General Sam's Off-road Park Huntsville, Tx

[fblainen11]

I'm heading up to General Sam's this weekend with my older brother. He's hauling his 80's Bronco up there (lol) and I'm driving my 4Runner there. My 4Runner is basically stock. I'm about a month out from having my lift and tires on. Haven't had the time to install the lift and my tax return has been delayed because of healthcare xchange screw-ups (thanks Obama!).
So my wife is asking me to wait to order the tires til that gets in.

Anyone been there? I'm planning on riding with bro in the Bronco to scope it out a bit (there's a Bronco group that will be there) and then I'll judge which trails I'm capable of tackling after a bit. I figure if I get stuck on/in anything there will be plenty of people to help pull me out. I'm hoping there are decent dry-ish trails.
We maybe camping out, not sure yet.

Be cool to see someone else in a 4Runner there.

 

[jgue467]

Going muddin' with no healthcare isn't wise but I'm sure Turmp will make that great again, eh?

Hidden Falls is much more fun for a runner, 5 levels of difficulty. :cowboy:

 

[tx_shooter]

I have some friends in Houston that went to General Sam's a few years ago and all they had to say was mud mud mud. I would leave my 4R in the parking lot and enjoy a day riding around.

If you want to see your 4R shine jque467 is right about Hidden Falls. The trails are all over the difficulty scale and the park is large enough that you will not be riding bumper to bumper with other people.

There is also Barnwood Mountain OHV (aka Gilmer) that is a good park to go to. I had my 2001 4R there last Jambo and my '87 there a few years before that.

 

[fblainen11]

Going muddin' with no healthcare isn't wise but I'm sure Turmp will make that great again, eh?

Hidden Falls is much more fun for a runner, 5 levels of difficulty. :cowboy:

I have health insurance.

Health care and and health insurance aren't the same.

I'm going to Gen Sams. Not hidden falls. Maybe next time.

Any input on Gen sams?

 

[ajordan1975]

Gen Sams sucks unless you're in to mud! I went once 10 something years ago and never went back. Barnwell Mountain, or Hidden Falls are waaaaay better places to go.

 

[jgue467]

I have health insurance.

Health care and and health insurance aren't the same.

I'm going to Gen Sams. Not hidden falls. Maybe next time.

Any input on Gen sams?

As others said (and you can verify online pics) sams is muddy (about to get some more rain weds & friday) and seems to be oriented towards atvs.

Hidden falls has seperate (and some combined) atv and truck roads, much more challenging, cool places to camp out overnight. It's 'texas hill country' vx. texas mudville, your choice. :cowboy:

 

[Soneill]

Going muddin' with no healthcare isn't wise but I'm sure Turmp will make that great again, eh?

Hidden Falls is much more fun for a runner, 5 levels of difficulty. :cowboy:

Was thinking of taking the wife and kids out there. Had a few questions. Have you camped, are the level of difficulty pretty self explanatory? I.e I'm not going to get on a trail that would be over my head without knowing till it's too late? Is it safe for a first timer or should I bring someone that has been before. Is it worth the price?

 

[jgue467]

Yes have camped in the 'primitive' section (no power/water) in tents. They also have power/water areas and 30/50 amp hookups for travel trailers.

The 5 levels are clearly marked. Our trucks can do levels 1 and 2 out of the box (w/4wd). If not careful you might get a scratch on level 2. Level 3 you can still try but are somewhat more likely to get a scratch/small dent. Levels 4 and 5 you can count on scratches and dents, maybe bigger ones on 5.

It's not too pricey, $40/person first visit of the year, then $25 on repeats the same year. There are county police driving around, so no open/visible drinking allowed or other stupid things. Lights out (loud music)/gates closed at 10pm. They do a pretty good job of crowd control and keeping it to more of a family place than an outright party place.

Marble Falls is very nearby for great food in all price ranges and then there are the lakes and hill country views in all directions. Yeah you can do this on a first visit, just don't get too excited like a dog let loose off his leash!!! Luck and enjoy. :cowboy:

 

[tx_shooter]

Was thinking of taking the wife and kids out there. Had a few questions. Have you camped, are the level of difficulty pretty self explanatory? I.e I'm not going to get on a trail that would be over my head without knowing till it's too late? Is it safe for a first timer or should I bring someone that has been before. Is it worth the price?

HF is a great park IMO. I have a group that is trying get a trip setup for going there in the next month or two. I have a new RTT I am trying to take out for a maiden voyage.

 

[Soneill]

Yes have camped in the 'primitive' section (no power/water) in tents. They also have power/water areas and 30/50 amp hookups for travel trailers.

The 5 levels are clearly marked. Our trucks can do levels 1 and 2 out of the box (w/4wd). If not careful you might get a scratch on level 2. Level 3 you can still try but are somewhat more likely to get a scratch/small dent. Levels 4 and 5 you can count on scratches and dents, maybe bigger ones on 5.

It's not too pricey, $40/person first visit of the year, then $25 on repeats the same year. There are county police driving around, so no open/visible drinking allowed or other stupid things. Lights out (loud music)/gates closed at 10pm. They do a pretty good job of crowd control and keeping it to more of a family place than an outright party place.

Marble Falls is very nearby for great food in all price ranges and then there are the lakes and hill country views in all directions. Yeah you can do this on a first visit, just don't get too excited like a dog let loose off his leash!!! Luck and enjoy. :cowboy:

Awsome!! Thank for the info.

 

[Renegade_Medic]

I've been to both. Like stated, Gen Sam's is great for mud. There is a lot there, there are also a ton of trails. I took my old jeep and it was a blast in the mud. I'm not so sure id take the runner out there. A Bronco? Hell yeah! As others have said HF is much more suited to these trucks. I see you're coming from Louisiana, it's another 3.5hours to HF from Huntsville. I wouldn't do a lot there in a 4Runner without a lift or especially better tires. The mud is clay there. It's also a pain to work under a truck anytime it's ever been mudding. Take the bronco and have fun, or try HF.
Also, I've not heard of the second trip to HF costing $25, that's new to me.

 

[fblainen11]

Thanks for the input y'all.
I think I'm gonna go ahead and drive the 4runner up there instead of ride with the brother. I'd rather get there a see what's available and take it on trails I'm interested in, than get there without it and realize there are some trails that I would have liked to try. Mud isn't really my scene, I'd rather just trails.

This is my brother's Bronco group, I was just invited along.

I do plan on taking a few trips with the family either to Arkansas, Missouri, or out to the Austin/ San Antonio area. However, right now we've got a breastfeeding 4 month old and the wife isn't quite ready to roll out on a 5+ hour trip. She does want to bring the kids (2 year old girl and aforementioned boy) on a camping trip. So we are slowly building up to that.