Ontario BS Thread

It did look challenging that's for sure and the other portion I found by Hayes looked good too.

I was checking on of4 all the ones by bobcaygen that are rated as a 2 are being reported as lots of water still.

Hell one from a month ago said they had water up to the headlights on a xterra

 

I ended up getting to the top of that hill. I did take the bypass for some of it going up but coming down I took it all the way. The trail kept going once you got up there.

Yeah water can be pretty shitty to deal with and can cause some issues for guys with no snorkels or who aren't Eugene @NorilskSever. lol

Essentially arbdeg would be the best trail to run since it has thought off shoots for people to play on, and the main trail is pretty good. However I am hesitant as @llamasmurf was scraping on a few obstacles with his stock suspension (fully skidded) truck.

Trying to find that mix....Its proving challenging. Where do they do the newbie run for OF4wd? That may be a good trail.

 

Minden, or southwind motel.

Which is pretty crazy cause minden was hard and from everyone I know that has done the trails at south wind they are no where close to rated as they should be. All are tight and a mix of mud and rock. and some rather deep water crossings. So southwind is a definite no. Its not so much that its THAT difficult, as I know some that have gone through it with a relatively stock jeep, but there's also little to no bypasses. And from what I've heard they've been eaten up a lot over the season so lots of deep ruts now. Problem is the trails that are rated as a 2 at southwind are the entrances to the much harder ones so all the big jeeps on 35s+ go through them and tear them up.

Minden was good just the concern of water for those with no breathers and obviously as we saw with my truck the skids took a lot of abuse. And leaving was a bit nerve racking without a snorkel.

Ardbeg was pretty easy, as long as everyone on it has at least the OEM skid in the front should be helpful as you'll hear that hit and just need to go slow. Best bet would be have someone else go ahead of them that has armour and if they scrape well we just need to either look for another line, bypass or just spot and keep an eye on whatever was scraped on.

I wouldn't say serious damage is likely on any of the trails we have done, but as all of us that have done them understand there is always a possibility for damage. Hell, even the Ganaraska forest could cause damage you never really know.
After doing both minden hydro and ardbeg I feel its safe to say Ardbeg is easier. Although it is rated higher and does have a lot more much, much harder off shoots than Minden does, most of it is pretty widely open, and allows for plenty of bypasses, unlike most of Minden which was pretty tight.

In all fairness I think that hill climb portin that is in my avatar, and the first deep water crossing are the worst parts of Minden as there are no bypasses for either and they were the hardest. Water crossing is where I popped my bumper off, and leaving was scary as its a drop into the water. The rock hill was where I got lots of scraping to my sliders and armour.

The water at Ardbeg was much better than at Minden, aside from the no go hole. However I think Ardbeg is higher elevation so water isn't as bad up there. Minden had lots of flooding over the spring so the water levels were high. I think thats also why all the other trails in the Bobcaygen area that are rated as a 2 are all being reported as 3+ to 4 right now because the water levels are still too high. One I was looking at was supposed to be 16inch deep water at the deepest but some reported being up to the top of a 33. As well some of them are soft bottomed and are starting to develop sunken spots like the mud hole at the forest had.

 

Biggest thing is the weather and other drivers make it hard to say for sure. I want to do a fall run but where is the problem. Could always run Ganaraska again, but I know some guys were itching to mess around as the mud hole videos showed.

See how she goes. I think there is another place where the nissan truck club has their adventure weekend. The stock xterras are way lower than a tacoma. So just have to do a bit more research.

 

Ya I definitely wanted more rock crawling to do haha.
If I remember right isn't ardbeg mostly ever greens? So not much colour change there. Minden has some change but not much.

Even if the xterra is lower thats till some pretty high water.

Issue I see is finding trails that are close to the GTA so it doesn't have to be a camping trip as I feel that will make it harder for everyone to make it, and a trail that still has some challenges to it but not hard.

