Big Cypress is for the Big Dogs only!

[Keeter]

I went to Big Cypress this weekend and had a BLAST. However, I made two mistakes: 1. I went alone 2. I did not have a winch, only a come-along.
Spent almost 2 hours getting myself unstuck. The Burns trail is nasty and muddy and deep. If you want a good long ride that is full of undercarriage cleaning water mixed with some of the nastiest mud, The Burns trail is for you.
Probably the longest 5 hours of my life. Once the trail starts to get soupy, there is not a break for miles. Harsh trail with bumps, lumps, mud, water, and stumps.  A real challenge. Best part, after about an hour of orientation and the Rangers making sure your bike can handle the trails (9 inch rear tires, 7 front , width) and $50, trail after trail of LEGAL riding. PLEASE if you are an idiot that will ruin it for everyone else, DO NOT APPLY. After a few times out there I have seen only one other ATC out there.

Side note: I want to thank Russ the Park Ranger again for helping me out. Thanks Russ. I could have not gotten myself unstuck without his support. 

[wilburz]

Lets see some pics dude? I don't beleive you. 

[Keeter]

Was walking out of the house, had my camera in my hand, then I had to walk back in to kiss my wife, put the camera down and forgot it.       It will not happen again. Believe me there is some nasty stuff out there. Water is not snorkel deep but it is knee cap deep.

[Chillinthemost]

that place is beautiful in the spring, its not near as wet.

[rubicon500kid]

(9 inch rear tires, 7 front , width)  is that the smallist they can be or the bigist

[Gamer]

(9 inch rear tires, 7 front , width)  is that the smallist they can be or the bigist

That's the smallest they can be.  I guess they think bigger tires are better for the ground.   

[OUTLAWMUD]

i ran 26 laws all the way when i had my bike they said because it gives a wider foot print it does less harm

[BADAZZ750]

Where is this place at? Is it $50 bucks a day or what? How come nobody rides there or do they?

[Keeter]

$50 for a year. Or three years, dont remember. Go to their website  http://www.nps.gov/bicy/orv/orvpage.htm  Why more people dont go there may becasue they are afraid, oooooooo.   Dunno why more people dont ride there. The stuff I just rode in was mean, really mean.   It is not a mud hole that is 50 to 100 feet wide, this stuff is a mile or more of pure challenge. Really mental and physical     

[CAPT69]

Hey Keeter I'm in Ft. Lauderdale also, i'll ride with you 

[bbf]

that sound like a good place to ride i like to check it out

[Anoriginal]

People don't ride there because its not an ORV park. There is a 15mph speed limit that is enforced. There are designated trails in many areas that you must stick to or get kicked out.

It's really not a place for recreational ATV riding.

[Keeter]

Anoriginal, sounds like sour grapes to me. The people you may be referring to might be the people who like to speed unsafely down the trails. This place is for going 15 mph, not 60.  I have been down 3 different rails and they all are not made to go more than 15. These trails are for big ATC's not the crotch rockets( no offense to the crotch rocket guys  ). Outdoorsman and the like. Wish I had pictures.

You said  "People don't ride there because its not an ORV park". Then what is it? What do you consider "a place for recreational ATV riding"? There are two schools of thought here. 1. The Outdoorsman who likes riding your Grizzly or in my case a Sportsman in the woods facing different terrains.( not to generalize all Grizzly and Sportsman riders  ) and 2. The Banshee riders who (not to generalize all Banshee riders  ) push the limits of their bikes for the unbridled thrill. What school are you from?

My point is that there are two types of ATC's.  How fast can you go and how deep can you go. Different trails for different folks.

Then again it is your opinion just like this rant is mine. 

Big Cypress is awesome, I am off the entire week of the 19th of December and plan on riding sometime during that week. Who is with me

[Anoriginal]

Big Cypress is a National Preserve. We are able to access it on ORV's by the skin of our teeth. 15mph and stick to the trails is great. Problem is, not many people do it. You are right that it is a place for 4x4 ATV's and not sport bikes.

Not sour grapes. I love the place and respect it. However, as soon as people start treating it like an off road park, we'll lose it.

Have fun

[Keeter]

Anoriginal, I understand your motivation and concern. People like you and I can help prevent this from happening by educating people we see out there.  The damage I see is from non-ATC vehicles. The type of damage I see can only be done by large vehicles. I am not talking 44's. At least on the trails I have been on.

I would love to ride with you. Let me know the next time you plan to go out.

[rubicon500kid]

at the first of the year em and my freinds will be driving up there and geting all of our atvs perments to ride out there i cant wate now i got to get my winch fixed

[2 rut]

[

People don't ride there because its not an ORV park. There is a 15mph speed limit that is enforced. There are designated trails in many areas that you must stick to or get kicked out.

