Motorcycle Alabama

Bikes => Dual Sport => Topic started by: Frank Smith on May 27, 2018, 07:47:01 AM

Title: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 27, 2018, 07:47:01 AM
Well I found plenty of D/S trails off Mountain Fork Road, a bit east of Hurricane Road south of New Market.  It goes up the mountain and then levels off a bit with plenty of primitive dual track offshoots. I believe it crosses the mountain and ends in Princeton but I haven't went the entire route because I was by myself and didn't want to take the chance of a breakdown or other problem that I have a tendency of frequently getting myself into. The main road is rough in spots but doable on a big D/S. I'm going to do some more today and track it on my GPS. I'll get some pics too.  Let me know if anyone wants to ride it with me someday. 
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Hammerdown77 on May 27, 2018, 08:13:49 AM
I've got lunch plans today with my Dad otherwise I'd be up for checking this area out.

I've come at it from the other end, via Princeton, but didn't get very far. It was some pretty rough looking two-track (like you'd want a 4-wheeler for) and then there was a cable across the path. Based on all the 4x4s and 4-wheelers and guys in camo and blaze orange (this was late in the year, several years ago), I got the impression it was a hunting club's land. But that might have been in a totally different spot than where you're thinking.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 27, 2018, 06:08:37 PM
I made the ride again today. I used GPS this time. Wanted to see if it would take me to Princeton and it did. I knew there had to be an easier way than going all the way south to 72 and then back up north on 65. I attached a GPX file if anyone wants to see the route. The off-road portion is manageable on a big bike with knobs for the muddy parts. Now I just gotta find the way to Bingham mountain via this trail.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: jrobinson on May 27, 2018, 09:41:42 PM
I know there is a way, I've followed others from Putman Mt/County Road 3 to Bingham Mt/County Road 106, but I couldn't tell you how we went.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 28, 2018, 07:41:15 AM
Yeah I know it's a maze of forest roads and trails that are all interlocking. I'll figure it out. Now that I have a way in that's 4 miles from home, and a GPS, it's just a matter of time.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: klaviator on May 28, 2018, 08:42:59 AM
I'd like to go explore the area with you someday. 
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 28, 2018, 01:59:20 PM
Ok.  I would prefer dry weather, the mud gets intense in the wet.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: klaviator on May 28, 2018, 02:31:49 PM
Quote from: Frank Smith on May 28, 2018, 01:59:20 PM
Ok.  I would prefer dry weather, the mud gets intense in the wet.

Me too.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 28, 2018, 09:53:30 PM
I'll look into planning a day ride. We can base from my place, about 4 miles from the trailhead. I'll put ribs or brisket on the smoker beforehand, wife said she'll finish them up and pick up sides from New Market Barbecue to go with the meat. Sorry, but I could only host up to 6 riders. 
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: marquez7890 on May 29, 2018, 05:18:54 PM
Next time you go, I'd like to join.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on May 29, 2018, 07:55:01 PM
Cool. Maybe you can help us get to Bingham
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: marquez7890 on May 29, 2018, 10:56:40 PM
I don't know my way around up there. That ride we rode on together was the furthest I've been but I'll try to help out anyway I can though. I have a new front tire coming in Thursday for the wr and I'll be anxious to test it out.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: marquez7890 on June 08, 2018, 04:45:06 PM
I rode a little bit of it today, I turned around after I saw a sign that said the land was own by a hunting club.
(https://i.imgur.com/7FzM6je.jpg)
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on June 11, 2018, 09:33:01 PM
There are different trails off the main road, you should have kept going. They are closer to the hardtop on the other side as it turns onto CR3 near Princeton. Message me next time you wanna go.  I did go again this past weekend but it was spur of the moment, so I didn't have time to plan anything.  The ride is so close to where I live so I never know when I can break away.  If you want to go Saturday and it's dry out, I'll go with you. I have come to hate mud as I don't do very well in it.  Just let me know. 
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: griff on June 14, 2018, 07:40:09 AM
If you guys go in the mountain fork side, you better not be going around the locked gate. Those folks will not tolerate people doing that. I know someone that has gotten to go to court over being on the hunting club land at the end of mountain fork rd. I also know several people that have been escorted out at gun point.

