FALL ADVENTURES AT WINDROCK PARK

Windrock Park in East Tennessee is the perfect location for the ultimate outdoor adventure this fall. Windrock Park is a 72,000 acre privately owned off-roading park that has over 300 miles of trails for off-highway vehicles, hiking, trail running and mountain biking. The highest elevation, called "The Flag Pole" at Cross Mountain is 3,534 feet and the view is spectacular!!! The great thing is, that is only one of many spectacular views.

One of the most visited sites at Windrock Park is the Windmill Farm at Buffalo Mountain. There are 18 windmills and 15 of them are over 256 feet tall with 136 foot blades creating a wing span of 395 feet. They are a site to see, standing on top of the mountain almost like sentinels. If you come to Windrock Park to only see the Windmills, you can get a $17 permit for a six passenger vehicle.

There are many events held at the park each year including events for Jeep riders, Hummer owners, mountain bikers, side-by-side riders, runners; basically, if you can do it off-road, there is an event at Windrock Park for it. However, their premier events are the Spring and Fall Jamborees which are action packed weekends with guided rides, ATV rodeos, rock crawls, poker runs, drag races, mug bogs, the dash for cash and each jamboree features special competitions called the Windrock Wide Open (a 1.3 mile four lap race) and the Windrock Challenge (a specially designed obstacle course for ATVs). The Spring Jamobree is always the third weekend in April and the Fall Jamboree is always the third weekend in October. Get all the details at www.windrockpark.com.

Where to Stay: Windrock Park can be accessed from Oliver Springs where the main trail head is or from Rocky Top. If you are coming to camp, you have several options. You can stay on the the park property at Windrock Campground. In addition to having RV Sites with full hook-ups, they have primitive campsites, primitive cabins and deluxe cabins. There are three other campgrounds close by and accessible by the park called Half Moon Campground, Indian Creek RV Resort and Sportsman's Campground and RV Park. The Oliver Springs side also has Windrock Lodge which sleeps up to 13 people.

If you are accessing Windrock from the City of Rocky Top, you have numerous lodging options including hotels, cabins, condos, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds.

What you need to know: ATVs are now allowed on the roads in Rocky Top. You can take a break from riding and get something to eat or get more gas without having to reload your equipment.

You can get your permits for Windrock at the General Store in Oliver Springs at the Windrock Park trail head or at Shop Rite in Rocky Top at the intersection of Highway 25 and Highway 116. If you are riding in the City of Rocky Top, be sure to get your additional city permit at City Hall, which is across the creek from the Shop Rite.