Holey Lands/Rotenberger W.M.A

[AintSkeered]

Now's the time to ride Everglades WMA(south of Holeyland), if you like long trail rides. It's very dry, but, you can still find mud if that's what tickles you. Today, there were hundreds of riders there. In fact, I've never seen so many people out there. Wish I was camping there tonight.

[digginfool]

I was riding Holey Lands today.  Unfortunately, couldn't make the Poker Run yesterday.  There was a big fire out by one of the camps just as I was leaving.  Anybody know what was going on?  How bad did the fire get?  It looked like it was really spreading fast from where we were at the bridge.

[DevoCorum]

I'm gonna try to make it out there this weekend...never been before.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm really lookin forward to this ride.  Any tips, hints or whatever would be greatly appreciated.  Actually, I don't even know where I'm gonna park, or exactly where I gotta go, hopefully I'll see some trucks or somethin and I'll know where to go. 

[digginfool]

Hey Dev,

I can't wait every year for the Holeylands to dry up enough to ride.  It is really a blast.  I would imagine it is pretty similar to desert riding in that you can run for miles at high speed and still not run out of trail.  The best advice I can give you (if you are running a sport bike) is to be sure to look WELL AHEAD!  Even when it's dry there could be soft spots and you don't want to hit them at high speed; serious deceleration (speaking from experience).  The other thing to do is to keep a good look out for other bikes.  In some areas, the grass is over your head and you could end up coming around a corner and meeting someone head on.  Now, if you're taking a 4x4 out there, most of the mud you will find is next to the levy, which is a good thing.  There will be plenty of people around to pull you out when you get stuck.  Several miles out there is a slough that stays wet year round.  The mud out there is seriously deep and sticky.  Don't go out there alone and hopefully someone has a winch.  Definitely make sure you have a tow strap at least 20 feet long (you don't want to be stuck with the person you're rescuing).  Even if all you want to do is just cruise around, it's very enjoyable.  Take something to drink with you and pick up any trash you see laying around to bring back with you.  There still are a few idiots around who think their mother is going to pick up after them.  To get there, Take the Sawgrass to I75 and then west to US27.  Go north on US27 about 18 miles to the Broward/Palm Beach County line.  You will be crossing a bridge when you see the county line sign.  About 1/4 mile past the bridge is a left turn lane.  Do a u-turn and just before you get back to the bridge, turn right onto a paved road.  When you turn west (right) off US27, the pavement ends seven miles out.  About a quarter mile past the end of the pavement there is a bridge.  You will see people parked on both sides of the road.  Another 10 miles out the dirt road is the pump house.  Riding out there is supposed to be good but I have yet to find a reason to go that far out.  I have plenty of fun right at the bridge.  Once you unload and ride up to the top of the levy on the south side, you will see a large pit of mud and a wide trail heading out into the Everglades.  If you travel west on the levy about one mile, there is a ramp leading down into the grass.  This is an easier way to get out without having to slog through the thick mud.  If you keep an eye open, you will see numerous small trails all along the levy.  Don't be afraid to take any of them.  Once you're out in the grass, there are numerous trails criss-crossing everywhere.  Don't be concerned about getting lost.  As long as you can see the transmission lines, you always know which way to go to get back to the levy.  There are also a few camps out there.  The owners of the camps are generally hospitable but remember, they have a lot of time and money building and maintaining them.  Respect their property and if you don't get a warm welcome, don't be offended; just mosey on down the trail.  Have fun out there!!

[DevoCorum]

Diggin,
  Thank you soo much for all the info...I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  I've been tryin to dig up all kind of info about Holey Lands (directions and what not), but I have not found anything in depth enough.  I will definetely be respectful of the land and I won't leave any trash (believe me, I hate it when people mess up good land).  I drive a Utility 4x4 so I won't be drivin too fast  =)  Hey Diggin where do you live?  message me sometime...and maybe we'll ride
thanks again for all the helpful info...
Devin

[DevoCorum]

Hey does anybody have "cordinates" for Holey Lands
Basically I wanna check out Holey Lands on Google Earth...if somebody could post the cordinates or whatever there called, i would really appreciate that.  Thanks
Devin

[MachineDog]

I think it's this. Long: 26°20'6.08"N  Lat: 80°32'25.88"W Not sure though. Should be able to easilly see it, it's where the huge like 4-tier powerlines cross the road. And you'll know it when you see it since these aren't your normal sized powerlines.

