Black Mountain Off Road Adventure Area — Attraction in Kentucky

We Started off bright and early at Black Mountain Off Road Adventure Area in Harlan. We met Ken, manager of Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area , at the entrance of the facility and then made our way up to where the side-by-side ATVs were parked.

Each driver needed a crash course in how to drive one of these bad boys, so Ken gave Kevin, Josh, Chase, and Ford a lesson. Once they got back from their test drive, the rest of us piled in with them. Ken fired up his ATV and sped up the mountain with his trusty German Shepherd sidekick, Ghost, riding shotgun. We followed close behind them.

The drive was a ton of fun. We sped through a small section of the 150 mile trail that runs across nearly 8,000 acres of rugged mountain. It had rained the day before we got there so it gave the trails a chance to get nice and muddy.

Each person (who was driving) got to decide how dirty they and their passenger would be by the end of the ride. Josh and Natalie stayed nice and clean for the first part of the ride while she had all the camera gear. Kevin and James, on the other hand, were soaked and muddy by the third puddle. It’s definitely possible to come out of there covered in mud, but you can avoid it if your driver is committed to staying clean.

20 puddles, one hour, and 1.5 stuck ATVs later, we headed back down the mountain. From here we took an easy cruise over to a giant rock stack to watch some “crawlers” attempt to climb them. These modified Jeeps and trucks had tires the size of a small person and they packed some power. Trying to find a path up the rocks was like a puzzle for the drivers. If they were lucky enough to make it to the top of a stack that no one else had traversed before, they got the honor of naming the path.

Once we were sufficiently muddy, it was time to...

We normally ride in Tennessee at Tackett or Windrock. However, as a group we decided to head up and ride Black Mountain for a couple of days. Wow, what an experience. The roads getting in are as tight as a glove. But, parking was pretty good once you got in the park, the price per SxS for an annual pass was affordable, and there was tons to look at and see in the park. We would definitely say the trail ratings are off by one level compared to other areas that we rode. They were definitely more difficult and technical so you need to be careful and pick your trails and lines. Overall, we created some great memories and had a blast. Everyone that we came across on the trails was super friendly and willing to help.if needed. Highly recommend giving this park a go - if you have a group. If you go Solo you may want to stick to the green or blue trails, of which there are plenty, to be safe. Pro tip: make sure you have your soft straps and recovery gear - you will...

I seldom leave reviews, but this place was outstanding. The office staff were the epitome of hospitality. I have been to off road parks before where the staff made me feel like a nuisance and Black Mountain was the inverse opposite of this. We drowned out a dirt bike toward the end of the day in a mud hole that seemed to have no bottom. We couldn't get it started up on the trail; the maintenance staff put their day on hold to come to our aid. The entire time they were helpful, understanding and positive. It was a great experience and we will...