GRSF Trail Report

Location: Green Ridge State Forest (MD)
Weather: Overcast morning, sunny by midday
Trail Conditions: Dry with a few puddles
Terrain: Paved, semi-paved, gravel, single track dirt roads
Driving Style: 2H on paved/semi-paved, 4H on gravel, 4L on dirt
Distance: ~200 miles round trip, 28.3 offroad
Time: ~6 hours round trip, ~3h offroad (including lunch)
Mileage: 16.5 mpg on interstate (80 mph), dropped to 14 mpg while offroad, back to 16mpg by home
Navigation: GAIA
Vehicle: 2019 TRD ORP
Suspension: Dobinsons IMS
Tires: P285/70r17 Cooper Discoverer Rugged Treks
Summary: Great fun. Big shout out to those recommending 4L when offroad, nut just when you think you need it. Much more pleasant driving up and down steep hills - it just cruises up, through mud holes, and less braking downhill. Not sure if it was the tires, awesome 4wd system, or lack of challenging conditions, but this was the first time I've gotten off ragged gravel roads onto some nice uneven terrain and I didn't feel a single tire slip. I did hear a few rock hits on the sliders when on the gravel roads but they seemed to eject from the tires quickly - I never heard one let go once I hit pavement (so they didn't stick/clog). I went through all the puddles I could find, albeit slow (mud sucks), and the tires did fine. I did hit one longer section of rutted mud later in the day and I definitely got sucked into the rut without the ability to steer out but that's what I expected when I hit it at that angle and speed - it was a last second decision to see if I lost traction. Despite not being able to steer out of the ruts (which I didn't expect), I kept chugging forward with no loss of momentum so I think I still had good traction. There was one really deep mud hole that was really rutted out - I wanted to try it and may have been able to drag myself out with the winch but elected to wait until I'm with someone in case I need to be drug backwards - the ruts were really deep and I have a feeling I didn't have enough clearance. Luckily it was just a fun section beside the trail so I didn't really have to bypass, I just didn't hit it.

Since putting on the suspension in December, it's only been on pavement and loved how much better it felt - firm, controlled, and soaked up dips and potholes better than OEM. It gets even better on gravel and dirt roads. Some of the gravel roads were wide with straight stretches so had it up to 35 mph and it felt way smoother than stock (maybe placebo effect?). Although I didn't have many places to flex other than crossing a ditch to get to a fun little hill climb, there were sections of loose-ish larger rocks on the steep sections of single track dirt trails and several sections of deep rut washouts on the trails as well but I chugged right over and through them without any jarring feeling. Very impressed and think they were a good decision given the terrain around here.

Here are the routes. Color coding is:
Blue = 1st planned route, taken as mapped
Red = 2nd planned route
Orange = Sections of red not taken
Green = Red alternates taken


I started out on the blue route, exploring the campsite 1-23 area. Terrain was mostly gravel roads, some dirt stretches and mud holes, and gates were closed to any areas that looked fun.



Stopped at a campsite near the end to have lunch. Was going to sit at the picnic table that the sites have but my daughter hates bugs.

After finishing route blue we started route red and quickly found an open gate that took me off course. The picture doesn't do it justice but went from a wide gravel road to a steep single track dirt road that was a blast. I almost mistook the yellow pole for a mailbox - glad I looked twice. After the curve it got steeper and rockier and I felt like I was finally off the beaten path while I hit some low hanging branches. I'm just a middle aged poser who doesn't really "wheel" (not much close by) but it made me feel good inside to know the 4runner was doing what it was made for.

After finishing the bypassed section of red route (green route in top left of map above), I got back on track with my pre-planned way points. GAIA is the shizzle, and it was super easy to find my way back on track after I got dumped out near some houses on a gravel road. Continuing down the red route towards Site 100, I found a little hill to play on the side of the road. Was worried as I crossed the ditch and went up the hill (was afraid my SSO carrier may drag - apparently we were good). Again, the picture doesn't do it justice but I was impressed I again had zero wheel spin. I stuck as far right as possible without driving over the rock. Turned on the front camera for fun as I came up and over even though I knew nothing was there - works great when you can't see ahead.

Continuing down Twigg Rd and Jacobs Rd past Site upper-40s and low-50s, there were some really cool stretches. We crossed a bridge that looked super sturdy (50k weight capacity) and had wooden planks layed side-to-side. Was crazy as we drove over with windows down - sounded like my tires were picking up and dropping the planks back down in place as we drove over. We also crisscrossed a power line several times as we climbed higher up the mountain towards the ridgeline - it went as far as the eye could see in both directions.





This eventually dropped us out at an overlook before heading down to Site 100.





Unfortunately the padawan was getting tired and I regrettably bypassed the final long waypoints of the red route (now orange) for more tame semi-paved and wide gravel roads back through the park to get home a bit quicker. This final green section is the only time we passed others (aside from some campsite takers) the entire day. Lots of cars, even some motorcycles, on the gravel sections and tons of cars and motorcycles on the paved sections. This was great because most of the single track dirt roads had very few places to pass in opposite directions - someone would have been backing up quite a ways to find a place to pull off. GAIA has directional arrows on a lot of the trails that I'm not sure I followed correctly, but no trails were marked with signs designating a one way route. All in all, it was a great day and I've got some cleaning to do tomorrow (including pulling the KDSS skid to check and clean out dust/mud/debris). I took it slow through the few mud holes I went through so I didn't sling it all over the vehicle but the fender wells and sliders are pretty caked at the end and dried on the 1.5 hour drive home. The sliders did a great job stopping the rocks (you could hear the pings) and mud front hitting the vehicle.

 

Nice trip! Beautiful view from up there

 

Thanks! I liked it so much I went back a couple of weekends ago when we the family had a Friday off to do some "leaf looking" because I thought it would be a great spot. Unfortunately it rained that day. But the offroading was a lot more fun! All those little puddles and grown into small, shallow ponds in some section of trail. Tried to keep the mud off but on a day like that there's only so much you can do!

 

I also found out the long, orange squiggly section I bypassed the first time is actually closed - I found it this last time and there was a closed gate a few hundred feet up the trail. I think some trails are snowmobile trails so it may open up in winter. I'll have to call and find out if they are snowmobile only or if they're wide enough for 4x4

 

Even if they are wide enough, could possibly be a place where you’re not allowed to drive.

Be sure to say something like, “I was driving my Jeep…” or “I was driving my Bronco…” to throw them off the scent when you call.

 

Looks like a great trip. Nice pictures.

 

OP,
That looks like a great trip and really appreciate all the pics.
One question though - what brand hood protector do you have? Looks like the WeatherTech I've been browsing and like the way yours looks.

Cheers,
Bob

 

Yeah, I think the snowmobile trails are supposed to be snowmobile only so I'll have to word my questions carefully

 

It's actually an AVS Aeroskin. I like it but I'm a little worried some of the edges are touching the paint and may dig in eventually. If I had it to do over again, I would have filed/sanded all of the edges to be a little rounded before installing so they aren't so sharp

 

Around here, lots of snowmobile and ATV/UTV only trails.

It really bugs me when you see all these side by sides on trails that are large enough for 4wd vehicles, and yet we aren’t allowed. There comes a point where it feels like semantics.

 

Thanks for letting me know..

Cheers,
Bob