Bingham does indeed interconnect through to Putman over the mountain as does the entrance from Mountain Fork Rd. I've been that way but it's been around 20 years ago before the Stevenson Land Co bought up a lot of that area and gated it. You could also drop down at county rd 4 right next to hollytree off road park at one point. It's all gated now as well.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on June 15, 2018, 10:37:47 PM
Griff,

All of the exploring I've done is NOT through or around gates. I know better than that. The dirt road I go in at is not gated.  There are a few trails off the dirt road that I've done off the dirt road and none of those were gated.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: griff on June 16, 2018, 08:40:09 AM
Frank,

Good deal. I didn't want someone to read that and go around the gates thinking it was ok. Those folks are terribly hostile at the end of the road. The guy I mentioned getting taken to court owns land in the area and has a gate key. They still got him charged with trespassing and hauled into court. It cost him a lot of headache, money, and time.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: marquez7890 on June 16, 2018, 01:25:41 PM
Had a great ride today.
(https://i.imgur.com/WI2z13m.jpg)
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on June 18, 2018, 09:45:46 PM
Thanks for going with me.  I was doing great until I hit that mud.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: marquez7890 on June 19, 2018, 06:54:37 AM
Quote from: Frank Smith on June 18, 2018, 09:45:46 PM
Thanks for going with me.  I was doing great until I hit that mud.

No problem, we have to do again sometime.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: WECSOG on August 10, 2019, 10:09:32 AM
I would like to ride that area with you guys sometime. I grew up in the area and have ridden that area all of my life, off and on. Now I live in Paint Rock Valley and go in from the other direction.
As for those gates, most of the hunting clubs don't own jack. They just lease the hunting rights. But even if they do own land back in there, any gate on the main road is illegal.  I wish whoever was arrested for "trespassing" on the main road, or escorted out at gunpoint, had taken it beyond the local court. Federal law states that any road that has ever been a public road, is always and forever a public road.
The Huntsville Grotto of the National Speleological Society successfully sued to have gates removed from the roads into Newsome Sinks on Brindley Mountain, using that law as the basis.

That road into Mountain Fork is a public road, and the gate is blatantly illegal. Those hunting clubs probably give free memberships to the Madison County sheriff so he will be on their side.

One more thing: pointing a gun at someone who is not committing a felony, is in itself a felony. Not to mention being probable grounds for the person on the receiving end to defend himself with all means at his disposal.  I'm not a lawyer, and that's not legal advice. But I can put you in touch with a lawyer who will almost certainly tell you the same thing.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on August 15, 2019, 11:40:42 AM
Good deal. I am always careful up there but the few folks I've run into seem very hostile as in "what are you doing on my property?" I haven't been up there in awhile, would like to go again soon. Let me know when you're interested.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: WECSOG on August 15, 2019, 01:21:17 PM
I would like to get a ride together sometime pretty soon, from the PRV side. Maybe start at Jackson County 4 (the road that goes past Hollytree Offroad) and see if we can get to Upper Hurricane Road that way, as the map shows. Might be better to wait a few weeks for it to cool off, and give anyone else who would like to join it a chance to plan.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: TWJohn on August 15, 2019, 01:32:13 PM
Interested as well.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: klaviator on August 15, 2019, 03:10:09 PM
Sounds interesting, if I get another dual sport bike by then.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on August 16, 2019, 05:17:44 PM
You can do it on the scooter. Easy peasy.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: klaviator on August 16, 2019, 06:02:35 PM
Quote from: Frank Smith on August 16, 2019, 05:17:44 PM
You can do it on the scooter. Easy peasy.

maybe if I get one of these scooters:

(https://www.webbikeworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/118815_2018_X-ADV.jpg)
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on August 22, 2019, 08:14:42 PM
Whoa! What is that!? Never seen such a thing.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: klaviator on August 23, 2019, 11:01:46 AM
Quote from: Frank Smith on August 22, 2019, 08:14:42 PM
Whoa! What is that!? Never seen such a thing.

That's the Honda X ADV.  It's a 750cc adventure scooter.  They just came out with a 150cc version and rumor has it a 300cc version is coming.  So far none are available here.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Gam on August 24, 2019, 07:34:58 AM
Quote from: klaviator on August 23, 2019, 11:01:46 AM
That's the Honda X ADV.  It's a 750cc adventure scooter.  They just came out with a 150cc version and rumor has it a 300cc version is coming.  So far none are available here.

