Hello everyone,

This may be a stupid question, but I figured I'd ask it anyways. I just got my black 2009 Patriot a little over a month ago after driving a yellow 2005 mustang (big difference). Anyways, I was interested if there were any easy trails in the midwest region. As much as I think I would love to do some serious offroading, I'm realistic about what it can handle, and honestly, I like that it still looks brand new. I'm not looking for anything that is going to do damage to the car, but just a little something off the beaten path. Any ideas?

Hello everyone,

This may be a stupid question, but I figured I'd ask it anyways. I just got my black 2009 Patriot a little over a month ago after driving a yellow 2005 mustang (big difference). Anyways, I was interested if there were any easy trails in the midwest region. As much as I think I would love to do some serious offroading, I'm realistic about what it can handle, and honestly, I like that it still looks brand new. I'm not looking for anything that is going to do damage to the car, but just a little something off the beaten path. Any ideas?

Oh yea...we (a small group of guys from this site) went over to The Badlands in NW Indiana. It's in a town called Attica. It even has a website:
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/default.asp
We had an absolute BLAST over there. It was about a 3.5 hour drive for me in West Central Illinois, so I would assume it would be less for you. Take a look at that site. If you can make it over there, you'll go nuts. I promise!
Also, I'm sure that we will be getting another group to go over there in the spring..keep watching for the info.
Hope this helps you.
Randy

Like Randoo said this is a great place to go and maybe you can join us on the next outing. There is all levels of off roading there from easy to extreme. Check out our Badlands trip in the trailrides section.

A dirt road is about all you will find in IL or WI. There are a few 4x4 trails in northern WI. I really would like to try my Patriot off road but I don't want to drive 400 miles to do it.

A dirt road is about all you will find in IL or WI. There are a few 4x4 trails in northern WI. I really would like to try my Patriot off road but I don't want to drive 400 miles to do it.

Jepster..are you anywhere near Badlands? It sureeee would be cool as hell to get you over there with us if you were within range!

Socr13, I would say use the X-country Trails at Parkside, but DeWitt might get mad! :pepper:

Other than that, there really are no off road trails for Jeeps in N. IL or most of WI unless you plan on using an ATV. The best you can do is make friends with someone who has connections up nort (spelled properly for the folks who live up nort) and you might find some land to drive on.

Otherwise ---- PARKSIIIIIIIDE!!!

2000 Grad of UWP and current employee

I used to find some good roads/trails in the Mississippi river bottoms north and south of Quincy IL after a little rain when not flooded. Been out of that area for 20 + years now so not sure what you might find now.

Thanks for the tips.

Not often you find another UWP grad!

You could always go drive around the west side of Rockford, those streets are pretty close to intermediate offroading:D

In the Cincinnati Ohio area I'm doing the $1.52/gallon dance. :pepper::pepper:

Jepster..are you anywhere near Badlands? It sureeee would be cool as hell to get you over there with us if you were within range!I'm about 350 miles from there. If there was some kind of meet next summer I might be able to get down there.

UPWsocr13 Wrote:

"I was interested if there were any easy trails in the midwest region"

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wi/midway.html
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wi/fallscity.html

Just a quick trip to Ghosttown.com came up with these.

There is all levels of off roading there from easy to extreme. Check out our Badlands trip in the trailrides section.








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