Tennessee/Georgia/Alabama Riders-Let's go

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12,000 acres with approximately 100 miles of dirt roads/trails. Multi-use trails open to motor vehicles, ATV’s, hiking, horseback riding. Roads/trails can be a mix of dirt, gravel, or rocks. Terrain varies from very easy to very steep.

Join BIGE, rraland, and rockrunner at Prentice Cooper WMA the weekend of June 21 for some fantatic riding. The WMA is located about 10 miles outside of Chattanooga. Mountain bluff overlooks, views of the Tennessee River gorge. You don't ride around in circles at this place. Join us for one day or two, you're sure to have a blast.

Description: The Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area occupies 24,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau. The eastern face has sheer bluffs (1000') above the Tennessee River, The central portion is carved out by Mullens Creek, and the western boundary is not quite as sheer, with jeep road access from TN27. The main forest road, Tower Drive, (12 miles) is wide, packed gravel and fairly level. A fire tower (1920') is located at mile 4. There are numerous roads looping off Tower Drive, as well as spurs (Richy Pt, Pot Pt) to various overlooks ( picture, 50K) on the east side as well as rides along the bluffs. The major roads are named and marked at their intersection with Tower Drive. The roads are sandy (from the breakdown of the underlying sandstone) with an occasional touch of red clay. From Lusk Cemetery, you can ride East Brow road along the edge of the bluff, exiting back to Tower Drive via Ralley Ridge, Lusk Point, Sulphur Branch, or Braddison Branch.

Roads to the west of Tower Drive cross the Mullens Creek watershed and are steeper and wetter than the eastern roads. Haley Rd travels west 6.6 miles to TN 27. The first mile of Haley Rd is a gnarly descent to Mullens Cr and a wet crossing -- perhaps impassable at high water. West of Mullens Creek are southern spurs to Elder Point and Long Point, and just past Dry Creek, Inman Point's more southern overlooks. From Inman Point intersection (mile 4.7), Haley Rd descends the western escarpment 1.9 miles to TN27 0.4 miles south of Ketner Mill Rd. Persimmon Rd crosses Mullens Creek (1.4 mi 1480'), intersects with the dirt road (Marshall Fork Rd, 4.7 mi,1970') from Ketner Gap, and provides access to the more western jeep roads. You can reach the western rim in about 8 miles, climb to 2040', then descend to Haley Rd (10.5 mi, 1580') just west of Dry Creek. You can head back on Haley Rd 4.7 miles to Tower Drive.

PM rraland, rockrunner or BIGE for more info.

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Here's a map of the trail system. The light grey road running for top to bottom near the center of the map is Tower Road.

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Trying Again

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we are there,

Posts: 102

Prentice is only about 15 minutes from my house, so needless to say, I have been up there a lot.

As the description Rockrunner gave says, a little bit of everything. I took my gk-29 stock up there and made it on all the trails, even the 4X4 only trail, it was a little creepy, but I made it. Most of the trails we won't get much speed on, but there are a few we will be able to get some air. You will get to test your driving ability, these trails are kept up by volunteers, needless to say, you will have rocks to go over or around. Any of you that have looked at my videos will see a few of the mud holes that are up there. I have been up there more times than I care to count, and there are still some trails I have not been on.

There are some camping areas, but no hook ups. At exit 155 on I-24, there is a nice motel. Just a mile down the road is the city of Jasper. You may come in from the Chattanooga side, but I prefer this side, less city to deal with. You just take exit 155, go to the first redlight, about 10 miles to it, take a right. Follow it up the mountain. Once you are at the top keep an eye out on the right, you will see the brown sign, on the right, Prentice Cooper WMA. Go to T, take a right, then first road to the left. Several parking areas.

Oh, as far as facilities, they have some out-houses at some of the parking and picknick areas. And as long as you can pump the handle you can get nice cold water, would love to know how deep that well is.

Well, hope to see you all there. Any questions I can answer please feel free to ask.

Raland

Posts: 250

My well is 515 ft. deep. You should a have seen the boom truck squat down when we had to change the pump. The original owner had used 515 ft. of 3/4" well galvanized pipe.

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Posts: 250

We replaced our piping with 3/4 inch threaded pvc. Now if I just knew how to design and bend pipe, I figure I have enough galanized to make a fleet of buggy frames.

Posts: 60

I am very interested in this ride. My only hiccup is that we have just signed up my son for summer roller hockey and have not gotten the practice and game schedule as of yet. I met Raaland at the southeast bash at DP and told me about this place. Riding in the Tennessee mtns sounds great, I have rockclimbed in this area and know how rugged it is. I just wonder if the Sand Spider has the low end grunt to get up the side of a mtn. Should be fun finding out what it can do in the mtns. Are you required to sign in at a ranger station for riding or camping? If so, where is it?
Truly hoping to make this ride!
Clint

Posts: 250

I surely hope your 650's will climb. I'm bringing a sand viper 250 that climbs pretty good. Pm Raland about the camping or google Prentice Cooper wma. Hope you can make it . Another fellow from Chattanooga will be riding with us. He's bringing at 250 dirt bike and 4-wheeler.