What do I need to know about harlan?

Thetoulman

Active Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
I'd like to make my first trip to Harlan this year. What do I need to know?

Camping anywhere along the trails?
Good place for gas and supplies?
Autoparts stores near trailheads?

Any input is appreciated.
 
It's gonna rain.

Seriously just count on rain. Weather can change hourly up there.

Carry a gun.

Evarts has parts store, and a real nice guy that can do welding for you and some fab work at very fair prices. The Dairy Hut has good food, and camping behind it but I wouldn't suggest it.

I camped at the Sycamore Campground just inside the trail head for $10/night. They had a nice platform for tents and such. Very quite and no trouble from crackheads as when I was camping behind dairy hut.

Don't focus on hitting every big challenge you see, as you can ride for days and not see the whole place.

Carry a gun.
 
77GreenMachine said:
It's gonna rain.

Seriously just count on rain. Weather can change hourly up there.

Carry a gun.

Evarts has parts store, and a real nice guy that can do welding for you and some fab work at very fair prices. The Dairy Hut has good food, and camping behind it but I wouldn't suggest it.

I camped at the Sycamore Campground just inside the trail head for $10/night. They had a nice platform for tents and such. Very quite and no trouble from crackheads as when I was camping behind dairy hut.

Don't focus on hitting every big challenge you see, as you can ride for days and not see the whole place.

Carry a gun.
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Is it really that sketchy ? I want to go there , but I dont necessarily want to put my family in that kind of environment .
 
I'm not opposed to carrying a gun, but what happened to you that you say it twice?

I would like to bring my 5 year old son, you've got me wondering now...
 
I'm going in 3 weeks and will be taking my fiancé and would take her daughter if she were older. It is not that bad, but it's much different than here. I just felt very unsafe camping in a tent behind the Dairy Hut, as everyone else was in a lockable camper or toy hauler and and I started wondering of they knew something I didn't. About 11pm there were crack heads arguing in a parking lot across the river, sketch balls hanging at the gas station across from dairy hut, then the next day this sketcho talking real slow asked if I could take him to the top of the mountain in my jeep. My dog let him know real quickly that he could not ride with us.

After I left the dairy hut and decided to camp in the park (where the showers were 176,980,000 times better btw) my trip was much better!

For what it's worth I'm staying on the Putney side this time, but that's cause I wanted to stay in a cabin this year. Next time I will rent a house or cabin on the Evarts side again.
 
Don't let me turn you away, I love Harlan and can't wait to get there in a few weeks. I just did not feel safe and did not enjoy camping at the Dairy Hut where everyone I was meeting were staying. They seem to love it, but it's not ideal for tent camping. Once away from there it was great, that night was the only time I felt unsafe. Other than that, just a bunch of strung out people that look at you funny while in town. Some where nice, some looked pissed. On the trails, it felt like home. Lots of nice friendly people.
 
I'm not sure. Someone else will have to answer that cause I can't remember.
 
If you want to stay in Evarts, the guy who owns Buddy's Gulf or BP or whatever brand it is these days has a dozen or so cabins up the hill behind the gas station.
The benefit here is you can drive to the trail head in a non street legal vehicle.

Ive never been scared there, but it is the app. mountains and meth is destroying it like everywhere else.

There are a few eating options in Evarts and 1 parts store.

I personally would not support the guy that owns Harlan County Campground. It is my opinion that he is a crook, and the fact that he is also a preacher and the church owns the campground and he doesnt pay taxes on income and calls it a church donation support my beliefs.
 
Ron said:
If you want to stay in Evarts, the guy who owns Buddy's Gulf or BP or whatever brand it is these days has a dozen or so cabins up the hill behind the gas station.
The benefit here is you can drive to the trail head in a non street legal vehicle.

Ive never been scared there, but it is the app. mountains and meth is destroying it like everywhere else.

There are a few eating options in Evarts and 1 parts store.

I personally would not support the guy that owns Harlan County Campground. It is my opinion that he is a crook, and the fact that he is also a preacher and the church owns the campground and he doesnt pay taxes on income and calls it a church donation support my beliefs.
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Buddy owns black mountain cabin rentals. I've stayed there twice. Pretty nice place. Almost need a 4wd tow rig unless you unload and drive rig up separate depending on trailer weight. I've camped behind the dairy hut too. Its OK but put your tent on your trailer unless you like swimming while asleep if it rains. I like the Evarts side better personally it seems closer to all the cool stuff plus food and supplies are right there and you can get to them with your trail rig.
 
