Off Road Park/GWNF Camping- Information Summary

  • GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST


    I'm putting general information about GWNF here for new people as a lot of the thread information is spread out all over the place sometimes.


    To use Mapquest put in Brandywine, WV as an address. The campground is about 2-3 miles before the map marker on RT 33. It is marked. Here's the link to the Brandywine Recreational Area / Dry River District. You can click on various links on this page to check out the area and there's contact information for the ranger stations with email addresses. They may not answer right away during this time of year so give them a few days to respond.


    Forest Service Link


    There are clean hot showers and bathrooms close to the overflow area where we all set up camp. Please keep them clean and clean up after yourself.


    FEES: Last year the charge was $2.00 per person per night. (very cheap!) This may change. The ranger said they may change the overflow lot fees but I'll update this post as we know more information. You pay at the entrance to the campgrounds. You'll see a big bulletin board just after the lake with instructions. There are payment envelopes there to fill out and a lock box to put your envelope in. Make sure to keep the part you tear off the ticket to put in your windshield while on the campground. Occasionally the host will come around to make sure everyone is paid up & has a ticket. We usually round up our money in the envelope to help out with the campground.


    There is no electric for any of the sites. If you bring a generator please be considerate of fellow campers in the early morning hours. There is no water in the overflow area where we camp. There is water at a few of the campsite lots but not sure how good it is for drinking or cooking. Bathhouses have electric for hairdryers, etc. You can get water from the bathhouse but do not do dishes in the sinks. I usually bring a 2.5 gallon water container for my cooking & dishes at my campsite and bottled water for drinking.


    There is a gas station/store a couple miles down the road so you can buy food, ice, batteries, lunch, just about anything. Some people bring dinner stuff & buy lunch before the trail ride. There are a couple restaurants a couple miles down also so you don't have to cook at camp if you don't want to.


    We usually start the main campfire as soon as we get back when it's cold so you can cook on the campfire or bring a stove, grille, whatever you want to cook with. You can also have your own campfire if you want. There are enough picnic tables for everyone to have one. You just may have to move it to your tent area.


    We have to buy firewood locally or collect our own firewood from the woods. It has been brought to my attention that bringing firewood from out of state can lead to the infestation of unwanted pests to the local flora & fauna so please do not bring firewood from home. If we have firewood delivered from a local source we will let everyone know in the main thread and will collect $5 or $10 from everyone at the campsite.


    The ground is flat and free of rocks. (unless someone puts rocks under your air mattress when you are not looking)
    So you can bring air mattresses or not. Have your own air supply or pump.


    Some people stay in the local hotels and meet up with us in the morning to head out on the trails. The campground is located in Brandywine WV. Over the mountain is Raleigh Springs, VA and Harrisonburg VA. Do a search for hotels in that area. I think most people have had very good luck at the Jamison Hotel.


    It is a good idea to have a CB to stay in contact with all other Jeeps while on trails and driving down the road. Cell phones do not work in most areas there. Occasionally when we get to the top of a mountain you can get a signal and pick up your messages. The camp host has a land line in case of emergency.


    Let me know if you need any other information. Look back on other GW threads for more information and some great pics.



    PS




    WEATHER:


  • Rausch Creek Information Summary
    Mailing Address: - this is NOT the physical address to the park!
    Rausch Creek Off-Road Park
    P.O. Box 246
    Camp Hill, PA 17001-0246


    Physical Address of Park:
    Clickable: [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1GGLS_en___US323&sourceid=chrome&q=40.607697,-76.444556&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl]453 Molleystown Road, Tremont, PA 17981[/url]


    Officers Contact Info: (Emergencies Only Please)
    Bruce Shallis Lynn Ehrenfeld
    Phone: 610-842-3596 Phone: 570-640-0194
    Office: 570-640-0194


    WEBSITE:http://www.rc4x4.org


    DAYS OF OPERATION:
    April - November, open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays without the need to make a reservation. Monday - Thursday open by reservation. All camping is by reservation.