Also was looking at that list of trails, I know its too far for a day trip although @Bocsy44 came from the area, there seems to be a few trails in the Ottawa/smith falls area that are rated as a 2 or 2+. Would be cool to do as a camping trip to check out. Ottawa is still pretty far for most of the GTA since it was an hour east for me just to get to ganaraska, and I think Eric said it was 3.5 hours for him into the area.

Given some are coming from the west end of the GTA that can turn into a 5 hour drive pretty easily.
Sucks there's nothing closer.

 

hahaha yeah, for a day trip 3.5 hours wasn't bad and well worth it from my point of view. I also don't mind driving, but when you start getting into 5 hours then it would only be worth it to camp as well haha mind you I also know buddies in the GTA since I grew up in Oakville that would be more then happy to let me crash at their place if need be. give me an excuse to do some visiting hahaha

I think next years goal will be armour lol wish I would have known a year ago before I started moding random things hahaha oh well its all a learning curve.

as far as trails in the smiths falls area, not sure exactly where they are but I have a trailer in a campground about 20 mins from smiths falls and they do have tent sites that they rent out, I'm friends with the owner, and I also use to work there so I'm sure I could get a decent price on the sites if need be. could probably get even better pricing once fall comes or in early spring since the park is starting to clear out. everyone is closing up for the season and by October only the few dedicated campers remain. which is the best time of year, less rules, no quiet time, bigger fires haha a few of us even go up in the winter and spend the weekend, big fires, cold beers and ice fishing.

 

referring to scotchline (Minden hydro)

 

I'd be interested just to check out the eastern portions of the province.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...s&ll=45.2838985481413,-76.47423815673824&z=11

Around the White lake area. There's two 2 rated trails. Would be cool to check them out.

Gonna look them up on OF4 now and see what it says on them.

 

So one was Darling Hydro line

Darling Hydro Line

2 Open

Region
East/Ottawa
Trail Description
Originally this trail followed the hydro line from near California across Hwy 511 to Joe’s Lake. More recently private landowners have gated Lower Darling on the west side of Hwy 511. Upper Darling to the east of Hwy 511 remains open. The trail has been upgraded by Hydro due to tower replacements but there are still places to play. A short-cut entrance to this trail is a bit rocky and slippery with pine needles leading to a road. The road leads back to the hydro line. The trail is well used by ATVs and other motorized vehicles. Most of the trail is characterized by a rocky hydro line road with one significant water crossing and mud holes off to the side. There are lots of opportunities for rock crawling.
Cautions
Un-assumed road Crosses and adjacent to private land.
User Groups
ATV, Dirt Bikes, Equestrians, Hikers
Terrain Type
Long Water Crossing, Mix of Terrain, Mud, Open Trail, Rock, Slightly Off Camber (15 deg)
Truck Requirements
Front Tow Points, Min All Terrain Tires, Rear Tow Points, Stock Vehicles
LOC # TYPE NAME & DESCRIPTION COORDINATES
1085 Trailhead Darling 2
EOTB. Trail follows road in and out of private property to the hydroline. Going Southwest there are three different private properties. 45.17502, -76.47108
4059 Trail End Upper Darling Hwy 511
Exit to Hwy 511 45.17755, -76.55627
4112 Danger Broken Culvert
Plastic culvert 45.21011, -76.51229
4061 Trail Upper Darling 45.17502, -76.47108
4060 Trail Lower Darling CLOSED 45.17655, -76.55927
Trail Newsfeed
Darling Hydro Line
2016-05-14
First entire first half of the indicated trail can no longer be accessed as a barrier has been erected , the trail up to the point of the barrier was also overgrown and fairly unused . significant cutting of overgrown branches and fallen trees were done to get to the carrier by myself and group who went there. We doubled back and went down the darling concession line 6 to finally hit the hydroline , however we only got to drive on a short span to where we hit hwy 511 and have to cross over to continue on the hydroline , there we were met with a gate with a danger keep out sign, that was the end of that trail. In all we were only able to use maybe a 1/4 of it . The trail itself should be removed from the trail index as its not worth it.


No trail reports this year and only one from last year so maybe closed and no longer used?



