Looks like you guys had fun the other day! Good to know about not running in there if your stock (like I still am )

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2005 Liberty Sport 4x4

Frankenlift; Skink Sliders; Skid Row front skid; Mopar trans, t-case, and gas tank skids; f/r recovery points; Cobra 75 WX ST; Renegade light bar; hardwired radar detector; 245/75 Guard Dog MTs; Optima Red Top, Amsoil air filter

Some notes on the day...

I had heard terrible things about the cliffs - mostly that it was the place to go if you wanted body damage...
The cliffs has 3 'levels' of trails ( green, blue, black ) with green being for 'stock' vehicles, blue for more modified ( with a slight change of body damage ) and black being for heavily modified vehicles with major opportunities for damage. There are some 15ish numbered trails ( with actual markings every so often ) and plenty of trails that are not labeled.


We set out with a few ground rules...
1. being there would be no stupidity as we both wanted to drive home
2. there would be no use of the winch
3. we would walk away with no damage.

Within an an hour we had broken rule one ( and kept breaking it most of the day ) and within two hours we had broken rule two.

Jayme and I traversed most of the green and a good portion of the blue - the green trail starts out fine as a clay road skirting the main portion of the park ( it's this main drag that the big tractor tires can be found ). We turned off the green and went down a nice, steep, hill into an area that was very muddy with an extremely tight trail that snaked numerous times through the woods. This was actually a very pretty trail - on that I would love to visit again with the cj The day progressed and we switched between the woods and the slick, nasty, muddy areas numerous times.

This is most definitely not a place you want to go ( imo ) when the area has gotten a good deal of rain, nor is this a place a KJ should venture without FULL SKIDS, SLIDERS, FRONT AND REAR RECOVERY POINTS, LOTS OF EXTRA TOW STRAPS and a good LIFT.
The difference between my MTs and Jayme's ATs also was clearly visible - the MTs worked beautifully in the slick mud the park presented while the ATs really struggled.

The winch was used 4 times with 2 of those times being used on the GREEN trail thanks to the deep ruts that plague it.
There were places that using a tow strap was most impractical both due to trees being in the way and the slick conditions of the terrain ( there was one instance where Jayme was stuck and the only way to free her was to use ~ 50' of winch line connected to 2 30' tow straps ) - If you do decide to make a trip here it would be wise to either have a winch on your vehicle or have someone in your party with a winch even if you plan to only go on the green trail.


The park is only 1.5 hours from Chicago (its also approx 20 minutes from starved rock ) but it is well smaller than the badlands.
This a park full of tight, winding, muddy trails and is not really suitable for large groups ( maybe 4 - 5 vehicle max caravans ) imo.

All things considered I liked the cliffs and will definitely be making a return trip


tldr version: muddy park, close to home, good fun, bring winch


now for pictures

all my photos can be found here

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2008 Xterra 4x4

1986 CJ7
Lots of custom stuff...

Gone, But not Forgotten...
2003 Sport - 'Fire Engine' Red
Detours KJ Backbone
Skids
Boulder Bars
JBA 4.5 A Arms
245/75/16 Wrangler Duratracs's on Cragar Soft 8’s
Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers
Superwinch LP 8500
Frankenlifted

Wow great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

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Jeep, its a way of life.

06 KJ Limited
10 JK Unlimited Rubicon
14 JK Unlimited Rubicon
14 KL Cherokee Trail Hawk

i didnt realize it was so close. looks dirty. i dont plan on doing any trails untill the spring but ill be with ya on those trips. thanks rob and jamie for the pics. did aaron go along also?