    OFFICE HOURS:
    Fri-Sat, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (*wheel til dusk)
    Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (*park closes at 5 p.m.
    Winter (Dec-Mar) open Sat-Sun 8 to 5


    DIRECTIONS:
    Directions to the Off-Road Park: From PA Interstate 81 take Exit 107 (Tower City/Tremont). Make a right at the end of the exit ramp onto Route 209 South heading towards Tower City. In the village of Joliett, make a left onto Joliett Street. Make another left onto Molleystown Road. Follow Molleystown Road until you see the entrance on the right. [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=453+Molleystown+Rd,+Pine+Grove,+PA+17963,+USA&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title]Google Map[/url]


    CAMPING, HOTELS, AND CONVENIENCES:
    Camping and Local Lodges
    The nearest gas station is at Exit 104 (Exxon station, Ravine exit). There is a full service restaurant there and a quick-mart.


    COSTS:
    Rausch Creek requires all persons 16 and older to become members of the park. The membership costs $15 and is good for a year from the date you join. This membership requirement applies to passengers as well as drivers. Once you are a member, the daily entrance fee for the vehicle and its driver is $35.00. Passengers are $7 each with children 15 and younger free. Included in your daily fees is free primitive camping. See Membership Application page for the membership application and parental waiver. All children 17 and younger require their parent to sign a parental waiver. They do not accept credit cards (cash or check only). For frequent visitors, they offer some specials. A Frequent Driver Pass for $100 which is good for five visits, or a Season Pass for $250.


    TRAIL SUMMARY:
    1700 acres of former coal mining land with a good assortment of terrain levels from stock to relatively hardcore. A man-made comp course is available for use free of charge. The trails are rated green (easy), blue (intermediate), black (hard), and red (extreme).
    Rausch Creek Trail Listing in PDF Format
    Rausch Creek Trail Map - East Property
    Rausch Creek Trail Map - West Property


    WEATHER:


  • These links are constantly changing. Please PM me if you find a dead link. Thanks.

    [shadow=red,left]Big Dogs Off Road Information Summary[/shadow]

    (GORE, VA)

    Contact Information:
    Big Dog Productions
    John Hunt
    P.O. Box 309
    Glenelg, MD 21737
    Phone: (410) 440-3670


    Website:http://www.bigdogsoffroad.com/
    E-Mail: bigdogsmail@bigdogsoffroad.com


    2012 EVENT SCHEDULE:
    Ice Breaker April 28, 29
    Military Jeepers May 11, 12, 13
    VA4WDA and Seven Hills May 19, 20
    *Spring Fling June 8, 9, 10
    Bronco Roundup June 22, 22, 24
    Pack It In - W Virginia TBA
    Summer Slam Aug 11, 12
    Richmond 4x4 Show & Shine Aug 18
    New Jersey Jeep Assoc. Aug 25, 26
    *Main Jambo Sep 14, 15, 16
    Fall Crawl - Open to all Oct 20, 21
    * DEJA trail rides.


    DIRECTIONS TO THE COVE CAMPGROUND: Big Dogs Website Directions
    The Cove Campground Website
    [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=980+Cove+Rd,+Gore,+VA+22637,+USA&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title]980 Cove Road, Gore, VA 22637 (540)-858-2882[/url] (Click for Google Directions to the Camp)
    Map of The Cove Campground


    HOTELS and CONVENIENCES:
    Map of Winchester, VA Restaurants, Hotels, and Conveniences
    List of Hotels from the Website


    DAYS OF OPERATION:
    Seven or Eight rides are scheduled throughout the year but dates vary so use the registration form as a guideline.


    COSTS:
    Vary depending on the organizer of the ride but usually cost between $65 and $75 with land use fees (paid upon arrival) of $25-$35.
    Downloadable Registration Form in Word Format


    TRAIL SUMMARY:
    * 6,000 acres of private wooded legal land
    * 4 large mountains, 3 large lakes
    * 56 Intermediate & Advanced trails
    * 36 Stock & Beginner trails.
    Summary of Trails and Difficulty Levels


    Miscellaneous:
    * Swimming lake with beach available during summer months.
    * Several runs have a "mud pit" on Friday nights in which competitors attempt to cross one of three pits for a prize. It is a must see.
    * Several runs also have a bonfire on Saturday nights with DJ, projector with pics of the days ride, and "rig stacking". (Another must see.)
    * Camping is primitive but showers and bathrooms are available. (See The Cove Campground Website for details.)
    * Big Dogs has consistently been called the best terrain on the east coast but because of the limited events per year, has had limited publicity.


