I live in Ashburn and just got my first Jeep a month ago. I have been having trouble finding places online to go offroading for beginners. It seems confusing with all the rules concerning permits and laws and stuff. I'm new to all this and just want to find a place locally to drive without making a weekend out of it. Any advice?
There are at least three of us who live just down the road from you in CountrySide. Sorry it seems so confusing. I bought my JK last year and started out on Wrangler Forum, too.
There are lots of places that you can take your JKU off the pavement around here (meaning within a 2 hr drive) and not tear it up. There's Red Cloud Off-Road Park near Woodbridge. There's also Peter's Mill in the George Washington National Forest near Edinburg. The Big Dog events out near Winchester, and lastly the new Chaos Off-Road Park near Capon Bridge, WV.
A little further away you have miles and miles of George Washington National Forest road including the well-known Flagpole run. Lastly, you have Rausch Creek up in PA which is sort of the wheeling Mecca for those in the NoVa area. You can do these as day trips.
Peter's Mill opens early April as does Red Cloud.
Chaos is open this coming weekend for an event. Many trails are stock friendly.
Big Dogs has an event in April. Trails are varied. I love the Big Dogs event.
GWNF trails, for the most part, is open year round and stock friendly.
Recommend that you join one of the many clubs in the area.
I'm a member of NOVA Jeepers and VA Jeep Offroad on Facebook. There is also the Off Camber Crawlers club. Good club.
Best thing for you to do is head up to Rausch Creek for 101/201 training. The trails are great and the instructor will take good care of you.
Just seconding Kawa's notes! I've been wheeling in most of those places in my Bronco, but this summer will be my first time in there in my new Jeep! Until I get used to the Jeep, I'll be on the lighter trails too.
Peters mill run is the perfect place for your first time. It's like the bunny hill of trails. The trail is enough where 2 vehicles can passed each other so you don't have to worry about scratching your vehicle against tree limbs.
Ok so I just pay $5 for a permit and can drive on it however many times I want in a day? Will people get pushy and try to drive around me if I am going too slow?
Yes you can drive up and down it all day. You could do it a few times then go get lunch then hit the trail again. It's only one trail and really not that long but a good place to give you a taste of what off roading is like.
I have never seen it crowded but since you want to take your time, if someone comes shows up on the trail just pull off to the side and wave them by. If you go first thing in the morning you probably have the place to yourself. Most people show up around lunch time.
Hey there .. I 2nd what MikeJKUR said, you might want to try that out first. Definitely a good place to get your feet wet and very stock friendly. Don't think anyone would get pushy with you out there, mostly good folks on the trail usually more than willing to help you out. I would recommend riding with another Jeep just for safe keeping, but the trail is fairly easy. You might want to take the trail to the end and come back, but yes, $5 for all you can drive!
Hey Squirrel- Saw your post in the Rubi X thread...I'm looking at the S-pod, but I really want to have the ability to cut all the lights off when I turn the Jeep off. The Spod looks like its constant hot, all wired right to the battery so even when key is off the Lights stay on. I was thinking of wiring a switched lead to switch then to the relay to control on/off...
Am I right about the S-pod? I might still go that route....
Leesburg here. Anxiously awaiting my gobi rack so I can get my RTT mounted to take the family on some GWNF camping adventures.
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