Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Gulf, North Carolina

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...
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A-6 Lane is one of the primary Forest Service roads connecting the northern portions of the Sandhills Game Lands to the southern areas, while also serving as the boundary between the field trial grounds and the main game lands. The southern half of the road is generally wider and better maintained, ...
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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...
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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...
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Telephone Lane is a smaller and more involved trail than others located within the Sandhills Game Lands. The route is primarily a sandy double-track, with the potential for deeper sand, standing water, ruts, and mud depending on the weather and time of year. Seasonal changes or recent prescribed bur...
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Nursery Lane is a longer Forest Service road within Sandhills Game Lands that offers a generally easy drive with only minimal challenges, most of which depend on weather conditions. A short section of the trail has been rutted out by recent rainfall, though the ruts are typically no deeper than 6 in...
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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...
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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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Thrower Lane is a shorter Forest Service road within the Sandhills Game Lands that provides views and access to the eastern end of Bones Fork, a flooded pond. This area frequently overflows, creating small water crossings of varying depths. While these crossings may present a minor challenge, they t...
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FS-576 in Uwharrie National Forest, also known as Moccasin Cir, is a gravel road that splits the National Forest from east to west and dead-ends at the Deep Woods camp area. Along the way, there are several primitive campsites just off the road. Some of them have stunning views of Badin Lake just so...
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Cotton Place is a Forest Service road located within Uwharrie National Forest. It runs from Moccasin Creek (FS 576) to private property south of the national forest. The trail primarily provides access to the "front side" of Daniel (FS 390), the most challenging OHV area within Uwharrie National For...
Learn more about Cotton Place - FS 555

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...
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McLeans Creek (FS 544) serves as the middle of three access routes to Uwharrie National Forest. While the majority of McLeans Creek proper features a paved surface, the westernmost mile quickly transitions into a gravel and hard-packed dirt forest service road. On Mullinix Road just before the inter...
Learn more about McLeans Creek - FS 544

Dusty Level Rd is a county road comparable to many Forest Service roads in the area, providing access to less-established portions of Uwharrie National Forest while routing through some stretches of private property. The trail is generally easy, featuring a few potholes, mild ruts, and a couple of s...
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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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Dutch John (FS 553) is a major Forest Service road providing direct access from the eastern national forest entrance, via Moccasin Creek (FS 576), to southeastern OHV trails such as Dickey Bell (FS 91), Falls Dam (FS 96), and Rocky Mount Loop (FS 92). This forest service road features small rocks, r...
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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...
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Slab Pile is a fun trail with off-camber portions, small hill climbs, ruts, and several optional challenges. Most of the trail is accessible to most vehicles with moderate ground clearance. Little to none of the main trail requires 4WD, but some of the optional lines and obstacles will likely requir...
Learn more about Slab Pile Trail 79

The trail is an easy, standard Forest Service road providing access to the Badin Lake campgrounds, group campgrounds, and recreation area. Most, if not all, of the Badin Lake campsites do not have power or water hookups; however, the grounds do feature a bathhouse, RV pump station, and lake access. ...
Learn more about Kings Mountain Road - FS 597A

The Sawmill Trail is an easier trail through the forest. It features multiple short hill climbs that can be slightly off-camber, a few large puddles or stream crossings, and all-around good views of the forest. The trail is generally pretty easy and can offer a good area to begin on, with little pot...
Learn more about Sawmill Trail 93

FS-576 in Uwharrie National Forest, also known as Moccasin Cir, is a gravel road that splits the National Forest from east to west and dead-ends at the Deep Woods camp area. Along the way, there are several primitive campsites just off the road. Some of them have stunning views of Badin Lake just so...
Learn more about FS-576

Slab Pile is a fun trail with off-camber portions, small hill climbs, ruts, and several optional challenges. Most of the trail is accessible to most vehicles with moderate ground clearance. Little to none of the main trail requires 4WD, but some of the optional lines and obstacles will likely requir...
Learn more about Slab Pile Trail 79

The Sawmill Trail is an easier trail through the forest. It features multiple short hill climbs that can be slightly off-camber, a few large puddles or stream crossings, and all-around good views of the forest. The trail is generally pretty easy and can offer a good area to begin on, with little pot...
Learn more about Sawmill Trail 93

Lake View Trail is an easier trail offering great views of Uwharrie National Forest and Badin Lake. A view of Badin Lake can be seen about halfway through the trail. Most of the trail is an easy shelf road that winds along the hills and mountains of the forest. There are a few optional challenges th...
Learn more about Lake View Trail 69

FS-576 in Uwharrie National Forest, also known as Moccasin Cir, is a gravel road that splits the National Forest from east to west and dead-ends at the Deep Woods camp area. Along the way, there are several primitive campsites just off the road. Some of them have stunning views of Badin Lake just so...
Learn more about FS-576

Slab Pile is a fun trail with off-camber portions, small hill climbs, ruts, and several optional challenges. Most of the trail is accessible to most vehicles with moderate ground clearance. Little to none of the main trail requires 4WD, but some of the optional lines and obstacles will likely requir...
Learn more about Slab Pile Trail 79

The Sawmill Trail is an easier trail through the forest. It features multiple short hill climbs that can be slightly off-camber, a few large puddles or stream crossings, and all-around good views of the forest. The trail is generally pretty easy and can offer a good area to begin on, with little pot...
Learn more about Sawmill Trail 93

Lake View Trail is an easier trail offering great views of Uwharrie National Forest and Badin Lake. A view of Badin Lake can be seen about halfway through the trail. Most of the trail is an easy shelf road that winds along the hills and mountains of the forest. There are a few optional challenges th...
Learn more about Lake View Trail 69