Silver Lake Sand Dunes State Park
Location: Mears, Michigan
Size: 2,000 acres, though not all is open to vehicles
Time: Full day
Experience level: A beginner can do this
Points of interest: Test Hill, a giant sand dune, is the big draw, but there are numerous bowls, pools and other obstacles to hold your interest and test your driving ability. If you do get bored in this giant sandbox you can park by Lake Michigan and relax.
What you need: The Dunes are open from April 1st through October 31st. All vehicles must have a Michigan State Motor Vehicle Permit. In order to control the number of vehicles in the park a voucher system is used on weekends and on holidays. All vehicles must be fitted with flags. Stock vehicles work great at Silver Lake as long as the tires are aired-down.
Information: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_15070-34760--,00.html
---Ken Brubaker
Superlift ORV Park
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Size: 1,250 acres
Time: Multiple days
Experience level: Trails are listed from Level 1 (easiest) through Level 5
Points of interest: Some of the obstacles in the park haves names that indicate an interesting history, like Power Wagon Point, Hummdinger, Impossible, Vertical Challenge and Can Opener. Nobody gets on a Level 5 trail without front and rear diff lockers, a winch, 36-inch or larger tires, and "little regard for your rigs body panels."
What you need: All of the trails are clearly marked and difficulty-rated. Like to camp? There are RV campsites with water and electrical hookups. RV sites are $20 per night and tent sites are $5 per night. The daily fee to enter the park is $25 per vehicle and annual and family memberships are available.
Information: 501/625-3600, www.orvpark.com
---Ken Brubaker
Turtle Ridge ORV Park
Location: Drummond Island, Michigan
Size: 400 acres
Time: Day or two
Experience level: Moderate to advanced
Points of interest: One of the things that make Turtle Ridge fascinating is the fact that it's on an island and you have to take a ferry from mainland Michigan to get there. The park basically consists of two very different pieces of land. The "upper" section contains rock ridges and play areas. The "lower" section is all about trail-riding and follows a ridge. The park claims that these trails are "tight, twisty and nasty." They also say that there are no "by-passes or easy-outs." New for '08 is the Turtle Ridge Rock Challenge.
What you need: Fees are $20 per day for a rig and its driver and $5 per day for each passenger. Kids are free. Ferry is extra.
Information: www.turtleridgeorv.com
---Ken Brubaker
The Cliffs Insane Terrain
Location: Marseilles, Illinois
Size: 300 acres
Time: Day or two
Experience level: Beginner to advanced
Points of interest: Carnage and Jimmy's Crack are but a couple of the many obstacles in this fast-growing park. The Cliffs also has a new Kiddie Corral for the kids, a new rock crawl area and a new on-grounds 4x4 shop.
What you need: The Cliffs is open weekends year-round. It is also open during the week for special events. It costs $22 per person to ride in the park and kids under 15 years of age are $10. Passengers are $6. A campground with full hookups is close by.
Information: 815/795-5200, www.thecliffsinsaneterrain.com
---Ken Brubaker
Wheelin' In The Country ORV Park
Location: Summertown, Tennessee
Size: 700 acres
Time: Up to you
Experience level: Easy to advanced
Points of interest: "Hills 'n hollers, twisters, gullies, rock ledges, a rock garden, flex ramp, off road track, ravines, mud pits and ponds" are some of the challenges at this park.
What you need: The standard admission fee is $15 per person per day whether or not you bring a vehicle. When we visited their Website recently it said that all trails were "temporarily closed until further notice," so call first.
Information: 931/964-3417, www.wheelininthecountry.com
---Ken Brubaker
Wooly's Off Road Club
Location: Lynnville, Tennessee
Length: n/a
Time: n/a
Experience level: n/a
Points of interest: n/a
What you need: As of March 17, 2008 Wooly's Off Road is closed until environmental repairs can be made to the park.
Information: www.woolysoffroad.com
---Ken Brubaker