BMRA (Barnwell Mountain Information)

[Valkyrie]

I thought a thread like this might be helpful to some...

[Valkyrie]

LINK TO MAP OF BMRA


• New Memberships - $40
• Current Renewal - $35 (A renewal will be considered current if it is paid within 60 days of your expiration date)
• Park Fees:
• Member 1st Day - $15
• Member Additional Days - $5 per day
• Member Primitive Camping - $8 per day
• Member RV Electric Site - $15 per day
• Day Use Member - $20 per day / per vehicle
• Day Use Primitive Camping - $10 per day
• Day Use RV Electric Site - $20 per day

Also as a reminder, through the summer BMRA is open Thursdays at 5pm and all day on Friday.

There is a heavy duty compressor on site for airing up, a welder on site and shower/restroom facilities by the office. Ice is sold at the office, and usually the BBQ wagon run by Pops is open weekends.

Gilmer is dry, the nearest liquor/beer store is about 20 minutes away in Big Sandy.

There are plenty of fast food joints in Gilmer (about 10 minutes away).

Night wheeling now has a curfew of 10PM and is strictly enforced.

TMTC Barnwell Mountain link

[Valkyrie]

Dallas folks usually meet at the Super WalMart (#2) on Hwy 80 in Mesquite about a mile or so east of 635. Then, the outlet mall at 80 & 20 is used to meet up with the Arlington/Ft. Worth folks.

link to map

Foolproof directions to BMRA:

At I-635, take exit 6B (Terrel) for US-80E (the Walmart is just a couple clicks down on the right off 80).

Drive ~ 16 miles and take TX-577 Spur East to I-20 East (Shreveport).

Drive ~4 miles and merge onto I-20 East (Shreveport).

Drive ~65 miles and take exit 567 for TX-155 (Winona/Big Sandy/Gilmer).

Drive ~10 miles north on 155 which will take you to US-80 at Big Sandy.

Make a right on US-80/TX-155.

After you go over Big Sandy Lake, make a left at the light to pick up TX-155/N.Tyler Street to Gilmer.

Drive ~15 miles then merge left (North) onto US-271/TX-155.

Look for the Jack-in-the-box on your left, this is where you turn right (Northeast) onto Hwy 155 North (this is a stoplight).

Go approx. 5 miles towards the Picnic Area - at about 4 miles out you will see a small blue sign on your right "Picnic Area 1 Mile". You have to watch for the turn off because it is at the crest of the hill and you will miss it if you are not paying attention. The key is to watch when the road widens to 4 lanes. When you are cresting the hill and see a rock wall on your right, you better be on the brakes because the right turn to BMRA is right after that. There is a big blue sign that says "Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area", but it is directly across (on your left) the highway from the entrance. Turn into the picnic area and follow around to the BMRA gate.... you can't miss it.

Check in at the main office. Once you are headed to camp, you can usually find someone on CB Ch. 4.

Maps are here: BMRA maps

[Valkyrie]

Most groups camp at a place called Old Camp (OC). Old Camp is called Lone Star Camp on the map… look waaayyy down South. It is sponsored and maintained by the Lone Star Land Crusiers.

OC will have a porta-potty or two, but ladies are likely to head to the office for a more sanitary environment. OC is also camper friendly, although tow rigs should be parked at the entrance at the top of the mountain rather than in camp.

LBT is "Les Bon Temps" (The Good Times) is sponsored and maintained by the Toyota Trail Riders. It is about 600 yds. down the Desi Way trail (waaayyy up North by the office) which has it's entrance right near the Main Office. The camp is not marked on the map, and the entrance to Desi Way has changed from how it is depicted on the map. If you look at the map, just above the "D" in Desi Way you will see a horseshoe curve that jogs to the right and then back left. Looking at the gradients, you can see that the second half of the horseshoe is an uphill climb, then you make a slight right. LBT is right there in the flat part of the hill to the left of the trail, just before the trail makes the hard right and heads East to parallel Omega.

LBT is primitive meaning no porta-potty (you pack your poo or head to the office). The trail is not camper friendly.

Here is a map showing the location of LBT:



There are numerous other campsites around also. North Texas Binders camp is personally my favorite, and offers stunning views of the area:



There is also motorhome/RV camping with electric & water hookups on top of the mountain, although there is no dump station.

[Valkyrie]

Maybe some Austin & Houston peeps can add good directions from those areas?

[kaiten]

Wow lots of info, thanks for typing all that up. I'm confused on just one part though, the pricing.

So is it going to cost me $40 for the new membership, plus $15 for the Member first day or $20 for the All Day Member/car which would bring it to about $55-60. Am I completely wrong about this? I sure hope so because that's alot of money.

[Valkyrie]

No. $40 TMTC membership is for the year, and you get reduced rates for wheeling. You do not have to be a member of TMTC to use the park, you would just pay the day use fee.

Your membership pays for itself on your second visit, however.

[92blazn]

TX4wd is having a big Fall Run in Oct. 13-15, Big Trail rides Last year nice turn out.


Ed

[92blazn]

also when you go Sunday Cruise, Houston Creek, and Twister are one of the best ones, They are not on that map you have posted???

[Valkyrie]

A full map of the area is available here: LINK

If you re-read the post, that map was only to show another camp- BMRA has over 45 trails for full-size OHV's. Check the map, or the website, or better yet go there and learn your way around.

Last January's Lone Star Toyota Jamboree included a timed run through Twister....



Some of the most challenging:
Scorpion's Pass (5)
Dewoody (5)
Chaos Canyon (4)
Shake, Rattle & Roll (4)
Houston Creek (4)
Jerry Paul's Expressway (4)
Venom Loop (4)
Weenie World (4)