crosses private property.

That's what we found. A local told us to go past the wash place abd make a right after the bridge. It's back there somewhere but we couldn't find it.

 

[NCJeeplover]

The wash plant has shut down the entrance. The only way in at the moment is through the trail system, but it still crosses private property.

I hate to hear that. We were just there in July and went in by the wash plant. Probably dumbasses ruining it for everyone.

 

[Scottal]

Rode over the weekend. Me and dad made a pretty big loop Friday on the north side. Eventually made our way to 71b and the flats. Even saw some low flying military helicopters and those east Tn moose cows

 

[Scottal]

Then Saturday we went to atomic ridge and waldens ridge.

 

[Scottal]