iron gap trails

from my understanding.. it is legal to ride the iron gap trails northbound all the way across the tn line as long as you dont break off the main trail or cross into the creeks/water...

can someone here help me clarify whats legal and what isnt?? im planning on taking a ride up there with a small group and would like to wheel as much as i can without causing any issues from anybody.

pm me with your innformation if you dont want to post it on the public board.

appreciate it fellas.

Unless you have permission from a landowner I would probably stay away. You are correct about the main road from estill fork to Iron gap. As far as I know the MAIN road is open, but you can about drive a car on the main road, so what's the point?

I had a buddy who got ran off by two Franklin county sherriffs earlier this year. They had their patrol cars sitting at the big mud holes running people off. The mud holes are now filled in, and there's a lot of logging/land clearing going on on the Iron gap entrance. I forsee housing development to start going up at the Iron Gap entrance. This is strictly my opinion, but it sure looks like they're clearing land for bluff veiw lots.

I hate to see this place closed, because it's only 20min from my house, but if I where the landowners I would close it too. A LOT of people in our area have absolutely no respect for other people's property. The entire place is littered with beer cans. People get drunk and decide that the fields are a good place to cut donuts. The cabin on dry creek has been burned down twice. There was a chevy Suburban that got stuck in one of the big mud holes and the owner had to leave it there,... it got stripped before they could return to get it out. Is it any wonder why we don't have anywhere to ride?

I wasn't implying that you or anyone else on this board is to blame. I just think people need to know why all our trails are being closed. So, next time you see someone throwing thrash down or acting stupid on the trail, thank them for getting our trails closed.  

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i thought about atv's for a minuite... but after seeing some pics of the main trail up near the tn line.. i didnt think people would actually drive an atv through there...

i wish there was something we could do regarding this issue... im honestly sick of seeing trash on every trail i go to...

fact. i say we have some kind of meeting sometime this year and see what we can do about that land.. and others near it.

we're talking about organizing a club in the northwest AL region.. (theres about 30-40 of us here).. if that does happen we will be very happy to team up with you guys to fight for any and every trail we have to.. that includes cleaning up after others just to keep the places open...

and steve melton is the kind of person that will fight something he believes in to the very brink of his life... i respect him with everything i have.. and i wish there were millions more like him. im truly impressed with the way hes been handling the ohv4tn bill.. he's pushing and pulling every string he can get to make that happen while most of us just sit on our arse and reap the benefits of his hard work...

I thought I should step into this conversation.....since my name has been dropped several times.

I have never ridden at Iron Gap(the original topic of this thread), but I know a few that have in the past and was even invited on a ride there a few months ago. The group that invited me had permission to do so from some private land owners. I chose not accompany them

There are definitely some "issues" with Iron Gap. Several that I know that used to ride there....no longer do so. I have heard everything from "yes...you can ride there"  to "NO you can't and if you do and get caught your vehicle will be conviscated". My take on that....just don't go there.  I am referring to myself Why risk causing further problems? Unless something happens in the next few months or year.....I may very well never set a tire on the place. As I just said....I AM SPEAKING FOR MYSELF ONLY.

To address what this "bama" has spoken of concerning the DamnLocals 4x4 Club. If someone from our club has caused you to want to get on the internet/discussion forums and mention our club name specificly.....please contact me and I will straighten the problem out. I have spoken with the member that possibly said something to you about Iron Gap. To clear this up......The DamnLocals 4X4 Club  does NOT frequent this area. There are some of our members that have ridden there in the past and am not quite sure if they still do or not. I am guessing NOT....because of all the problems that seem to surround that trail(s). We do not "have a dog in that race"....as the old saying goes. If someone actually did say something to you....then I firmly belive that you misinterpreted what they were saying. WE do not care who rides there or where they are from.....it's nothing to me or any member of the club. What IS IMPORTANT is that ALL 4X4ers act like adults and use their head when it comes to riding on trails that we are not familiar with. In our hometown, most trails that are now closed or limited were caused by people that came and "thought it might be OK to ride the trail" and didn't bother to ask.

Having just received a phone call about this:

"i know theres alot of private land to the sides of the trail.. i DO NOT plan on venturing off on other peoples property... however.. i have been met with some resistance from a member of the damn locals club... they seem very anal about wheelers from AL crossing the cove..... even on the "open" trail... im guessing it was someone form 'bama that pissed them off...."

I will address this now: There was NEVER any "resistance" from a DL4X4 member........nor was anyone "anal" about "anyone from AL crossing the cove". Also...no one from 'bama has offended us. This is not the first time that this guy "bama" has tried to start trouble with the club. I just wanted all concerned to be aware of this.

I apologize for posting on this forum about something like this, but I felt I must defend the club and it's members.

*Doc.....nope,not left for SWA just yet.....but very soon.