It's really not a place for recreational ATV riding.

thats exactlily it keeter diffrent strokes 4 diffrent folks but in the end its still atv

[themensh]

  Riding trails around my area...and even in Ocala, I seldom get over 18 MPH.    Just the riding I seem to do so far.
     I want more places like BIg Cypress.......and NO, it may not be for everybody but the more places we can get open to ATVs....and show that
we are not a bunch of thugs and hoodlums, the more we may get open in the future.
    I heard on the news the other night that Florida is ranked number 4 in the U.S.A. in ATV registrations.  I bet we are not even #15 in trails/riding areas.
  Anyhow.......got to put Cypress on my list of places to visit....15 MPH or not.

      Chuck

[MuddingMark]

Hi All,

When I took the class last summer, I found that you only have to stick to the trails for the first ½ mile that you travel from the road after that it’s a free for all. The major thing is to stay out of the prairies they are restricted. During the test you are presented with pictures of the damage that can be done when traveling where you are not suppose to be, meaning that permanent trails begin to form and there is no recovery for years. They have developed some trails in hope to minimize the impact.

The sport in the Big Cypress is to meet the challenges of the environment not the need for speed. I agree that there are two forms of thought here and each demands it’s own respect but the Big Cypress is for those who need the All Terrain Travel challenge. Personally I like both, to dig up mud and get filthy dirty, and to rider because it’s so beautiful out there.

All things aside, I want to do some camping from my ATV this winter and would love to have some friends, ATV people, join me. We could get together and make some kind of party out of this.

MuddingMark 

[MuddingMark]

Hi All,

Speaking of where to ride. In the big Cypress there are different trails. The Burns Lake trail is the only one that you are aloud to drive your ATV into the camp area. By the way the Burns Lake camp area closes sometime in January. All the other trails are just launch points with out camping at the head of the trail.

One of the trails that I especially like is the Monument Road at least that is what they called it when I was a kid. It starts at Monroe Station and goes north several miles on semi-maintained trails. You can find it on the trail maps. The terrain varies and offers camping anywhere you choose.

There is another more popular trail that launches from the Loop Road close to the head of the Florida Trail. I’ve never been there but have seen vehicles lined up along the road.

Anyway, I think this winter will be nice and the Big Cypress could be some fun. The $50 per year is nothing compared to $30 a month for L-Cross, which is over crowded. I also enjoy Holey Lands but that’s a little limited too. Each offers its pros and cons.

Looking forward to the adventures as the water levels drop.

MuddingMark 

[Keeter]

MuddingMark, chuck, rancher 350, gamer, and everyone else who wants to ride BC.

I am up for Big Cypress any weekend. I am off the last two weeks of December. During that time I am willing to go anythime during then as well.  I am on this board VERY often, so reply to this thread or post a thread inside the "Group ride or event " board. I have got the fever and I want to ride, not by myself, I have learned my lesson the hard way on Burns Trail.

Again to ECHO what Anoriginal and I spoke of, "Repect for the land" and "NO Knuckleheads" on the trails.



Keeter

[bbf]

i would like to ride with you all i am off for the first 2 weeks of jan

[Gamer]

With the Holidays and New Years approaching I won't be able to go until January.  My friends and I have planned the camping dates in Big Cypress for the 20th, 21st and 22nd.  We have not decided if were doing back country camping or staying somewhere outside of Big Cypress.  I'll keep you posted.

[themensh]

   I have yet to even look on a map to see where Big Cypress is........
what area of the state is it in?
     Seems like every place charges $50 for the year to ride, and none of these recipricate?  (I could spend $50 for Croom, $50 (coming soon) at
Ocala and $50 at Big Cypress......and only use Croom and Big Cypress once.
  That is allot of dough to be handing out.......hopefully they will come up with a 'day pass'....kind of "try-it-before-you-buy-it-for-a-year".
     Anyhow....got to add Big Cypress to the list.

      Chuck

[dirty1]

ok first off, the reason not many people ride it is because there are a limited amount of permits per year..... its first come first serve with the guys  who are  renewing ahead of everyone. the other resons why its not big and not known to many atv'ers is because it is alot more on the hunting side than anything else.   and the old timers dont like it much for bikes to be in there.   burns lake,  and oasis station are the two  that are used more for pleasure than hunting.  i am a hunter with a buggy aswell as someone who likes doing donuts in the mudd on my foreman so i dont say ya or nay to either side of means of travel and what you do out there.... my only thing is" TO THOSE OF YOU KNEW TO IT AND UNFRAMILIAR,   THE SAME POEPLE WHO TOOK THE SQUARES aka BADLUCK ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE BIG CYPRESS.  THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE ENFORCED EVEN BIKES TAKEN.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND RESEARC BIG CYPRESS BEFORE GOING........   oh yeah here are some pics for those who havent been.

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