Barnwell Mountain

Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area is a private, pay-to-enter riding park in the pine hills of East Texas. It covers about 1,850 acres and is run by the Texas Motorized Trail Coalition, which opened it in July 2000. The park advertises more than 200 miles of trails in all, shared by dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, and full-size 4x4s. For dirt bike riders, that includes roughly 27 miles of singletrack plus a 16-mile adventure trail meant for dirt bikes and ATVs. Trails are mapped and rated, with signs at the trailheads, so novices, intermediate riders, and experienced riders can each find something suited to them. Trail work is largely done by volunteers.

Some of the terrain is tight and wooded, and some is open, rolling, pine-covered hills. Because the park is shared with larger vehicles, expect a mix of narrow trail and wider ORV routes. It is also a lodging destination: the park has primitive campsites, RV sites with hookups, cabins, bunkhouses, showers, and vault toilets, so many riders make a full weekend of it.

Getting there

The park is on State Highway 155 about five miles north of Gilmer, in Upshur County. Gilmer is roughly 120 miles east of Dallas and 80 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. The park lists its address as 6284 State Highway 155 North. Note that some rider map sites place this park in the wrong part of Texas, so navigate by the street address rather than a map pin from a directory.

Fees, permits, and rules

This is a private park, so you pay at the gate. The park's fee page lists day use at $30 per non-member rider, or $15 per family for members. Non-riding guests are $5 (free for members), and active military and children under 6 are waived. Those figures come from a page dated 2010, so confirm the current rate with the office before you go.

• A current Texas Parks and Wildlife OHV decal must be displayed on every off-road vehicle in the park. The park sells them at the office.
• DOT-approved helmets are required at all times on motorcycles and ATVs, with no exceptions.
• Noise above 95 dBA is not tolerated.
• Alcohol is forbidden on all trails.

Camping is charged per night: $10 primitive, $25 electric, and $35 premium sites, with cabins and bunkhouses at higher rates. Call the office at (903) 797-4066 for current pricing and reservations.

When to ride

The park is open on weekends. The office opens at noon Thursday, and the park closes at 6:00 PM Sunday, with longer hours on holiday weekends. The gate is closed overnight and there is no entry after the office closes. Trail riding stops at 10:00 PM. The park may close during severe weather, so check the calendar on the park's website. East Texas summers are hot and humid; the cooler months are the more comfortable time for long days on the trails.