Shiloh Ridge -
Shilohridge.com
Alto, 160 miles east of Dallas, 30 miles from Lufkin off Highway 69. It'll
cost you about $15 bucks a day for a permit. If you are coming to Shiloh
from the North on Highway 69 you will turn right on County Road 2416. This
is about 9 miles North of Rusk. If you are coming North on Highway 69 County
Road 2416 is 1.6 miles North of Alto. There is usually a white van with
a black arrow on the west side of Highway 69 that marks County Road 2416.
Shiloh Ridge contains miles of trails, and some hills, but mostly
mud.
If you are coming from Alto, TX, it is 1.6 miles from the
red light turn Left/West. From Rusk it is about 9 miles turn Right/West.
A Rating of 7 is given, which stands for 'Rocks frequent and large,
12" and may exceed hub height. Holes frequent or deep (12"). Shelves
to 9". Mud 8" deep and may be present on uphill sections. Grades to 25
degrees and sidehill to 30 degrees. Water crossings to 18" and may have
strong currents. 1-1/2 vehicles wide. 4WD required. Driver experience helpful.'
- 4x4trails.net
Shiloh Ridge is a Tangle of ATV and Jeep trails that range from
easy to frightening. Most consist of near vertical climbs, and sheer drops,
sometimes with off-camber thrown in to up the pucker-factor. After a little
rain, the difficulty level goes up a notch or two, since this East Texas mud
turns into a tread-packing oozing gooey substance...
I headed out to Shiloh with a small group from Beaumont, where we met up with
several other 'wheelers from Houston and even one from Dallas. We had 1 built
CJ5, 1 Toy pickup, 2 stock TJ's, Del's TJ on 35's, and 2 XJ's on 31's (mine and
a green one). With this size group, we expected to cover alot of ground fairly
quickly.
First things first, we aired down, made introductions, and then headed towards
the first stairsteps. Its an imposing looking obstacle, about 4' tall and almost
straight up, but it provides great traction and an aired down stocker can climb
it. I went first, and climbed it easy, but heard some clanging from the
drivetrain. Something cut loose in the T-case, and I had to shift to 2wd and
stay there. :-( Niel went next, and before he climbed it his tailgate popped
open dumping out some loose cargo.
Everyone else climbed it with little trouble, even the stockers.
From the stairsteps we headed down through the woods over to the infamous crack.
"Snot", the locked and ready CJ5, put on an excellent display of how
to do it right, crawling through the crack. Next up, Niel tried in his Toyota
but the IFS wouldn't flex right for him. Last, Del hit it in his TJ, and the
15.5" wide tires lent him enough stability to make it on the second
attempt, but not until after he lifted a tire or two for the video cameras.
From there we did some more climbing behind the crack, and Niel's toyota
shredded his radiator fan and shroud in a shower of plastic.
Off to the creek, next, for some lunch in the shade. Niel drove down into the
water, which was nice and shallow.
We toured some more of the property, and found some excellent mud pits at the
far north edge. They weren't too deep, and slippery enough that everyone got to
put on a show in them.
We followed the North loop around and over to the whoopdeedoos by the stairsteps.
Like always, there was some real mud in a couple of them. "Snot" made
it out of the one hole, and then Del dove in. After putting on a show, he
actually turned around in the mudhole and went out the way he came!
Next up was the "rockgarden", just a couple rocks really, with a
mudhole on the other side, and then a short steep climb out. "Snot"
went in, and then peeled open its diff cover.
From there we headed around the property some more, hunting for the new rock
ledge. "Snot" gave it a try, but couldn't cut it. We got some video,
but no pictures.
From there, we headed around to some of the creek bottoms over by the owner's
house. "Snot" climbed the steepest possible one we could find, and
then Del sheared off some spider gear teeth on the next hill. About that time,
several of us headed home, but "Snot", one of the stock TJ's, and the
Green XJ stayed to play." - Jason Dunaway