[DevoCorum]

Ahhh...i was trying to see if I could see some trails from Google Earth, but to no avail...oh well...thanks for the help
Devin

[MachineDog]

You just gotta explore it. I haven't gone more than 8 miles from the bridge. And that was into the everglades(south side) trails. Next time I'd like to check out rottenberger(west side) and more of holeylands(north side).

[DevoCorum]

yeah, I went into Holey Lands last weekend (i didn't know i wasn't supposed to be there) but I like those trails, cause they were overgrown -- it was just a really fun ride.  can't wait to get up there again.

[FORDFANZ]

this  weekend  is  Miami  canal  that  place  is  packed  right  now  with  Buggies  and  trucks  !!!!!

[AintSkeered]

Great riding out there, now. It's as dry as it gets. Amazing how grown-over the old trails are right now. Hopefully, those buggies will clear it out a little.

[DevoCorum]

I went out to Holey Lands on Sunday...the mud has all but disapeared 
not that happy bout that, but all in all...I had a blast.  The only problem was that there were sooo many kids racing out there up on the levys and doin donuts in the "parking area"...where were the rangers?  Do they have off every Sunday?  It was kind of annoying.  But besides that I really had a great time.  Anybody else out there yesterday? 
Devin

[LTR450 994]

I was out there on SAt and wanted to go on Sun but was too sore from the 70 mile trail ride on Sat

[MachineDog]

Yeah, if any sport guys are listening please don't go fast or donut in the parking area. Last time we were out there we had to create a shield with our quads to keep the dirt off of our BBQ.

[DevoCorum]

Machinedog,
  Were you out there this past weekend?  I was lookin for some of your 4 wheelers that you have in you pics...but I don't think I saw them.  But I was out there Sunday morn till Sunday afternoon. 
Dev

[MachineDog]

Nope, we didn't get to go out there cause my dad was working. I should be out there on the 20th though, can't wait to get out there again. It gets sooo dang boring at my house if it wasn't for the video games every once in awhile I'd go crazy.

[DevoCorum]

I responded to your other post about may 20th...i don't mind goin out there...I just hate goin out there by myself (just in case I don't meet anybody to ride with, and then I don't wanna break down or get stuck by myself)  but if we can work something def out, then I'll be there
dev

[s214]

We r going this sat in the morning. Lets hook up and ride we know the north side fairly well and know all the camps on the south side.

[DevoCorum]

Has anybody been out to Holey Lands this past weekend?  If so, how muddy was it...I've just recently started riding out there...and I can tell that it gets pretty muddy when it rains...is it ridable now?  Somebody please throw me an update...thanks
Dev

[YELLOW RR]

I was out there on sat and sun, I ride a 2005 trx450r and crf230.The mud was not a problem for me. It was hot as hell though, still alot of people on sunday.

[DevoCorum]

yellow,
  Did you actually go back into the trails?  I hope that its not tooo muddy...just enough mud to get stuck once in a while    cause I do love  me some mudd!!!
Dev

[MachineDog]

It actually isn't as muddy as last time we were there, which is wierd. We went to the 2 story house on the trails which was cool, and then came back where my dad went off to the side of the mud pit on the north side of the bridge. Got the beheamoth stuck in this gunky mud and all there was to grip to for my quad was muddy soil. We tried about a dozen rocks under the wheels, snatching it, but nothing would give. We finally had to get a guy on a yellow rubicon with 589s to pull it out for us. After about half an hour getting that thing out we were pooped, cleaned off and left. So we were there from about 11 to 3. If anyone saw us our ATVs are in my sig, cept the Recon's got a snorkel now and Mudlites. Also, the trails are about dry as a whistle. Some wet soil on the ditches every once in awhile, but you can go around it easy. Feels nice to go 40 on those trails.

[DevoCorum]

for some reason I was under the impression that ANY rain at all would make that place totally unridable...now I have a little better understanding.  I should be out there this weekend!  I cannot wait!  I like it when there's mud...but not too much mud (if that makes any sense)
Dev

[MachineDog]

Yeah, we'll be out there soon again. We still didn't get to check out rottenberger. Has anyone gone out there? How is it? Prolly be out there in 2 weeks. And just look for the Arctic Cat with the bed on the back, the AC500TBX is probably one of the rarest quads out there. Personally I've never seen another one. Thing rules though with the exception of excessive grinding when going from reverse to forward gearing, and that problem with the gas leak.