Windrock Park

Located in the northeast part of Windrock Park, Trail 51 takes you to a breathtaking overlook named Panther Rock. This namesake rock feature overlooking the surrounding mountains and Three Forks Hollow is the perfect offroad trail for a lunch picnic or a romantic dinner at sunset. Whether you visit for the views or the Jeep Badge of Honor designation, Panther Rock is a "must-do" Tennessee offroad trail.

Located on the far west end of Windrock Park, Windrock 26 is a rocky and bouldery trek up the scenic Bletchers Creek. With close proximity to Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, this trail cries out to the adventurous driver seeking heart-pounding thrills. Whether attempting to check off your Jeep Badge of Honor or just hoping to further your offroad skills, Windrock 26 is a must-do trail.

Windrock 16 is one of Windrock's longest trails and is a continuous onslaught of varying obstacles that will test your driving abilities, your nerves, and your group's attrition. This punishing trail offers deep off-camber trenches, big rocks, and slippery hill climbs that await those with the courage to take on a lengthy adventure. This trail rewards the battle-weary with a spectacular waterfall and scenic views to top off an adrenaline-filled trail ride.

Located within Windrock Park, Windrock 22 is one of the first trails you will encounter as you leave the parking area. This is a great trail to get your feet wet right away and tackle a variety of obstacles, including steep climbs, creek crossings, mud holes, rock climbs, and boulder fields. If you want to skip the boring greens and start your day right away with great 4-wheel action, don't blink, or you might drive right by this gem.

Winding its way along the southern ridge of Windrock Mountain, G1 is the perfect access road to allow you to choose your adventure. With numerous options, drivers can keep to a 2WD adventure or take one of the many, much more challenging trails in Windrock Park or anything in between. A few vantage points break through the trees occasionally, allowing you to enjoy the expansive views of the countless ridges and valleys that make up this part of Tennessee. Whether you use G1 for access or adventure, this will be a great addition to any itinerary.

Running along the southeastern ridge of Redoak Mountain, G50 is a mild 4WD trail providing access to the eastern side of Windrock Park and trails such as Windrock 89 and the famous Jeep Badge of Honor trail Panther Rock. G50 also offers impressive views over Walden Ridge, Pine Ridge, and Dutch Valley, among many other hills and valleys in the distance. Whether you are running G50 as access or for pleasure, stop at the viewpoint and enjoy the greenery that Tennessee is known for.

Windrock Park is full of trails for all skill levels. Trails 2 and 10 make for a good intro into moderate trails, with all obstacles providing opportunities for the beginner driver to gain experience. Winding down from Windrock Mountain to Horseshoe Ridge, users only glimpse a tiny bit of what Windrock Park offers. Once the journey is complete, it is simple to return to the park and continue on an epic adventure.

Windrock Park is full of trails from easy to difficult to please any user. Trail 89 and G66 make for a relatively easy way to exit the park, with a few minor obstacles to keep your attention. The canopy of trees breaks occasionally, giving you glimpses of the sky while you wind your way down the lush forested mountainside that is Windrock Mountain.

Traveling south to north, this trail starts mild but gets interesting quickly after crossing the creek at the 180-degree turn. You will be challenged by continuously climbing loose rocks that get very slick with a little bit of moisture. There are optional lines through the climb to challenge big rigs, but with a steady pedal and good decision-making, you can reach the top in a stock 4x4 with high clearance.

G6 is a relatively easy road providing access to other trails within Windrock Park, such as Windrock 26. It is a packed dirt trail that is prone to ruts. However, proper tire placement should make quick work of them. Access to Knoxville Highway is also possible with the addition of Windrock 39.

This trail is a double black diamond on Windrock's rating system, and numerous obstacles certainly warrant that rating. With large rock fins, steep climbs and descents, and ridge-top views, this trail has it all for a seasoned driver with a capable rig. Many obstacles have bypasses, making this a good place for people looking to try something out of their comfort zone without committing to winching all day. The obstacle in the "Hardest Part" photo has a bypass.

Running Windrock 30 from south to north is a steady climb with a mix of obstacles, including deep ruts, v-notches, and small boulder fields. Even in dry conditions, rocks may be slick as water tends to run down this trail. Bypasses are limited, and there are several obstacles where vehicles with limited articulation will struggle.

Windrock 27 is a two-way trail accessed from G6 or Trail 26. Offroaders can expect steep inclines or declines depending on which way this trail is driven. There's a rut large enough to swallow a Jeep. Depending on your rig, it may result in off-camber moments with the potential for light body damage if not careful.

One item of interest is if drivers access 27 from G6 and exit via G26, they could leave Windrock Park and access attractions such as the Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

This trail is almost entirely smooth gravel two-track with a few shallow puddles and small rocks strewn around. The exception is the large rock ledge at the eastern entrance. As if the ledge itself wasn't enough of a challenge, the approach is steep and covered in loose gravel. To the driver's side, there is a large tree that could easily rearrange sheet metal or remove a mirror. That risk forces vehicles into an off-camber climb attempt to the passenger side. The top of the ledge is likely to have holes from drivers trying to scramble their way to the top, making traction even trickier. Running west to east to descend the ledge, vehicles may still risk hitting their bumper and rear-mounted spare tires.

Trail 11 is a mostly graded route with a few low spots that often hold shallow standing water when run clockwise. Occasionally, heavy rains will cause small washouts in areas as well. Along the trail, you pass old mining operations identifiable by clearly sculpted features in the hillside, and you can still find natural pieces of coal on the ground. Near the end of the trail, to the northeast, two uphill rock gardens represent the only real challenges. The first has larger rocks and is wide enough for drivers to pick from several lines. The upper garden is essentially one lane, but with smaller rocks, it is easily traversed with steady momentum and throttle control.

Windrock 83 is a two-way trail. It can be entered via G33 or G6. It can also be used to access Windrock 82, a difficult trail. While 83 is a relatively short trail, it offers great views down the mountainside and into the valley below. It also has several interesting rock features and waterfalls. The trail is known for its entrance to a mine system. While the mine entrance looks tempting to explore, exercise caution due to potentially dangerous gases that may have collected. Windrock discourages guests from entering. However, on a hot day, 83 can be a refreshing oasis due to the cold air coming out of the mine shafts. The trail exhibits mostly rough dirt and, depending on recent weather, several mid to large muddy puddles. The hardest part is the incline from entering the trail via G6.

Windrock 36 is a short, unmaintained trail taking users to the southern trailhead for G6. The only obstacles on this trail are moderate ruts. The trail is under a mile long but takes a little time to get through. The shade keeps the trail wet longer, and when this trail is wet, it is significantly more challenging. 4WD is necessary in all but optimal conditions, but no lift is needed unless the trail sees severe damage.