North or South

Which side of windrock do you all prefer the north side or south side. We have always rode the south side and are planning on hitting the north side this weekend. What can we expect?

North has some good trails. just takes a while to get there.
most ride the south side cause it is convenient to the parking lot.....

57 is one of the best trails if not the best at WR. Warning it takes a long time 15 or 17 miles dont have a map handy

Suggested first time North Side Ride.

From Windrock Parking Lot:

Trail 2 to G1
G1 and haul ass over to Hwy 116
Cross Hwy 116 on G50. A short distance up G50 look for gravel road to left. That is Trail 50 it is marked.

Take Trail 50 all the way to next Gravel Road.
Cross Gravel Road and get on Trail 53
Take Trail 53 all the way. Trail 53 is a long trail and you go past Trail 52 as a reference.
Turn right downhill onto Trail 61.
Take Trail 61 some distance to left hand (Sharp uphill) turn on Trail 63
Trail 63 to big Intersection. Go straight across right side to Trail 55
Trail 55 to Trail 56
Right Turn on Trail 56 all the way to Black Top Road.
Turn Left on Blacktop and go couple miles. (Not much traffic on this road)
When you get to the School House with the Swings, turn left cross the bridge to Clinchmore Church. I think the Volunteer Fire Dept bldg is at that bridge also.

Go straight on blacktop past Clinchmore Church and get on Trail 57. Take lower section on your right side down by creek and start your way back.
Ride Trail 57 to G57. Right turn on G57 to G53.
Right Turn on G53 all the way down the mtn to big 4-way Gravel Interesection. Several different ways to come home but I suggest Trail 51.

It is at that intersection and starts out as Gravel Road but turns to Trail soon.

Trail 51 to end. Right Turn on Gravel road which turns to Pavement and comes out at Hwy 116. At Hwy 116, left turn for a short distance and right turn on next Blacktop Road which is Duncan Flats. Take Duncan Flats road to Flatwoods School. Right turn on Trail 33 at Flatwoods School to G1. Left Turn on G1 and back home.

This will give you about a 60-65 mile ride.

I will be on the northside Saturday. I will have my radio on GMRS Channel 2. Give the old Rooster a holler.

Im ready to try it got dans maps uploaded so maybe we want get lost!

Appreciate it rooster sounds like a good ride. Will goin this way take us past mart branch falls on trail 57 or will we come back into 57 past it?

GCFD112 wrote:

Appreciate it rooster sounds like a good ride. Will goin this way take us past mart branch falls on trail 57 or will we come back into 57 past it?

That is Wards Branch Falls, and yes it will take you by it and up threw the long switch backs. It is a nice ride and the route I told you bypasses alot of the challenging area's of Trail 57.

Oh my mistake it said mart branch falls on Dans map. We may have to change it up a bit to hit some more of 57. We like a little challenge. How bad are those parts on 57?

GCFD112 wrote:

Oh my mistake it said mart branch falls on Dans map. We may have to change it up a bit to hit some more of 57. We like a little challenge. How bad are those parts on 57?

There might be a Marts Branch. Never really seen that one. Wards Branch you can really see.

If you wanna do all of 57 then do not turn RIght on 56. Go straight instead of right on 56 and a short distance turn Right on 57. Coming back you might run out of time to do Trail 51. So hit G50 the big Haul Road at the 4-way intersection to Hwy 116.

Oh ok. Have you rode all of 57 before?

GCFD112 wrote:

Oh ok. Have you rode all of 57 before?

Yes. It takes a while to get thru it. It is the longest trail at Windrock. About 16 miles. It will take you longer doing all of 57 then the route I mentioned in the beginning.

How bad does 57 get?

I will let one of the other's on here answer that. They have RzR's and might be able to shed some light on 57 for you. Myself, when we do group rides we always take the easier route I mentioned. 57 does have some challenges....

Oh ok thanks for your help rooster we are deffinately gonna hit those trails you mentioned. I just wanted to make sure we had a bit of a challenge too.

Until a few months ago I would have said the north side was better but, since 44, 43, 42, 48, 49 & 6 have been added I would almost say the south side. Of course our group usually ride at least part of those then head for the WMA. Personally, I HATE trail 16. There is too much traffic, it beats you and your equipment to death if you try to ride fast because of all the rocks.

The worst part of 57 is when you get home. It takes HOURS to get all the leaves out. And when you thing you are finished, there are more. You almost have to remove the skid plate to get them all out. I will ride my 4 wheeler around that part of 57 because it is easier to clean but you couldn't pay me to take my RZR around it.

rooster who owns that cabin on 57 ?

poolboy wrote:

rooster who owns that cabin on 57 ?

There was a sign hanging above the door that explained the whole story about that cabin and its owners if it hasn't been taken down.

I didnt feel like taking a chance on getting shot so i didn't pull over to see if any body was at home....

GCFD112 wrote:

Which side of windrock do you all prefer the north side or south side. We have always rode the south side and are planning on hitting the north side this weekend. What can we expect?

No doubt the SOUTH SIDE------T22 to left climb on 21, T15, Lil'mule, School bus, Stairsteps, T3, 39 and on to the 40trails------North side is more for novice!