Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way

3.6/5 (9 reviews)
Fort Mc Coy, Florida (Marion County)
Last Updated: 05/27/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Forest
Iconic
Mud
Sand
Scenic

Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way is located in central Florida in Ocala Nationa Forest. Ocala National Forest spans over Lake, Marion, and Putnam Counties for about 385,000 acres. Four Wheel Drive Way travels 80 miles through the north, central, and south regions of Ocala National Forest. The trail is the longest in Florida and will leave lasting impressions as drivers weave through crowded trails, dig through deep Florida sugar sand, hill climb and hill descents, even a few off-camber areas and areas to flex your rig's suspension. Trees and other vegetation will dig into your vehicle's paint leaving permanent memories, whether good or bad is a discussion for another time. Tread Lightly! Four Wheel Drive Way is Florida's first and only trail listed on Jeep's Badge of Honor program. Jeep drivers can download Jeep Badge of Honor app on iOS or Android, check-in the app, and receive a badge after completing the trail. See

Jeep Badge of Honor

for more information.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Four Wheel Drive Way is made of various terrain: clay, dirt, sand, and mud. The trail is shaped like a twisted hourglass and is an 80 miles long route comprised of several roads. It has multiple hill climbs and descents. Obstacles on the trail consist of dips, some mudholes during the wet season, and deep sand. Four Wheel Drive Way is for stock 4WD trucks/SUVs with all-terrain or mud tires and drivers of all experiences.

Keep an eye out for Florida Black Bears.

Trail Reviews

3.6/5 (9)
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Hi, this was my first offroading trip and I was able to do the trail in about 7 hours. Definitely a lot of pin stripping, don't go if that is an issue for you. Two people is recommended. They're are a number of trees across the trails, 12 inches at the most, but in my case, I have a RTT and some trees were leaning low a toss the trail enough that I would not have been able to go under unless you saw them. I was able to push the tree up and my son drove under. Some deep sand, nothing difficult and no issues in 4H. i have a 2023 4runner with a 3inch lift and 33" AT tires. I think someone said they could do it 2 wheel drive, imho, not a chance through the sand. It was fun, but not hard at all.
200
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 05/27/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The trail from waypoint 1-14 is heavily overgrown. You will have LOTS of pinstriping. Locating the trail entrance at waypoint 1 was challenging as the brush has almost completely covered the trail. Lots of logs down and covering the trail. Riders have either moved the logs or driven over them. It really does not look like this trail has been used much at all. After entering the trail again from waypoint 7 someone has deposited their household garbage on the trail. Pretty sad. Travel slow or you will bypass waypoint 15. After waypoint 26, the worst seems to be over with. Do not drive fast as there are logs pointed at the windshield and a wrong move could result in devasting injury and/or damage.
Open
Rated 1/5
Visited: 05/15/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Not worth the moderate rating in any way. Ran the entire 81 miles in 3:20 in 2wd. There were some wet spots but nothing, absolutely nothing, requiring 4Hi or 4Lo. Not sure where the 7 hour time to complete came from. Did get to see a lot of decent size deer and a couple of large Black Bears. Lots of Bear **** on the trail in the southern part this time. I can see where 4wd might be required if it’s super wet out but even then on a well built rig, it can be done in 2wd. This trail is overrated IMO.
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 01/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The pin striping struggle is real. Glad I did it but probably wouldn't do it again. The trail is essentially 4 corners connected by a long main road. The north west, north east, south west and south east are all a little different. The southern sections were a little more technical but everything was doable in my stock 2014 sequoia with a roof carrier at nearly 8' tall. I'd highly suggest bringing a portable air compressor to air down since there's a lot of soft sand. Trail is very tight in many places and hand to fold the mirrors in on my sequoia to get it to fit. Had to use tow straps to move 2 trees blocking the trail. Took just over 6 hours and used around a half tank of gas.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 01/05/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Lovely trip through a beautiful landscape. Difficulty might depend on the rig. With a lift and right tires no issues at all. Needed 5 hours for the complete 81 miles. Only a few passages are Difficulty 3. Most are 1-2. My wife and I love our trip!

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