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favorite offroad area or park within a days drive of Illinois?

2K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  catengr 
#1 ·
Looking for an off road area for a stock rubicon that won't be overwhelmed this weekend that is within a days drive or 600 miles of central Illinois.

Prefer rocks and climbing, trails rather than dunes and mudding.

Camping nearby is a plus.

Would love to go to Moab, but that's 2 days drive.

Any suggestions?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Ever heard of Turkey Bay Off Highway Vehicle Area in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area? That's in western Kentucky between Barkley and Kentucky lakes.

Turkey Bay is a great place for mild to moderate wheelin'. There's not much rock crawling but some good hill climbing, ridge running, and gully stradling. There are 1500 acres to roam and they claim 100 miles of trails to run.

They have camping inside and outside the boundaries of the off road area.

Land Between The Lakes

If you are in central Illinois, you are probably within three hours of Turkey Bay.

Tomster

P.S. Click on "See and Do" on the home page to get a drop down menu where you can select "OHV Riding and Camping."
 
#3 ·
OK, I just figured out your username, and if I am right you are a Caterpillar engineer. That would mean you live in the Peoria area, and that means you would be more than three hours from Turkey Bay. According to Google Maps, your drive would be about six hours, but that meets your criterion, right?
 
#4 ·
Attica Badlands

About Us

Easy drive for you, all kinds of obtacles. It's a pretty big place, you can easily spend 2 days wheeling there. You can camp next door or stay in W. Lafayette. Rock gardens, quarry with all kinds of steps, river, dunes, concrete hill, etc. Been there about a dozen times.
 
#6 ·
I joined the local club, mijc.org, at the end of last year and have been to three parks so far with them.

Badlands - Just across the border in Attica, IN
Flat Nasty - in MO
Washita - in MO

All of them have different levels of trails, some of which would be fine for a stock Rubicon, and are within a days drive of our area. Badlands and Washita have camping at or near the entrance while Flat Nasty has a variety of camping or cheap lodging nearby. There are other parks within a days drive, but I have not been to them yet, the Cliffs is one.

The members of MIJC are friendly and helpful. Don't wheel alone. I would offer to go with, but I busted up my Jeep at Washita and am still waiting on parts.
 
#8 ·
X2 for Badlands in Indiana, been there several times with the ATVs. I live in Fulton County so there are plenty of abandoned public roads for my Jeep to trail blaze.
 
#10 ·
Tomster said:
OK, I just figured out your username, and if I am right you are a Caterpillar engineer. That would mean you live in the Peoria area, and that means you would be more than three hours from Turkey Bay. According to Google Maps, your drive would be about six hours, but that meets your criterion, right?
You are right on. Peoria, Cat, engineer. I'll check it out.
 
#13 ·
catengr said:
Where at in Fulton are these roads? I grew up in the county.
Near Avon there is Shoo Fly Road off 41 as an example, its hilly and rutty. The strip mines around Farmington have hidden public roads aswell. There are others, I should drive around and make a list sometime soon. Cheap entertainment, not as cool as a riding park, but local.
 
#14 ·
Osage Orange said:
Near Avon there is Shoo Fly Road off 41 as an example, its hilly and rutty. The strip mines around Farmington have hidden public roads aswell. There are others, I should drive around and make a list sometime soon. Cheap entertainment, not as cool as a riding park, but local.
That's a great idea. I rode my bicycle all over near Farmington but I can't remember any hidden public roads...must be why they are hidden.
 
#15 ·
Tomster said:
Ever heard of Turkey Bay Off Highway Vehicle Area in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area? That's in western Kentucky between Barkley and Kentucky lakes.

Turkey Bay is a great place for mild to moderate wheelin'. There's not much rock crawling but some good hill climbing, ridge running, and gully stradling. There are 1500 acres to roam and they claim 100 miles of trails to run.

They have camping inside and outside the boundaries of the off road area.

Land Between The Lakes

If you are in central Illinois, you are probably within three hours of Turkey Bay.

Tomster

P.S. Click on "See and Do" on the home page to get a drop down menu where you can select "OHV Riding and Camping."
So, Turkey Bay it was, this weekend. Had a great time. Camped in the Jeep. Perfect weather. Even though there were lots of people, it wasn't congested. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
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