It wasn't exactly stock, but still:

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/honda-x-adv-scooter-wins-gibraltar-race/ (https://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/honda-x-adv-scooter-wins-gibraltar-race/)
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Doolittle on September 11, 2019, 07:02:14 PM
Quote from: WECSOG on August 15, 2019, 01:21:17 PM
I would like to get a ride together sometime pretty soon, from the PRV side. Maybe start at Jackson County 4 (the road that goes past Hollytree Offroad) and see if we can get to Upper Hurricane Road that way, as the map shows. Might be better to wait a few weeks for it to cool off, and give anyone else who would like to join it a chance to plan.

I was checking out Jackson County back roads on Sunday. There is a gate near 34.851168, -86.322635 (copy and paste to google maps.) You are not getting past it unless you go off road or drag a small bike under it. I guess you could try to drag a big bike under it but damn, it's hot. I would not be surprised to find out you can ride out County Road 3 and take a left and ride up to the same gate. The gate is just past the house for sale on the left.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: jrobinson on September 11, 2019, 07:41:29 PM
you can go up CR 3 and come off the mt to CR4 and 106. I would advise you to be very careful on any dirt roads out here just before and during deer season. afterward isn't too bad.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on September 23, 2019, 03:08:30 PM
I went out there Friday night on the GS. Just stayed on the main road till I hit CR3 and came back South on 65 and went back home. It was late and just really nice to slog around on the loose gravel and dry ruts on the pig. Rode by two groups of partying folks standing around bonfires. Thought that was a little odd in this dry weather. A few deer jumped out in front of me at close range. Good thing about that is that I was only going 15 MPH.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: thinwater on September 25, 2019, 07:40:41 AM
I accidently found this route dodging scattered thundershowers early this summer, I want to do it again during fall color change and explore it out some more.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on October 11, 2019, 10:40:07 PM
Just be careful. Hunters lay claim to some of the trails as others have said. Another road nearby is Greasy Cove. It's more rugged and has several more explorable side roads without all the posted signs.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: thinwater on October 12, 2019, 06:01:25 PM
Quote from: Frank Smith on October 11, 2019, 10:40:07 PM
Just be careful. Hunters lay claim to some of the trails as others have said. Another road nearby is Greasy Cove. It's more rugged and has several more explorable side roads without all the posted signs.

Thanks a lot!  I don't appreciate football, wife loves it. So I was looking for somewhere to go.  Went and hit it, all the way to the iron gate on the main trail.  People been going around it and it was possible but I don't do that.  Went back to a side trail and rode it until it was obvious I should have someone else with me for safety purpose.  I did have a Garmin Inreach with me that I could've called the calvary with.  Put nearly 100 miles on the bike this afternoon and rode some serious technical trail...It was a good day.   ;D
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Frank Smith on October 14, 2019, 07:46:07 PM
Post some pictures if you have any.
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: thinwater on October 16, 2019, 02:37:56 PM
Quote from: Frank Smith on October 14, 2019, 07:46:07 PM
Post some pictures if you have any.

Sorry, didn't have anything with me to take any...So as the younger generation says....It didn't happen. ::)
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: Paint Doc on January 24, 2020, 10:49:43 AM
Quote from: Frank Smith on May 27, 2018, 06:08:37 PM
I made the ride again today. I used GPS this time. Wanted to see if it would take me to Princeton and it did. I knew there had to be an easier way than going all the way south to 72 and then back up north on 65. I attached a GPX file if anyone wants to see the route. The off-road portion is manageable on a big bike with knobs for the muddy parts. Now I just gotta find the way to Bingham mountain via this trail.

Thanks for the GPX file! I have a few questions about your ride. I tried this road several years ago on my KLR from Bethel Cemetery. I only got a short distance before having to turn around. I was by myself, it was starting to rain, and getting muddy and slippery. Didn't want to take the chance of having to walk out. At another time, I was there with several friends but some locals at the cemetery warned us not to go as it was hunting season.

Looking at your GPX file, from the turn off Mountain Fork Rd. onto upper Hurricane Rd. to Bethel Cemetery is approximately 7.3 miles and took about 30 minutes. Does that sound right?
How rough is the road?I have Anakee 3 tires on my Wee-Strom, do you think I could make it through in dry weather?
I noticed on the satellite view on Google maps there is a nice home on High Top, so I assume the road can't be too rough or they couldn't get to their home.

Thanks again,
Paint Doc
Title: Re: Off of Mountain Fork Road
Post by: thinwater on January 24, 2020, 12:07:28 PM
Dry, a guy with me did it on a '73' honda 350Four or CB with 4 cylinders if you will, straight up street tires. You can do it.