The Badlands:  Great Wheeling in the Midwest

When most people think about the Midwest, especially within driving distance of Chicago, four-wheeling does not pop into their heads.  In Northern Illinois, it is hard to find anything you can drive on (legally) that isn't paved.  Luckily, Troy Myers, 1999 Warn Rock Crawling Champion, decided to make a place for us to play in nearby Indiana.

The Badlands Off-Road park is located about 2 1/2 hours from Chicago and about an hour west of Indianapolis in Attica.  It is a veritable playground for 4x4's, ATV's, and motorcycles.  Admission is $15 at the door, and you get a lot of bang for the buck.  If you like climbing sand dunes, rock crawling, navigating technical trails, or mudding, it all can be done at the Badlands.  On the 1000 acres of land, they have trails ranging from mild to wild, and many are connected by a gravel road which takes you to the entry points and drop offs.  The most extreme trail dubbed "Troy's Trail" by 4 Wheel Parts Adventures magazine is only for the not so faint of heart.  It has been known to gobble a few trucks and the Badlands requires 35's, lockers, and a winch as standards for entry. 

Doin' the Badlands

When you get to the Badlands, you will have to stop in and pay the fiddler $15 before entry.  You'll also have to purchase an orange flag which can be attached to your antennae or via poles they sell.  Once you have aired down and are ready, you can head in.

The Pea Gravel 

While you can hop on the level 5 (Winch, Lockers, Guaranteed Body Damage) trail from the parking lot, I suggest you follow the main route that leads into the sand pit area. Here you can test your skills in the loose pea gravel mounds and valleys that are leftovers from the property's time as a quarry.

 

A caravan of Bronco's roll in.	I take a go at one of the smaller, but very soft hills.	Without enough momentum, you can sink in deep.  Not bad for keeping it in 2wd, though!  He made short work of it in 4wd.

The "Rocky Center"

When you have had enough fun backing down the Pea Gravel hills hoping you don't flip over, you can continue along the road into the what I consider the heart of the Badlands.  It is an open area surrounded by steep rock faces, offshoots into the many trails, a rock-crawling course, and a deep mud hole in the center.  A lot of the trails seem to pass by this area, so it is a great place to meet up or take a break and watch trucks on the many obstacles.

Of course, pictures never do it justice...

Scott Likens tackles a rock wall.	I take on the rock double-step.  LWB trucks are a bit of a no-no on this one.	Of course, there are places to flex the RoverTym suspension!
Going up some limestone...	...a quick bump on the gas at the right time puts me over.	Alex Schubow lines up for a run.
Mike Aedo finds the line...	...creeps up...	...and makes it through.  He has actually done the feared "Troy's Trail"  Read more about it here.

The Technical Trails

Once you have fully warmed up on the open areas, it is time to hit the tight, twisty trails that run throughout the woods and creeks.  There are so many of these that I have been there four times and barely scratched the surface.  To make it more interesting, the folks at the Badlands are continually changing, improving, and making more trails.  What was easy one day can be extremely different the next after the back hoe is put to work.

 

Scott Tschantz in the creek bed..	...and getting a bit sideways.	The water can get pretty deep.
Scott Likens popping out of the creek.	My Rover's break over is good, but not that good.  I had to stop and back down after the doors started to buckle in a bit.  This shot was after I backed off.  Luckily they popped back just fine.	Unfortunately, the way back up in reverse was too steep to go back up.  A makeshift log bridge did the trick.
One of the large hills through the trees.  When muddy, this one is extremely hairy situation  with the trees right next to it.	Scott Tschantz flexes a bit on the way down.	Scott Likens follows.
One of the many mud pits.  It had no prejudice and stopped both Rovers and Jeeps cold!	It doesn't look deep from the back, but my front bumper had a mound of mud in front of it.  What also didn't help was the log that was found wedged between my axels after Scott Tschantz was nice enough to winch me out!	Getting winched out.

The Badlands really have a lot to offer.  It is home to numerous 4x4 events, and is open 363 days a year.  For barely any cash, you have access to great off-roading for a day that you will doubtfully get to cover even 25% of the property.  While it may not be Moab, it is definately worth the drive for those folks within a few hundred miles.  For anyone else, combine the trip with a visit to Chicago.  Be sure to drop me a line to when you're in the area, I would hate to miss a chance to hit Attica again!