Gorge is the other one by White Lake

Gorge

2 Open

Region
East/Ottawa
Trail Description
The Gorge trail is a stock-friendly hydro line trail located about an hour from Ottawa. The trail follows the hydro line access road making it ideal for new off-roaders and those who wish a gentle introduction to off-roading. There are many off-shoots and rock climbing opportunities that keep the trail interesting for novice and experienced drivers. All of the off-shoots return to the hydro line access road so drivers can try the obstacle or skip it without getting separated from the group.
Cautions
This trail has been criss-crossed and re-routed by logging and a new logging road. Turn around at the end of the trail. If you proceed further you will be on private land and you will not be welcomed. Off trail swampy areas can be very deep and wide
Trail Highlights
Something for everyone
User Groups
ATV, Snowmobiles
Terrain Type
Mix of Terrain, Mud, Open Trail, Rock, Steep Rock, Tree Cover
Truck Requirements
Front Tow Points, Rear Tow Points, Stock Vehicles
Directions
via Burnstown
LOC # TYPE NAME & DESCRIPTION COORDINATES
1138 Trailhead Gorge Trail
OFSC Calabogie East Trail. Appears to have some private property around trail area as per CULPA. EOTB 45.33510, -76.56961
2050 Trail Gorge Trail 45.30098, -76.6179


No trail reports either so not sure, but sounds a lot like Minden hydro

 

so I'm looking at the map and they would be about an hour, probably a bit more from my trailer, but my friends own a 40 acre property in Perth which they would let us camp on. cutting out about half an hour of drive time.

I know Calabogie is a beautiful area! theres crown land up in that area too but I haven't explored it at all but i have a friend who goes up that way to go target shooting. I have another buddy and his friends go on the Burntlands trails often so I could ask him what kind of terrain it is like. The Dwyer Hill trail is closed now cuz the property sold which sucks cuz it was actually awesome, a little bit of everything haha

 

I'm thinking OF4 isn't as big out your way because there is little to no info on any of the trails that way haha.

But tons of info for all the ones in the central/haliburton areas

 

I do believe you are right haha I don't know too many people who are interested in doing what we do. (well what I would like to start doing lol) most of the people i see or talk to just like going mudding more so then exploring trails. I think the trails in that area are probably used by locals who just know where they are kind of thing. whenever I mention OF4 they have no idea what it is. next year ill be getting a membership for sure tho haha

 

Some small news from FB:

1.SONTT is coming back under new name!
http://www.truenorthtoyotatrucks.ca

2.Also, on October 13th there will be some sales at 4WheelParts in Burlington and a winch giveaway.

 

some of the trails on Gravel Travel sound awesome haha

http://www.graveltravel.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=124:ridamox&catid=1

I think this one is the one @tacoma16 was talking about

http://www.graveltravel.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:ridamox&catid=1

 

Peter and I both have of4 memberships. It does get you liability Insurance on trail and free entry to South wind. For the $50 a year not bad. Plus all the trail info and updates

Do they have any different trails listed or probably not

I want to do some of those so bad. But not sure if they have any off shoots. But would be great just to go on a trip of.
Would also be nice just to hang out with some guys for a change lmao. I stopped hanging out with a lot of the guys I used to cause they all seem to be dead weight, all doing nothing with their lives, and since they're all single all the ever want to do is go out to bars and what not to meet girls. Not really interested in that anymore. And I'd rather be out in nature than in this shit hole city Toronto lol. All of them are city guys so they do not care for nature at all

 

Trail info is key. Liability insurance aint bad either haha
doesn't really sound like they have off shoots, but it does sounds like it would make a fun trip for sure!

 

check edit abve

 

agree 100%. I'm single but I would still rather be out in nature and what not. bars aren't my thing anymore, been there, done that. spent too much money haha time to enjoy something else hahaha

 

Nope, all they have is Toyota trucks. Let’s see what they are coming up with. Tacomaworld is the only off-road source and trip planing website so far for me.

 

Piece of advise. If you want to mod the sh1t out of your truck - stay single for as much as possible!