WINDROCK OHV AREA, Tennessee

Wind Rock OHV Area near Oak Ridge is a privately owned park with about 77.000 acres. It features 33 trails, but not all of them are permitted for trucks. A lot of trails intersect with others and there is a variety of combinations possible. On weekends, permits can be obtained right at the entrance; during the week, one has to go to downtown Oliver Springs to the Short Stop Market (705 Main Street). The day fee is $10. A free map with trail descriptions is also available there.

We followed the paved road (P1) uphill for a short distance and took trail 15 downhill. At an intersection, we followed trail 21 which is rated moderate. It leads you through a surreal landscape of light forest with many dead and fallen trees. The terrain consists of dirt with rocks and sometimes tree roots. In places, the loose dirt provides little traction and I can only imagine what it's like to run these trails in mud after a good rain. The beginning of route 21 snakes downhill to a tricky water crossing. The shallow creek is not the problem but the entrance and exit are challenging, especially with a top-heavy vehicle like ours. The approaching section tips to the left (downhill), then there is a rather tight S-curve leading into the water. In the creek you have to manouver between two huge boulders. You exit on the other side and have two options: either go straight up a very steep incline with loose dirt - towards the top the left track is deeper and you risk sliding into a tree; or you go sharp left along the creek for another 30 yards. The rig will lean to the left again, and after dodging another boulder the ascent onto save terrain is steep but shorter and there is no tree threatening to dent the truck. From here the trail leads up the mountain again, climbing over bolders and dirt inclines until it exits onto the dirt road.

Well, there are plenty of other trails to discover but I leave the exploration up to you...

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