Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Elizabethtown, North Carolina

This is a State Forest road that takes you directly to Camp Chamblee, a dispersed camping area within the State Forest. The road is a well-maintained dirt road suitable for any vehicle. Camping is free, however, you are required to call the ranger station to let them know you are camping. They can b...
Learn more about Camp Chamblee

Carpenter Road is a short connector between State Route 15 and Strausburg Lane, providing access from pavement to the southeastern portion of the game lands. The road is predominantly a double-track trail, with some narrower sections consisting of loose sand and the potential for mud, while the west...
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Strausburg Lane is a poorly maintained forest road that has gradually deteriorated into an easy-to-moderate trail. Numerous puddles and small water crossings are scattered along the route, some of which may have soft bottoms. Depending on recent rainfall, these crossings can range from shallow puddl...
Learn more about Strausburg Lane

Hoffman Road is a large Forest Service road that provides access to a wide area of the southeastern portion of the Sandhills Game Lands. The road itself is wide and well-defined, with numerous trails branching off and a couple of key points of interest along the way. One of the most prominent featur...
Learn more about Hoffman Road

Scotland Lane is a smaller, less-maintained forest service road that runs east to west through the southern portion of the Sandhills Game Lands. The majority of the trail is generally easy; however, after rainfall, a few moderate-sized puddles can form toward the western end. Additional minor challe...
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The sand at Fort Fisher is soft, deep, and quite rutted, requiring four-wheel drive. Airing tires down to 18 to 20 psi is recommended, especially when sand conditions are hot and dry. Annual or day passes are available at the park entrance from the Park Rangers. This trail has fantastic ocean views ...
Learn more about Fort Fisher State Recreation Area 4x4 Beach

Deaton Lane is a sandy Forest Service road located on the eastern side of the Sandhills Game Lands. While many of the major roads in this area are fairly easy, this route presents a few minor challenges. At the end of the trail, drivers will find a small turnaround filled with medium-depth soft sand...
Learn more about Deaton Lane

Baggetts Lake Lane is a longer Forest Service road that runs north to south, providing access to a large portion of the Sandhills Game Lands. In addition to general access, the midpoint of the trail leads to the field trial grounds center, a military memorial, and nearby horse stables. The central s...
Learn more about Baggetts Lake Lane

Field Trial Road is an access road running from the Northeast to Southwest in the Sandhills Game Land. The road is generally easy, consisting of a wide, sandy forest service route with minor ruts and areas of loose sand. After heavy rain, the ruts may worsen, though the forest service frequently mai...
Learn more about Field Trial Road

Naked Creek Lane is a major east–west road located in the northernmost portion of the Sandhills Game Lands. Of the primary named roads, it is arguably the least maintained, tending to be narrower and slightly rougher than others in the area. Despite this, there are a few significant obstacles, thoug...
Learn more about Naked Creek Lane

This trail is accessible from the north side of the campground or from Cooke's Circle. Oakley Road is a nice and easy ride through the woods. It does have a few narrow blind corners so use caution. However, the trail is generally wide enough for two vehicles to pass. Be aware that the speed limit in...
Learn more about Oakley Road

This is a great little trail that breaks off of Heritage Trail and runs parallel to it. It has a couple of blind corners and is mostly a single-lane trail with areas to pull off to allow traffic to pass. It feels a little slower-paced and avoids some of the mud holes that develop on its bigger broth...
Learn more about Trey's Trail

Strickland Road is a connector between Heritage Trail and Shelby Drive. The trail is mostly comprised of grass with compact sand underneath. Its wide;however, the trees tend to grow in near Shelby Drive, so the trail may narrow near this intersection. Use caution approaching Heritage Trail or Shelby...
Learn more about Strickland Drive

The Beaten Path lives up to its namesake, the trail is hardpacked sand with multiple mud holes in the middle of the trail; however, they're easy to bypass under normal conditions. There is one large obstacle that comes shortly after the intersection with Blackdog's Boulevard, or before the intersect...
Learn more about Beaten Path

