IndyORV at Indiana's Redbird SRA 12-12-2009

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:40 AM

What is Redbird SRA?

It is Indiana's FIRST state owned off road State Riding Area. What once was old abandoned coal mine ground has been turned into one of the midwest's premier off road riding destinations. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources manages the property for all types of off road vehicles. What started out as a dream and 300 acres of property has become Redbird State Riding Area. Thanks goes out to the State of Indiana and all the user groups that have turned this dream into a reality.

Today Redbird has flourished into 1200 acres of professionally marked, managed and maintained OHV riding trails. With trails from mild to wild there is a trail that will fit anyone's skill level. More info available here: Redbird SRA - Home This web site is owned and maintained by the Redbird Foundation, a not for profit group that helps with events and projects so the property continues to grow and prosper.

For more information you can also contact park staff at 812-847-9172 or 812-847-0146. Redbirds hours are 9am to 7pm every Thursday through Monday. Entry fee is $10 per day. Cash or Credit Cards accepted

NOTE: Redbirds hours and days will change for the winter months. Starting December 5th Redbird is only open on Saturdays and Sundays 9am to 5pm

Trail Information :

Maps are available at the gatehouse but may take a while to understand.
Redbird has 3 types of trails. Easy, More Difficult and Most Difficult. They are divided into Motorcycle only trails, Motorcycle and ATV, UTV only and Multi-use trails (Jeep, ATV and M.C.) NEVER RIDE ABOVE YOUR SKILL LEVEL!!!!!!!!!!!

All the trails have markers at the start that tell what type of trail and the number of that trail, as well as arrows for direction and signs warning of Steep Hills.
Trail conditions are always subject to change due to weather and other factors beyond control.

Trail 1 Has a easy section and a most difficult section, this is a multi-use trail ( atv,suv and m.c.)
Trail 2 This trail is rated more difficult and is multi-use
Trail 3 This trail is rated more difficult and is multi-use
Trail 4 This trail is rated most difficult and is multi-use (note this trail was named one of the top trails for 2007 by B.F. Goodrich, front and rear lockers a must)
Trail 5 This trail is rated easy and has more difficult sections and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 6 This trail is rated more difficult and is m.c. only
Trail 7 This trail is rated easy and is m.c. only
Trail 8 This trail is rated more difficult and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 9 This trail is rated most difficult and is m.c. only
Trail 10 This trail is rated more difficult and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 11 This trail is rated most difficult and is m.c. only
Trail 12 This trail is rated more difficult and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 13
Trail 14 This trail is rated easy and is multi use
Trail 15
Trail 16
Trail 17
Trail 18
Trail 19
Trail 20
Trail 21 This trail is rated more difficult and is multi use
Trail 22 This trail is rated easy and is atv and m.c.only
Trail 23 This trail is rated most difficult and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 24 This trail is rated more difficult and is atv and m.c. only
Trail 25 This trail is rated easy and is multi use ( note: very scenic woods trail, full size vehicles welcome)
Trail 26 This trail is rated more difficult and is multi use
Trail 27 This trail is rated most difficult and is multi use ( note: on par with trail 4 )
Trail 28 This trail is rated more difficult and is atv and m.c.only
Trail 29 This trail is rated easy and is atv and m.c. only ( note this is a very easy grass type track )
Trail 30 This trail is rated more difficult and is m.c. only

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:40 AM

Local offroading club IndyORV has adopted trail #27 which basically involves holding semi-annual group runs to clean-up and maintain this trail. The most recent of these trips took place on Saturday December 12, 2009. The weather was fairly cooperative with some clouds but no rain. The morning started out with temperatures in the teens and warmed up into the 30’s as the day progressed. The chilly temperatures helped keep the mud factor under control but introduced another challenge with the frozen trails having some icy spots.

We got an early start and were waiting at the gate when it opened, then proceeded directly to trail 27 via trail 0 which is a gravel road to the back of the park. 27 is not a trail for the weak of heart and got our blood moving nicely from the very start. It has very narrow off camber trails lined with lots of trees as well as many steep hills, gulches, and water crossings. We found a windshield at the bottom of the first hill which is very challenging and presents rollover opportunity. Over the course of the day we picked up several bags of trash containing a high percentage of vehicle parts lost and abandoned along the way, and cleared fallen timber from critical areas. We went through at a slow methodical pace, working and stopping for lunch and laughs. This run took about seven hours.

Redbird is highly recommended on my list and not for the novice offroader or stock jeeps but keeps the adrenaline flowing nicely and can be a fantastic adventure. It never leaves me disappointed. Thanks go out to Her99TJ for walking the entire trail snapping pictures all the way. While pictures don’t compare to being there, they’re the next best thing so here’s a little taste of what we saw

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:41 AM

start of the trail

fat mans misery

running the ridgetop

eeny meeny miney

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:43 AM

rollover hill

brian runs rollover

chris running rollover

adam finds a windshield at the bottom of rollover hill

the skating rink

teamwork

thick enough to walk on but not drive

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:43 AM

stretch limo

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:44 AM

whoop de doos

lil mud

ridin trail

log crossing

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:45 AM

low headroom

lots of headroom

base of hatchet hill

skinny jeep fits where others won’t

we didn’t go this way V

we went this way <

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:47 AM

me winching somebody up a hill

okay, maybe not

winch up iceberg hill, too slick to walk on. ice was more probs than mud.

brian slips around

i plow through

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:48 AM

hmm, looks familiar

where’d the deer go?

logger time

ready for launch

cool hand luke

throw me a soda!

determined trash pick-up of bottle frozen in ground

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:49 AM

brian coming out of a wonderful downhill boot slide

sudden hailstorm?

no,.. Ice Storm 2009. always check the cooler latch before steep downhills

more Bering seas

this water is cold …and deep!

top tweaker

same tree, different approach

**chris87xj** · 12-15-2009, 07:51 AM