Join us for family fun!

Why do we run these events?

We are very active in trail projects. Frankly, we need to run events to financially support our efforts to keep the trails open. The proceeds from these events are used to support our trail maintenance work and other activities that help keep the trails open for everyone.

Our member families and clubs spend a great deal of time every year on trail projects throughout the southeast. Our volunteers maintain trails at public trail areas Anderson Creek OHV Area, Beasley Knob OHV Area, Royal Blue Recreation Area, Upper Tellico OHV Area, and Uwharrie National Forest. We literally spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars every year on trail projects. To run these projects, we need supplies and equipment and that's where our event proceeds come in.

We also participate in forest planning and land use advocacy such as promoting our positions at Forest Service public meetings, talking with our congressmen, writing letters to land managers and politicians, and educating the public (that's all of us) about our rights to use our public lands.

We're all unpaid volunteers and we're not professional event organizers. Next time you attend one of our events, please remember that we do it for the love of 4-wheeling. We appreciate your support and hope you'll attend our events to help keep your trails open.

Trail Ratings

We use our own ratings: Varmit (easy), Predator (medium), Beast (hard), and Monster (extreme). Note that not all trail levels may be offered at all our events. (For example, Dixie Run at Tellico usually does not offer any Varmit trails).

Level / Rating	Requirements	Consequences	Example
Varmit (Easy)	Slightly modified vehicles on wide trails. Front and rear tow hooks are necessary. Mud tires recommended. Winch or locker not required. Driver: Novice off-road drivers can participate. Must be willing to learn!	Hopefully no vehicle damage, but there's no guarantee. Practice this: "Honey, that scratch is a trophy!"
Predator (Medium)	Modified vehicles with 31" mud tires (33" is better), locker or winch, roll bar or hard top. Driver: Some off-road driving experience is desirable.	Possible scratches or dents or more(?). That's why you bought it, right?
Beast (Hard)	Modified vehicles with 35" tires, winch, roll cage, front and rear lockers, tools. Spare axles and other parts recommended. Driver: You better know how to drive!	Mechanical breakage or body damage possible. For some drivers, it's more than possible.
Monster (Extreme)	Super modified vehicles, 38" or larger tires, low gear ratios in axle / transmission / transfer case, full roll cage, winch, front and rear lockers, tools, spare parts (and lots of them). Driver: You better really know how to drive!	Mechanical breakage and body damage likely. "Likely" means it's gonna happen if you're not really careful!

Vehicle Requirements:

If you have been 4-wheeling for some time, you'll be experienced enough to know your vehicle's condition and the equipment you should be carrying. Because you will be on the trail with other people who may depend on you or you may depend on them, we list the following requirements for vehicles attending our events:

Also please read the "Trail Ratings" section above for additional vehicle requirements!

Tech Inspection

When you first arrive at the Dixie Run or Southern Trailfest, your vehicle will go through tech inspection. The emphasis is on safety! We don't want anyone to get hurt and we'd prefer it if your vehicle doesn't get damaged (though we cannot make any guarantees). We will check basic technical items on all vehicles and then compare your vehicle to our Trail Ratings to determine what trails you can drive during the event. To be fair to all participants and keep down the waiting times, we cannot allow under-equipped or under-modified vehicles to drive on harder trails.

Parking and Driving Laws

Do not park your vehicles on the pavement near the campground or in any other unauthorized areas. Typically, it is okay to park on the side of the road, but vehicles must be completely off the pavement. The owner of any vehicle parked on the pavement is responsible if hit by another vehicle.

Speed limits must be observed and vehicles must remain in their own lane on the roads! Most parts of Hanging Dog Road and Beaver Dam Road in Murphy have a speed limit of 35 mph. If you drive on this road, you will know exactly why. This road is very narrow with tight turns and it is impossible to see on-coming traffic. Furthermore, a solid yellow center line means “do not cross”, even in sharp curves. If you cannot stay in the lane, then slow down!

Another issue is speeding and reckless driving on Davis Creek Road / Trail #1 (the dirt and gravel road leading to Tellico ORV area). Speed limit is 20 mph! This is a narrow gravel road with many sharp curves and no visibility of approaching vehicles around corners. The gravel surface makes cornering dangerous and braking distances are too long. The roads are so narrow that two on-coming vehicles cannot safely pass each other unless one of them pulls to the side. We do not want anyone getting hurt if their vehicle drives off the side of the mountain or is involved in a head-on collision.

Please observe a 20 pmh speed limit on all gravel roads unless posted otherwise.

PLEASE SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE SAFELY!!!

Trail Ride Rules

1. These rules shall apply to all participants on Southern 4WD Association trail rides: drivers and passengers, including members, family, friends, guests and visitors. Please behave as in a family environment.
2. No alcohol drinking by anyone. Alcoholic beverages shall not be brought on the trail ride. Any drug use is also forbidden.
3. Stay on marked trails open for jeep-type vehicles only. Never ride off the trail, climb the trail bank, or drive on closed trails. Stay out of rivers and creeks. Observe Tread Lightly rules!
4. When winching, use of a tree saver strap is mandatory. Never loop a bare winch cable around a tree because it damages or kills the tree. Put a blanket, jacket or other object over the unwound cable to absorb the tension if the cable breaks. Carry a winch kit, including tree strap, snatch block and clevis. Wear leather gloves when handling winch cable.
5. No littering. Members are encouraged to pick up cans, bottles and refuse left by other people and carry it out for proper disposal.
6. Maintain vehicles in a safe operational condition, including license plate and state tag where required, brakes, set belts for every occupant, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, CB radio, proper lights, proper vehicle height, muffler and/or spark arrestor, roll bar/cage, spare tire, jack, flashlight, shovel, tree saver strap, snatch block and tools. Secure all loose objects in your vehicle before moving!
7. Participants must have liability insurance and other insurance required by home state. Medical insurance is recommended. Driver must have a valid driver’s license.
8. Always keep vehicle behind you in sight. Be sure he doesn’t miss any turn you made. Do not tailgate the vehicle in front of you. Rollback or reverse maneuvering is always likely in mountainous terrain.
9. Assist disabled vehicles whether they are a member of SFWDA or not. Offer to help bring disabled vehicle out of forest. Help others, as you would have them help you.
10. Each member is asked to enforce these rules within his club and group of friends. The trail boss or leader cannot be everywhere, so it is the responsibility of all members to uphold the good name of the club and association. If someone you do not know is breaking these rules, politely ask them to stop and give them a copy of these rules. If they continue, record their license plate number and report them to the trail boss or appropriate law enforcement.

Press and Media Info

Our events have been covered in several national off-road magazines in the past and we are very interested in further press coverage.

For information on media access to our events, please contact Director of Public Relations Ray Stanley at .