    WEATHER:



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    edit: added 2012 events - Stafford

  • Rock Run Recreation Park Information Summary


    Address:
    Rock Run Recreation Area
    [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1GGLS_en___US335&sourceid=chrome&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,7228994069708331033&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&dq=1228+Saint+Lawrence+Rd,+Patton,+PA+16668-8701&daddr=1228+Saint+Lawrence+Rd,+Patton,+PA+16668-8701&geocode=10299201960455994787,40.688685,-78.636048&ei=VdBbSuLqGcfhlAeW8ojvDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1]1228 St. Lawrence Road[/url]
    Patton, PA 16668


    Contact Info:
    General Info: 4X4 Trails Contact Info:
    Rock Run ATV Park Dan Guyer
    Phone: 814-674-6026 Dan58@marylandcreepers.com
    Fax: 814-674-6028 or
    info@rockrunrecreation.com rock_run@verizon.net.


    WEBSITES:http://www.rockrunrecreation.com
    (More info can also be found at the Western Pennsylvania 4x4 Trail Advisory Committee Forum)
    http://www.wpa4xtrac.org


    DAYS OF OPERATION:
    I got a PM response from Dan regarding the 2010 schedule.
    It looks like they will be open 7 days a week and will allow unguided runs for 2010. (Beginning in April)
    This is great news!!!! More to follow as I get updates.


    OFFICE HOURS:
    Someone will answer the phone between 9:00 and 17:00, Monday through Friday.
    Weekends seemed to vary but the staff seemed to leave around 19:00.


    DIRECTIONS:
    [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1GGLS_en___US335&sourceid=chrome&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,7228994069708331033&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&dq=1228+Saint+Lawrence+Rd,+Patton,+PA+16668-8701&daddr=1228+Saint+Lawrence+Rd,+Patton,+PA+16668-8701&geocode=10299201960455994787,40.688685,-78.636048&ei=VdBbSuLqGcfhlAeW8ojvDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1]Google Map Link Here[/url]
    The best advice is to GPS directly into the town of Patton. At the light directly after the Sheetz, take a right and follow signs for roughly four miles until you see the Rock Run sign on the left. If arriving after hours, the gate will be closed but is not locked and can be opened. Just remember to shut the gate behind you.


    CAMPING, HOTELS, AND CONVENIENCES:
    Camping is primitive. (No water or electric.) Portable toilets are provided.
    Fire wood can be purchased for 50 cents a piece from the Welcome Center.
    Each campsite is allowed up to 6 people at $10.00/night, additional people are available at a cost of $2.00/person per night. Please note prices are subject to change and campsites are available on a first come first serve basis. You must pre-register for camping ! Please call (814)-674-6026 to register or to get more details.


    Online Camping Registration-Click Here
    Link to Food, lodging and activities here


    COSTS:
    Daily driver fee is $25.00 and daily passenger is $5.00. Camping is $10.00 for a group of no more than 6 persons at one site, the camp sites are close, so you can camp with your whole group. It is recommended that you pre-register for camping, please visit


    Waiver should be filled out but are available at the welcome center.
    ADULT WAIVER HERE
    MINOR WAIVER HERE



    HISTORY:
    Official summary from Rock Runs site
    How the 4X4 trails came to be:
    Several members of the Maryland Creepers, HRJA, BLWA, and Big Rubbers approached the board of Rock Run about the possibility of using a few thousand of the 6000 acres available for OHV use. It turns out that there are several rock areas that are not usable by ATV's but are ideal for OHV use so the Western PA 4X4 Trail Advisory Committee was formed. More info here


    TRAIL SUMMARY:
    Rock Run is still very early in it's development as a full blown OHV park. Many of the trails are tight and very technical with extremely sharp turns and switchbacks. This is due to a rule that no tree over 4" thick can be cut due to the possibility of future logging.
    The rock sections are second to none in difficulty and shear size of the obstacles with more sections planned in the future.
    The designers of the Rock Run trail system HATE mud and therefore, the trail system is designed to stay away from mud terrain and concentrates more on technical driving, off camber situations, hill climbs, and ROCKS.


    Trail levels are designated as Green (Easy), Blue (Moderate), Black (Difficult). There is no Red designation because they wanted consistency with the ATV side of the park (which has no extreme rating.) Rest assured, however, there are extremely difficult sections at Rock Run that would have a Red designation at any other park.



    WEATHER:


    [url=http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=patton,%20pa&wuSelect=WEATHER][/url]

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