Oklahoma Off-Road Trails

TSOB is one of the less challenging exits from the Onion Patch area, but it is far from an easy route. It begins with a 7-foot waterfall climb and then follows a hard-bottomed, water-filled creek until the water disappears, leaving a bed of chunky, jagged, polished limestone ranging in size from footballs and dinner plates to beach balls and coffee tables. The terrain is a continuous onslaught of rocks with periodic 2-foot ledges and waterfalls to keep things interesting. The narrow creek bed limits line choice and offers virtually no bypasses around the roughest sections. This trail is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires, skid plates, rocker protection, and a winch. Lockers are highly recommended but not absolutely necessary.

Barn Road is a straight-through mud run across the low, shaded Soggy Bottoms, linking Camp Road on the east to Trot Line on the west. A photogenic, weathered shed headlines it called “The Barn," which you can either drive through or around. Don’t let the quaint landmark fool you, however, west of the barn, the trail drops into trenched ruts, multiple creek crossings, and sticky clay wallows. Some water lines stay in the 12–24 inch range; others are deep enough to bury a rig to the frame, with off-camber dips that can lean you hard into the trees. Difficulty swings wildly with recent rain. In wet conditions, expect a tire-spinning, technical slog where lockers move from helpful to essential; even in drier spells, the churned ruts and soft bottoms make larger tires and a winch essential. It’s a classic Cross Bar challenge, mud-forward, recovery-friendly, and capped by a cool bit of ranch history at the trail’s namesake barn. 

Short Course Bypass is a straight-through trail that accesses the west side of the short course and travels along the course for a very short section. It is a moderately rough trail with sporadic 12-inch rocks throughout and deeper ruts and mudholes along the north end. This is suitable for any high clearance vehicle. However, the north end is a bit rougher with more diff-catching rocks to be cautious of.

Riley’s Ridge (also signed “Rylee’s Ridge”) follows a narrow ridgeline above the Onion Patch with sweeping looks down toward TSOB, Hell’s Gate, and a tributary of Colbert Creek. It can be run in either direction, but it is easier downhill from east to west. The eastern approach is a relaxed run off the Main Road, winding through thick pine along a rough, bumpy dirt road with scattered embedded rock, before opening to a handsome overlook of the Onion Patch.

Past the overlook, you’ll choose between a short, moderate, and ledgey drop to a parking area above Hell’s Gate or the more difficult, slippery descent to the creekbed of O’Schmidt. The steeper hill mixes polished 2–3 foot limestone ledges with clay that turn extremely slick when wet, demanding careful throttle and tire placement.

No matter the route you choose, this trail is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires and heavy-duty skid plates. If traveling the trail west to east, lockers are highly recommended.

Bedlam Road is a straight-through, rough two-track that winds through the open grasslands on the east side of the park, connecting Cowboy Way and Sooner Express. It’s so lightly traveled that it feels like you’re forging your own path across an African savanna, with tall grass rising above the hood, brushing against the undercarriage, and occasionally concealing a few surprise rocks that could disrupt your alignment. Despite its rugged appearance, the trail is relatively easy and suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. With minimal mud, it’s an excellent choice even on rainy days. While most trees have been cleared and trimmed back, light pinstriping is still possible from encroaching shrubs.

Camber Park is a half-circle-shaped trail in the northwest end of the park that takes users past one of the most famous and hardcore obstacles within Cross Bar Ranch: Dead Man’s Slide. The main trail is a mix of hardpack and exposed limestone that traverses a couple of water crossings and weaves through some tight vegetation. You will also encounter significant mudholes on the north half. The southern end of the trail is where you will find the optional Dead Man’s Slide, a daunting hill climb of rolling and slanted sandstone ledges. There are various lines up the hill climb, none of which are considered easy. The area below Dead Man’s is a wide, flat area, and a popular hangout spot. 

Kelly’s Kut is a very short spur off Gin N Juice, just east of Rock Face in the northwest corner of Cross Bar Ranch. The route takes only a few minutes to run and exists mainly for a single obstacle in the middle of the trail. That obstacle is a multi-ledge waterfall climb over loose dirt and polished limestone, with several tire-swallowing holes to avoid. Multiple lines provide different levels of difficulty, making it a quick, focused challenge best suited to modified vehicles. A spotter and careful tire placement are recommended.

Loretta Alternate is a short spur off Loretta Lane that avoids the mudholes you find on Loretta Lane, but does not bypass any major rock obstacles. It offers the same type of experience with chunky, loose limestone rock and a few steep climbs. Rocks are slightly bigger along this alternate, ranging from volleyball to basketball size. However, the trail is still suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Culdesac is a tight, lollipop-shaped out-and-back that winds through the trees, crosses Wall’s Way, then climbs two steep, loose limestone hills with small polished ledges. The hills require steady commitment and maintained momentum. In dry conditions, any high-clearance vehicle should make the climbs without trouble. When wet, the slope turns slick and the ascents become significantly more difficult. Expect pinstriping on the section east of Wall’s Way.

This is an easy, packed dirt road with a few low depressions that create shallow water holes during wet conditions. It is primarily used as an access road to a private residence southeast of the intersection with Wall's Way. However, the road is additionally used to cut off the North and East sections of Wall's Way and create a bailout for users running Wall's Way in the counterclockwise direction. It also creates an alternative entrance to the Cul-De-Sac Trail.