A Sunday at Twin Hills

[DFW_Warrior]

Super short notice, but I’m headed to Twin Hills in the morning. It should be a good morning to get some miles in!

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Dang, I haven’t been out there in a few months. The trails have gotten much rockier and hogged out since the last time I was there. It was certainly a fairly tough ride today.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Now you see what I was dealing with that last time! I'd have loved to make it, but when you posted I was busy driving back from Megs Braap class in Missouri. I left after work on friday and drove up, did her class yesterday and then drove home. I'm whooped and I don't think I could hold a bike upright today.

 

[woodsguy]

Meg's class in MO? That's a long drive!
She's made a good name for herself.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Meg's class in MO? That's a long drive!
She's made a good name for herself.

8 hours ish each way. She's a fantastic instructor, well worth the drive.

 

[woodsguy]

Good to hear. She sure pushes herself in her videos. Still on Zthe GPX, think that's the brand.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Now you see what I was dealing with that last time! I'd have loved to make it, but when you posted I was busy driving back from Megs Braap class in Missouri. I left after work on friday and drove up, did her class yesterday and then drove home. I'm whooped and I don't think I could hold a bike upright today.

Man, that pink trail is nowhere near what I would call beginner right now. Heck, that first rock section not long after starting the trail, I used to bop through there fairly high in second or lugging in third. Now I’m crawling my way through with 1st gear while trying to keep my front wheel out of the very large holes.

I’m glad you got to take one of her classes. Rachel did one while she was here at Twin Hills. She is a good instructor for sure.

 

[woodsguy]

That's a huge difference in that hill climb, what changed? Just wear n tear?

 

[gixxerjasen]

Good to hear. She sure pushes herself in her videos. Still on Zthe GPX, think that's the brand.

Yep, apparently they use the pre-TPI engines. I'm sure we have a thread around here about her thoughts on the TPI bikes.

Man, that pink trail is nowhere near what I would call beginner right now. Heck, that first rock section not long after starting the trail, I used to bop through there fairly high in second or lugging in third. Now I’m crawling my way through with 1st gear while trying to keep my front wheel out of the very large holes.

Yea, that's the spot that got me. I shoulda been more aired down too when I got there. Duh, running full DS pressures.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

That's a huge difference in that holl climb, what changed? Just wear n tear?

Pretty much. I’m not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth here, as the guys marking the trails are doing one heck of a tough and thankless job, but they are certainly into hard enduro and their trails show it. The pink trail is the only easy-ish one out there and it has just been getting hammered since they laid it out.

It isn’t like Red River where you have 100 different options. Here, you have intermediate with the pink trail and then it gets more difficult from there.

Not taking into account the blue/adv trail that is very doable on a KLR or even a full sized ADV bike with decent tires.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

We were going to go to Red River today but we had some changes of plan and kept it a little closer to home. Twin Hills was in really good condition as they missed most of the rain the other day.

We got to ride the very newly created Orange Fanta loop and it was a good one. Super tight at the start, changing to rocky and technical, and then opening up to 4th gear flowy trails. It was a fun day for sure.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Nice, was a good weekend to get out and ride, too bad I didn't do any riding!

 

[Raptorlander]

Considering hitting Twin hills or Bridgeport northwest OHV for a shake down soon before my trip late feb. New riding though.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Considering hitting Twin hills or Bridgeport northwest OHV for a shake down soon before my trip late feb. New riding though.

They are very different places despite being so close to each other. Northwest OHV is 100% more geared for Jeeps, side by sides, and larger ATV’s. Twin Hills is two-wheels only and the trails are much tighter.

What bike would you be taking out there? You said new riding, does that mean you are a new to off road riding or just new to those areas?

 

[Raptorlander]

They are very different places despite being so close to each other. Northwest OHV is 100% more geared for Jeeps, side by sides, and larger ATV’s. Twin Hills is two-wheels only and the trails are much tighter.

What bike would you be taking out there? You said new riding, does that mean you are a new to off road riding or just new to those areas?

It would be a KTM 500. I’ve been to Northwest before but in my rig, so I know off-roading from a 4 wheel perspective but new to riding a moto overall. Didn’t know about Twin Hills till someone mentioned it recently.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

It would be a KTM 500. I’ve been to Northwest before but in my rig, so I know off-roading from a 4 wheel perspective but new to riding a moto overall. Didn’t know about Twin Hills till someone mentioned it recently.

Gotcha, that makes perfect sense. If you go to Twin Hills (which I do highly recommend to pretty much anyone on two knobby tires), I would initially stick to the ADV loop to start out on. It will give you a tour around the property and isn't too technical. Then from there, there are some little trails down at the bottom of the property (that will make sense once you do a loop on the ADV loop) that are pretty good to cut your teeth on.

From there, things get quite a bit more technical fairly quick. There is a new orange trail that was just put in a few weeks ago. It is a shorter 2.5'ish mile trail that has some really tight turns, then some moderate rocky sections, then opens up to a nice flowy finish. After that, the trails only get tighter, rockier, and more technical. But, for $10 I'd bet good money that you will get all of your money's worth when you go out there.

Just know that it is cash only, and very sparse on the accommodations. If you are looking for restrooms with running water and showers, this isn't your jam. But if you want some sweet single track that will get you challenged for the rest of your days riding, this is the place.

 

[Raptorlander]

Gotcha, that makes perfect sense. If you go to Twin Hills (which I do highly recommend to pretty much anyone on two knobby tires), I would initially stick to the ADV loop to start out on. It will give you a tour around the property and isn't too technical. Then from there, there are some little trails down at the bottom of the property (that will make sense once you do a loop on the ADV loop) that are pretty good to cut your teeth on.

