State Park/WMA four wheeling?

[YotaTruck]

Just got over here from NJH-looks like mostly the same crowd... I was powerstroke73L over there but I sold that truck a while ago Anyway during the off season I like to get out in the woods with the family for some mild four wheeling once in a while. Nothing hardcore-no doing donuts in fields, making huge holes or any of that garbage, just taking a nice ride out in the woods. What are some of your favorite (legal) backroads to explore either on WMA or park land? I used to do a lot of exploring down in Colliers Mills when I lived in Mercer County but lately I've been getting up to the Water Gap-I hear there are some nice rides through Stokes but haven't really gotten there yet. I'm looking for something I can tackle in a 4WD SUV with all terrain tires. Not afraid to get it dirty but I don't want to break anything or scratch it up-its the wife's grocery getter

[Haskell_Hunter]

You can't legally ride a motorized vehicle on a WMA.

 

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wmaregs.htm

[YotaTruck]

You can't legally ride a motorized vehicle on a WMA.

 

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/wmaregs.htm

 

Sure you can as long as that motorized vehicle is registered, insured, and street legal, ie: a car or truck, and you stick to the roads and don't try to blaze your own trails. I'm not talking about quads. Some WMAs don't have roads at all, just parking areas. Other WMAs like Colliers Mills, Greenwood, etc...have miles of unpaved roads. Those are a little too far south for me.

[bwd172]

There are nice roads in the Gap, but few that would be considered 4 wheeling, and few that go for very long distances. The best ride I can tell you about is on a dirt road that is mostly unmaintained. Coming off of 206 in Sandyston, turn left as if you are going to the Walpack Inn. Just before you cross the Flatbrook, make a left onto the dirt road. It will take you to Three Bridges where you can turn off to go to Peter's Valley. Continue straight, and the next turn off is Flatbrook-Roy by the slug gun range. Keep going and you'll get to the intersection with Struble Rd. and Main St. Walpack. Take the left along the cemetary and that will take you along the base of the Kittatiny Ridge to Buttermilk Falls, the to Haney's Mill. That will lead you out to NPS 615. MAke a right and head back to Walpack, go left and you can cross back over the FB to Millbrook Village.

[bwd172]

Oh, and the roads I described are full of holes and bumps, but unless you are flying down them you won't get yelled at by the wife for ruining her car.

[Hewey]

If you want to make a day of it, you can come down south and spend all day exploring in Wharton SF, Bass River SF, and Penn SF. Greenwood WMA is another good spot. If you are not familar with the area, bring a hand held GPS unit. You can get hopelessly lost in the Pine Barrens.

[YotaTruck]

There are nice roads in the Gap' date=' but few that would be considered 4 wheeling, and few that go for very long distances. The best ride I can tell you about is on a dirt road that is mostly unmaintained. Coming off of 206 in Sandyston, turn left as if you are going to the Walpack Inn. Just before you cross the Flatbrook, make a left onto the dirt road. It will take you to Three Bridges where you can turn off to go to Peter's Valley. Continue straight, and the next turn off is Flatbrook-Roy by the slug gun range. Keep going and you'll get to the intersection with Struble Rd. and Main St. Walpack. Take the left along the cemetary and that will take you along the base of the Kittatiny Ridge to Buttermilk Falls, the to Haney's Mill. That will lead you out to NPS 615. MAke a right and head back to Walpack, go left and you can cross back over the FB to Millbrook Village.

[/quote']

 

Thanks-that's exactly what I'm looking for. Just a nice ride out with the family. Mudding and breaking stuff got old really quick when I was much younger and dumber. Now I just like to find the places off the beaten path where you can get away from the crowds.

 

If you want to make a day of it' date=' you can come down south and spend all day exploring in Wharton SF, Bass River SF, and Penn SF. Greenwood WMA is another good spot. If you are not familar with the area, bring a hand held GPS unit. You can get hopelessly lost in the Pine Barrens.

[/quote']

 

I've been to Wharton a few times, Greenwood once, but it's a long way from Hunterdon County. Can you still drive to the top of Forked River Mountain or did they close that off? I know that Greenwood had a lot of problems with yahoos on 44s tearing it up and making puddles into ponds on some of the roads which spurred some of the new regulations on motor vehicle use on park and WMA land. I really hate that that's what folks think of when you say "four wheeling" (either that or they think illegal ATVs)-Hell I learned to drive when I was 14 in the middle of Colliers Mills WMA when my dad and I would go exploring after a morning of pheasant hunting. We avoided the holes when we could and if we had to go through them we checked the depth first and turned around if it looked too dicey. Now you have idiots with 2.5 ton military trucks running around down there.

[Hewey]

Yes Yota, it is a long way from Hunterdon County. I moved down to the Pines 25 years ago in my early teens from Warren County. When I lived in Warren County, I would come down to the Pine Barrens on the weekends with my Uncle. It was a long ride down. So we would make a weekend of it. It seemed like it was a world away when I was a kid.

 

Yes, you can still drive to the top of FRM, although the mountain itself is on private property. I will PM you about this. Apple Pie Hill in Wharton is now gated due to all of the vadalisim to the fire tower in past years.

 

Yes, we still have the issue with mud trucks turning puddles into mud holes. More times then not if it is bad, a bypass will be created so you are not be forced to pass through or turn around. If you see a bypass, take it. You seem to know how to play it safe. If you are careful and do not take any chances, you will not have any issues.

 

Yes, I do know the misconception of "four wheeling" . I spend most of my time with my truck in 2WD. I avoid having to put it in 4WD. My woods truck now is a 2000 Silverado 4x4 with 265/75/R16 mud tires, no lift. I have many miles on this truck in the Pine Barrens over the past 10 years. I have never got stuck once. There are not many sand roads in the pines this truck has not been on.

 

You could have a nice weekend in the pines with your family. TONS of sand roads to cruise around on, awesome pickerel fishing, plenty of nice places to go swimming, depending on the age of your childern the canoing is great, Batsto is a nice place to take the family. Use one of the Wharton campgrounds as home base for the weekend.

[YotaTruck]

Yes Yota' date=' it is a long way from Hunterdon County. I moved down to the Pines 25 years ago in my early teens from Warren County. When I lived in Warren County, I would come down to the Pine Barrens on the weekends with my Uncle. It was a long ride down. So we would make a weekend of it. It seemed like it was a world away when I was a kid.

 

Yes, you can still drive to the top of FRM, although the mountain itself is on private property. I will PM you about this. Apple Pie Hill in Wharton is now gated due to all of the vadalisim to the fire tower in past years.

 

Yes, we still have the issue with mud trucks turning puddles into mud holes. More times then not if it is bad, a bypass will be created so you are not be forced to pass through or turn around. If you see a bypass, take it. You seem to know how to play it safe. If you are careful and do not take any chances, you will not have any issues.

 

Yes, I do know the misconception of "four wheeling" . I spend most of my time with my truck in 2WD. I avoid having to put it in 4WD. My woods truck now is a 2000 Silverado 4x4 with 265/75/R16 mud tires, no lift. I have many miles on this truck in the Pine Barrens over the past 10 years. I have never got stuck once. There are not many sand roads in the pines this truck has not been on.

 

You could have a nice weekend in the pines with your family. TONS of sand roads to cruise around on, awesome pickerel fishing, plenty of nice places to go swimming, depending on the age of your childern the canoing is great, Batsto is a nice place to take the family. Use one of the Wharton campgrounds as home base for the weekend.

[/quote']

 

Thanks for the info! Hopefully we'll get down there soon-I miss the pines.