This loop begins and ends at the Heritage Trail intersection. Most of the obstacles on the trail are a few small mudholes that are easily bypassed around the edges. Further down the trail is a larger mud hole with no visible bypass that may pose a more significant challenge after heavy rain. As the ...
Learn more about Cooke's Circle

Johnson's Cut Through is a short but wide trail, comprised mostly of compact sand. It allows access to Oakley Road or Heritage Trail without the need to track all the way back into the campground. The trail is well marked on Heritage Trail; however, no sign exists on Oakley Road. Use caution approac...
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This main trail leaves from the north side of the campground. It's wide and comprised of compacted sand with several mud holes that are easily bypassed. This is a high use trail so use caution for oncoming traffic and bear in mind the speed limit of 5 mph in and around the campground.
Learn more about Heritage Trail

This trail is a ride around the pasture with no challenge in between. The trail is mostly used as an access to other trails in the system, so some sections have well-worn tire tracks, and other areas are just grass. Do watch for traffic as you approach the highly-used Restoration Trail.
Learn more about Graham's Circle

Shelby Drive has a split personality. Leaving from the northwest section of the campground, it is wide and comprised of compact sand that has plenty of room for multiple vehicles to pass. However, if you pick up the trail from Beaten Path, it is a narrow, single-lane trail that runs along the gas li...
Learn more about Shelby Drive

If you enjoy high berm turns and a little challenge, then you'll love this trail that is surprisingly whoopty-free. Betty's Whoopties is a one-way, single-lane trail that leaves from Fox Hollow. At the bottom of the hill, Fox Hollow makes a hard left turn, and this trail is immediately to your right...
Learn more about Betty's Whoopties

This trail is accessible from the north side of the campground or from Cooke's Circle. Oakley Road is a nice and easy ride through the woods. It does have a few narrow blind corners so use caution. However, the trail is generally wide enough for two vehicles to pass. Be aware that the speed limit in...
Learn more about Oakley Road

This is a great little trail that breaks off of Heritage Trail and runs parallel to it. It has a couple of blind corners and is mostly a single-lane trail with areas to pull off to allow traffic to pass. It feels a little slower-paced and avoids some of the mud holes that develop on its bigger broth...
Learn more about Trey's Trail

Strickland Road is a connector between Heritage Trail and Shelby Drive. The trail is mostly comprised of grass with compact sand underneath. Its wide;however, the trees tend to grow in near Shelby Drive, so the trail may narrow near this intersection. Use caution approaching Heritage Trail or Shelby...
Learn more about Strickland Drive

The Beaten Path lives up to its namesake, the trail is hardpacked sand with multiple mud holes in the middle of the trail; however, they're easy to bypass under normal conditions. There is one large obstacle that comes shortly after the intersection with Blackdog's Boulevard, or before the intersect...
Learn more about Beaten Path

This trail is accessible from the north side of the campground or from Cooke's Circle. Oakley Road is a nice and easy ride through the woods. It does have a few narrow blind corners so use caution. However, the trail is generally wide enough for two vehicles to pass. Be aware that the speed limit in...
Learn more about Oakley Road

This is a great little trail that breaks off of Heritage Trail and runs parallel to it. It has a couple of blind corners and is mostly a single-lane trail with areas to pull off to allow traffic to pass. It feels a little slower-paced and avoids some of the mud holes that develop on its bigger broth...
Learn more about Trey's Trail

Strickland Road is a connector between Heritage Trail and Shelby Drive. The trail is mostly comprised of grass with compact sand underneath. Its wide;however, the trees tend to grow in near Shelby Drive, so the trail may narrow near this intersection. Use caution approaching Heritage Trail or Shelby...
Learn more about Strickland Drive

The Beaten Path lives up to its namesake, the trail is hardpacked sand with multiple mud holes in the middle of the trail; however, they're easy to bypass under normal conditions. There is one large obstacle that comes shortly after the intersection with Blackdog's Boulevard, or before the intersect...
Learn more about Beaten Path