BEHIND EVERY OPEN 4X4 TRAIL
IS A GOOD 4X4 CLUB. Yeah, that’s an obvious ripoff of a very old and familiar saying... but
it’s true. Perhaps more true today than ever. With trails being closed all over the country,
some for legitimate reasons, some not, volunteerism and hard work has become the key to
keeping trails open and getting new ones opened. It also goes beyond the contentious issues
of environmentalist versus motorized recreationalist. Most in the four-wheeling community
have learned that husbanding our trails into the outback is simply the right thing do on its own
account
The preservation and conservation of motorized outback travel has often been a grass roots
movement. Local clubs adopting a local trail and doing what it takes to keep it viable. It’s also
become a national movement, where local groups have banded together to speak in one very
large voice that cannot be easily ignored. Over the years, large corporations have supported
the efforts of those dedicated volunteers. A case in point is BF Goodrich and their
Outstanding Trails program.
We all know the material support BFG has given ‘wheeling since they debuted their first
All-Terrain in ’77. The odds are good if you get run over on the trail, you’ll have one of their
famous tread patterns marking your body! Beyond giving us great tires, their support has also
included very real contributions towards the conservation of four-wheeling resources and the
education of those involved in the sport.
Last year, BFG announced the Outstanding Trails Program. It identified five trails in the USA
that embodied the best in recreational four wheeling and offered direct support to those
closely involved with keeping them open. Six trails were chosen from many nominations for
2007, including one in Canada. This year’s list includes the Redbird State Riding Area in
Indiana, the Rubicon Trail in California, the Crushers at Tillamook in Oregon, Poughkeepsie
Gulch in Colorado, Whipsaw in British Columbia and Flat Nasty in Missouri.
Picking an “Outstanding Trail” is way more than just deciding how gnarly or scenic the trail
may be. It focuses attention on the positive steps being taken to keep trails open via national
organizations like Tread Lightly!, the United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), State
and Federal authorities and local clubs.
We were happy to be invited to the Outstanding Trails event at Redbird, in Southwestern
Indiana, near Dugger. This 1,000-plus acre off-road park is situated in a reclaimed coal
strip-mine that was purchased by the state of Indiana. It is run by a non-profit management
group made up of 4x4, motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts. These are all volunteers who put in
some 2- 3,000 hours a year into operating the park and providing a save environment for
off-highway motorized sport.
Redbird is the first state owned off-road park in Indiana. It consists of more than 1,000 acres
and is growing every year. There are currently more than 20 miles of four-wheel drive trails as
well as many more miles of single tracks and ATV trails. Open most Saturdays and Sundays,
you can play for a day for $10 or buy an annual pass. The park also is open at other times or
on specified holidays, all listed on the website. You can even reserve the park for your own
group for a very reasonable daily fee. Redbird is located in southwest Indiana, south of Terre
Haute and I-70, just a bit west of Linton... a just-right sized burg with plenty of resources to
make your stay nicer. Redbird has long been a popular spot for ‘wheelers in Indiana,
Kentucky and Illinois — but now it’s a sanctioned spot. Enjoy!
Redbird State Riding Area: www.redbirdsra.com, 812-847-9172
Though a favorite local ‘wheeling spot since the mines closed in 1952, Redbird (named for the
last operational mine there) was in a quasi-legal state until the Indiana Department of Natural
Resources spent $1.6 million to purchase the acreage, make infrastructure improvements and
open it up as an offroad park in 2003. Some of that money came from the Federal Recreation
Trails Program money and some from the State of Indiana. Since construction, volunteers
have built new trails and there are now 20-plus miles to ‘wheel on, in categories from mild to
wild. Nila Armstrong, the DNR Specialist assigned to the park, said the Redbird would not
have been possible without the many volunteers from 4x4, ATV and motorcycle groups, who
came from Indiana and all the neighboring states to help built the trail system. Perhaps
because of Redbird’s success, a planned multi-use park near Evansville, Indana will also offer
off-roading.
Sources: 4 Wheels To Freedom (www.4wtf.org), BFGoodrich(www.bfgoodrichtires.com),
Indiana DNR(www.in.gov/dnr/redbird), Tread Lightly!(www.treadlightly.org) 801-627-0077,
UFWDA(www.ufwda.org) 800-448-3932.
One of the clubs that has stepped up to keep Redbird operating is the 4 Wheels to Freedom
4-Wheel Drive Club (4WTF). They adopted Trail 4, one of the harder trails on Redbird, and
were thrilled when their nomination of it as an Outstanding Trail was accepted by BFG.
Based in Shelbyville, Indiana, the 4WTF was formed in 1975. The drive from Shelbyville, 120
miles northeast of Redbird, is no run around the block, yet club members are regular
participants in the upkeep of Trail 4. For that reason, and others, 4WTF was chosen to be the
recipient of a $4,000 grant from BFG. Gary Enterline, BFG’s Senior Product Category
Manager probably said it best:
“It’s important that off-road clubs like yours show responsible land stewardship, educate your
members on responsible driving and support land conservation efforts by participating in
voluntary trail cleanups like we did earlier today.”
4WTF has earmarked the money for their continuing efforts to maintain Trail 4 and other
projects at Redbird.
You might be tempted to dismiss an event like this as marketing showmanship. When you
see a $4,000 check being handed to a grateful club who will put it to good use in preserving
motorized outback recreation, you’ll realize it is a part of the great circle of giving back. Find
some way to do the same in your local area.