From there, things get quite a bit more technical fairly quick. There is a new orange trail that was just put in a few weeks ago. It is a shorter 2.5'ish mile trail that has some really tight turns, then some moderate rocky sections, then opens up to a nice flowy finish. After that, the trails only get tighter, rockier, and more technical. But, for $10 I'd bet good money that you will get all of your money's worth when you go out there.

Just know that it is cash only, and very sparse on the accommodations. If you are looking for restrooms with running water and showers, this isn't your jam. But if you want some sweet single track that will get you challenged for the rest of your days riding, this is the place.

That’s great info, thanks! It would be a day visit for me, and follow your recommendations for the first trip. I’m in FW so not a terrible drive or cost of if I can get a few hours of time on the saddle.

Are they open everyday? I’m off tomorrow

 

[DFW_Warrior]

That’s great info, thanks! It would be a day visit for me, and follow your recommendations for the first trip. I’m in FW so not a terrible drive or cost of if I can get a few hours of time on the saddle.

Are they open everyday? I’m off tomorrow

They are open 7 days a week (weather permitting), which is another great reason to love Twin Hills.

I forgot to mention, the orange trail. If you do want to try that one after the ADV loop, the start of it is right behind where you sign in. You will see two trees with orange paint on them. That is the start.

As for where to park, I would keep it simple on your first time there. Once you sign in, just go straight ahead until you get to the first really big open area and find a spot there. There are some folks that like to drive all the way down to the bottom to park, but I’m just not a fan of taking my truck all the way down there if I don’t have to.

And if you have any other questions, just give me a shout!

 

[Raptorlander]

They are open 7 days a week (weather permitting), which is another great reason to love Twin Hills.

I forgot to mention, the orange trail. If you do want to try that one after the ADV loop, the start of it is right behind where you sign in. You will see two trees with orange paint on them. That is the start.

As for where to park, I would keep it simple on your first time there. Once you sign in, just go straight ahead until you get to the first really big open area and find a spot there. There are some folks that like to drive all the way down to the bottom to park, but I’m just not a fan of taking my truck all the way down there if I don’t have to.

And if you have any other questions, just give me a shout!

Sounds good! When leaving your truck parked, is it generally a safe place or low/high crime area?

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Sounds good! When leaving your truck parked, is it generally a safe place or low/high crime area?

Generally pretty safe. I don’t leave my keys sitting in the truck, but I leave my chairs, fuel can, and other stuff laying about and I’ve never had a problem or heard of anyone else having a problem.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Oh yeah, one quick thing about safe or not. If it is your first time out there you are going to think you are in the wrong place. As you turn off of the main road, it will make you think that you are going down the driveway of a hoarder/meth lab. No fears, that is just the neighbor of the property. You will swing left right before you get to his actual driveway and then keep headed down the road to the Twin Hills gate and sign in area. Just go slow through there as it is a shared drive.

 

[jamesohoh7]

Oh yeah, one quick thing about safe or not. If it is your first time out there you are going to think you are in the wrong place. As you turn off of the main road, it will make you think that you are going down the driveway of a hoarder/meth lab. No fears, that is just the neighbor of the property. You will swing left right before you get to his actual driveway and then keep headed down the road to the Twin Hills gate and sign in area. Just go slow through there as it is a shared drive.

LOL.. the neighbor has a meth-lab, epic!

Just kidding, I have no idea... Twin Hills is a place I've heard of that sounds like a magical fantasy that's impossible to exist b/c I live 5+ hours away down near worthless Houston and its flat, boring land with zero big riding areas like TH. SHNF is almost always closed these days... and when it does open, its quickly destroyed. If you want a sand-whoop work-out, its the place to go... miles of sand whoops.

 

[Raptorlander]

Oh yeah, one quick thing about safe or not. If it is your first time out there you are going to think you are in the wrong place. As you turn off of the main road, it will make you think that you are going down the driveway of a hoarder/meth lab. No fears, that is just the neighbor of the property. You will swing left right before you get to his actual driveway and then keep headed down the road to the Twin Hills gate and sign in area. Just go slow through there as it is a shared drive.

Yeah I was looking at google road view and seemed a bit concerned about going the wrong way especially in texas. So I see two TH points on the map, based on your note about swinging left it’s the one on the upper right of the road?

 

[DFW_Warrior]

Yeah I was looking at google road view and seemed a bit concerned about going the wrong way especially in texas. So I see two TH points on the map, based on your note about swinging left it’s the one on the upper right of the road?

Here is the best I could do on my phone.

And don’t let what I said about the meth house thing scare anyone off. This place is about as good as it gets for dirt bikes. It is cheap, two wheels only, and offers a TON of technical riding to keep anyone challenged. The only knock I can give it is that it isn’t a place for people looking to just put around on easy trails all day. There are easy trails out there but you have to know where to find them and then try to connect them all together.

If I wasn’t still getting over being sick, I’d be loading up right now to come join you.

 

[DFW_Warrior]

LOL.. the neighbor has a meth-lab, epic!

Just kidding, I have no idea... Twin Hills is a place I've heard of that sounds like a magical fantasy that's impossible to exist b/c I live 5+ hours away down near worthless Houston and its flat, boring land with zero big riding areas like TH. SHNF is almost always closed these days... and when it does open, its quickly destroyed. If you want a sand-whoop work-out, its the place to go... miles of sand whoops.

I mean….. I still remember my first time out there and my first reaction was, “uh….. I am in the WRONG neighborhood!” But 1/4 mile down the road and it turns into dirt bike paradise so I’ve been hooked ever since. I just don’t want others to have the same unexpected shock that I first did.

But yes, it totally looks like a meth house. Full disclosure, I have no idea if any meth is created there. For all I know, they are just long lost country relatives of mine and are great people.