I've also been told to be a little bit more careful at Harlan than say Uwharrie or Gulches, ect. Also, the cops have zero tolerance for equipment and moving violations on street legal trail rigs. So I planned on doing the speed limit and staying inside the trails as much as possible.
 
buddyantunez1 said:
Also, the cops have zero tolerance for equipment and moving violations on street legal trail rigs. So I planned on doing the speed limit and staying inside the trails as much as possible.
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Not sure what this is suppsoed to mean. By city ordinance you can legally drive ATVs and non legal Buggies down the road in Evarts to the trail head.

There was a power struggle several years back between the Kentucky state troopers and the Town of Evarts over this but has since been resolved by general assembly.

Mike King is the owner of the gas station and the cabin rentals...

Anyone know if the speak easy is still in operation?
 
Ron said:
Mike King is the owner of the gas station and the cabin rentals...

Anyone know if the speak easy is still in operation?
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The Speak Easy was not open the last time I was there...
 
I am a regular at Harlan and I have stayed at a lot of camping spots I like staying in the park there are a few camping spots up in the park I stayed in the black bear close to the big mud hole past the upper rock garden nice spot. Only reason to carry a gun is for the bears if they get to close haha never seen nothing bad going on in the park not saying it don't go on just have not seen it. Get a map and go with other people maybe someone that has been before and you will have a blast I am sure. If a cabin is what your looking for stay at Putney but the park entrance road is rough if you break down it would be tough to get back to the cabin being pulled. Evarts has showers at the railroad tracks and some at the dairyhut food dairy hut nuff said
 
I camped behind the dairy queen without incident. There are some sketchy people around but not on the trails, that I saw. If you plan on having a cold one, bring it with you or be prepared for one heck of a drive to get it
 
Ron said:
Not sure what this is suppsoed to mean. By city ordinance you can legally drive ATVs and non legal Buggies down the road in Evarts to the trail head.

There was a power struggle several years back between the Kentucky state troopers and the Town of Evarts over this but has since been resolved by general assembly.
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A friend went a few years ago and told me he was pulled for non-DOT headlights/auxilary lights. Had rigid's in place of his headlights in an XJ. Just said they were sticklers for improper equipment or stuff that wasn't DOT approved. That's all.
 
buddyantunez1 said:
A friend went a few years ago and told me he was pulled for non-DOT headlights/auxilary lights. Had rigid's in place of his headlights in an XJ. Just said they were sticklers for improper equipment or stuff that wasn't DOT approved. That's all.
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Right and Ive drove through town in a tube buggy, on non dot tires and rims and no exhaust and talked to a police officer and he said "nice rig"...In evarts Ive never heard of any issues since the deal years ago where the state came in..I think Chip (upnover) might have been involved in this one.
 
I don't know what trail side camping is but I said early on that there was camp grounds up in the park in different locations just look at the map and they are marked if you need anymore info just ask
 
jp fan said:
I don't know what trail side camping is ...
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I'm not a rocket surgeon, but I'd guess it's camping along the side of the trail.
 
-Keep your tie downs locked up
-Keep your spare tire(s) locked up
-Keep your __________ locked up

I've never had any issues whatsoever, but have witnessed others have their items taken. Last time I went a bunch of us (Appalachian 4x4 club) rented a house not too far from the car wash near a church. It was a pretty sketchy looking area, but no issues whatsoever.

I remember opening weekend back in 05 when I rolled through a Harlan PD traffic stop in my old YJ buggy. No tags, no registration, no tail lights, no nothingT. Cop asked if we had been drinking and we said not till we get back to the hotel. He said to carry on and thanked us for coming.

The local businesses really like our $$$ pouring into their town.
 
Well I should have worded a little different I guess anyway hope anyone that makes the trip to Harlan has a great time there is lots of great places to camp beside the trail just check out the map
 
I talked to the sheriff while I was there. Few guys I was with didn't have their windshields on and there was buggy riding everywhere, SxS, four wheelers, they don't care long as your driving like you got some sense. Sheriff was real nice.

Pack a lunch and try to plan your route to have lunch on Fish Fossil, I believe that is the trail where several creeks come together but are pretty much dry when it's not raining. It's really nice down in there and the temperature is much cooler. Makes for a nice lunch spot. If I am mistaken on the trail name someone will correct me.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I talked to the sheriff while I was there. Few guys I was with didn't have their windshields on and there was buggy riding everywhere, SxS, four wheelers, they don't care long as your driving like you got some sense. Sheriff was real nice.

Pack a lunch and try to plan your route to have lunch on Fish Fossil, I believe that is the trail where several creeks come together but are pretty much dry when it's not raining. It's really nice down in there and the temperature is much cooler. Makes for a nice lunch spot. If I am mistaken on the trail name someone will correct me.
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I think you're right about fish fossil. Its not too far from the evarts trailhead.
 
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