Northwest OHV Park Bridgeport TX: Guide & Review

Since its opening in 2009, Northwest OHV Park has been among the top off-roading parks in Texas. Its 900 acres of collective off-road trails are designed specifically for Jeeps, ATVs, and nature enthusiasts. The park features a 25-mile trail system with various degrees of difficulty and 200 acres of hiking and biking tracks. So, what can you expect at Northwest OHV Park?

Northwest OHV Park is a 900-acre property with impressive off-road, hiking, and biking trails. Skilled Jeep drivers, ATV riders, and mountain bikers take on its intermediate rocky trails, while beginners can enjoy flat trails for more comfortable runs.

Northwest OHV Park is one of the few places in the Lone State where off-road wheeling is legal. This OHV park may not be comparable to more traditional outdoor havens like Austin or Colorado, but it has excellent potential for off-roading in Texas. The beautiful scenery, scattered wildflowers, and the reclaimed rock quarry will make you want to explore everything this park offers.

This article will discuss how this 300-acre land evolved into the widely known adventure park today. It will also go over events to look forward to, park guidelines to follow, and practical information about the park you can use to plan your next trip.

Northwest OHV Park

Northwest OHV Park is located 100 miles northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and is operated by the City of Bridgeport. With the help of several enthusiast groups, Bridgeport’s city began converting this 300-acre property surrounding a rock quarry on August 11, 2007, into a fun destination for 4×4 enthusiasts.

Completed in 2009, Northwest OHV Park opened to ATVs/UTVs, dirt bikes, Jeeps, Hummers, and custom 4×4 rigs. It is one of the largest Jeep off roading trails in the state as many parks in the area are exclusively for motorcycles and ATVs.

How to Access the Trails

It is easy to access the green and blue trails from the main parking at Northwest OHV Park Bridgeport. From George Mitchell Parkway, drive across the railroad tracks, pass T-Top Manufacturing, and keep going down the gravel road following the hike and bike signs.

Alternatively, you can go around to the north side of Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park via Colonel Hunt Road to the Northwest OHV Park. There you can directly access the black trails.

Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park

Bridgeport did well with its objective to provide a safe, enjoyable trail system for off-roaders and had satisfied a massive demand for legal off-road wheeling in Texas. The off-roading community welcomed the OHV Park. Eventually, Northwest OHV Park was rebranded to Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park in 2018, and its area expanded to 900 acres to include hiking and biking trails.

Endeavor Bridgeport Adventure Park, which includes the Northwest OHV Park, is a relatively new off road park in Texas, also located in Bridgeport. It features 14 beginner- to advanced-level loops in a semi stacked-loop configuration – consisting of two access roads, seven green trails, two blue trails, and three black trails.

Visitors can access these green and blue trails almost directly from the parking area, while the black trails (mostly within the Northwest OHV Park area) from the blue trails. There are approximately 8.2 miles of trail (sans bypasses and connectors), with more planned in the future.

Bigger and Better

Since the merge of these two Jeep and ATV parks in Texas, Northwest has attracted competitive riders and the Southern Rock Racing Association (SRRA). Southern Rock Racers use the reclaimed rock quarry, the park’s steep slopes, and mud pits. SRRA recently held a series round at Northwest OHV Park Bridgeport TX this past February 23-24, 2020.

Also, night rides are held at the Jeep trails during summer and fall months. The park is open all night, so guests can spend all Saturday evening on the trails and leave at closing time on Sunday. Open hours for the park are 8 AM to 9 PM on Saturdays, and 8 AM to 7 PM (a couple of hours shorter) on Sundays, March through October. November through February, the park only operates during daylight hours – 8 AM to 5 PM, Saturdays and Sundays.

Terrain and Road Conditions

Driving at the Northwest OHV Park fits all skill levels. Beginner to advanced riders can find a trail to their liking on the property. After all, it is an old rock quarry that has been converted to an off-road park. The 25 miles of off road trails sport diverse terrain ranging from dirt roads to 75-degree rock boulders. While the biking trail system is a good balance of flat runnable sections, wooded trails, and rocky sections keep riders alert. 

Road conditions range from dirt roads to moderately challenging rocky terrain, except for some portions containing massive rock boulders and steep inclines meant for more aggressive and competitive riders.

Weather

The park succumbs to weather quite a bit, and the terrain on the property can change from one visit to the next. Depending on rainfall in North Texas, many trails can be muddy and may be well above their original trail ratings. For instance, mud pits in the rock quarry are a fun way to cool off in the summer months but can be troublesome after a heavy downpour. Nonetheless, this is what makes riding in the park enjoyable.

Weekend Camping

Camping is free for park-goers and trail riders. Campers can set up Friday nights and stay until Sunday a couple of hours after the trails close. There are designated areas in the park, so no camping is allowed on trails or in the woods. Amenities include a pro shop, a large pavilion with picnic tables, and a podium for race events. Mighty oak trees provide shade and a tranquil atmosphere for group campsites.

Daily Rates

A single street vehicle (not to be driven off-road) is $4 and $2 for residents. ATV/Bike (vehicles with no roof or roll cage) fees are $15 and $5 for residents. SUV/Jeep fees are $25 and $10 for residents. Camping (Available on Friday & Saturday Night) on the property is free for both resident and non-resident guests. Currently, daily passes must be purchased in advance at bridgeport.recdesk.com.

Fees during the Southern Rock Racing events are $25 per day or $40 for the weekend. Children 12 and under can watch the racing series free. These rates include park entrance and access to the other non-tournament trails. The same goes for any other events held at Northwest OHV Park. Be sure to purchase your passes before the event as prices increase by $5 as it gets closer to the event’s actual date.

Northwest OHV Park Events

Northwest OHV Park isn’t just your ordinary family fun park. The site also hosts dirt bike competitions and off-road festivals. Here are some of them:

National Rock Racing Association

The association organizes the series of rock racing tournaments held at different off road parks in Texas and other states. The racing series consists of nine events spread equally across the three different regions of the U.S. The first event starts as early as February, with the latest occurring in October.

The championship cup is then held a week or two after the ninth event and serves as a grand culmination of the entire series, where organizers crown the victors of the rock racing tournament.

Central Rock Racing Series (CRRS)

CRRS is the most recent Rock Racing event that Northwest OHV Park hosted this year. Recreational rock crawling and hill climbing have quickly evolved in the southeast. It was even featured in Fox News as Rock Bouncing. In this event, vehicle owners build high-horsepower buggies to launch up insane climbs at 30-40 mph.

Southern Rock Racing Series (SRRS)

Rock bouncing inspired the SRRA to form the Southern Rock Racing Series after seeing off-roading fanatics putting on a show. They were so impressed with the off-roading capabilities they decided to put together an organized racing series.

It would allow them to do what they love, but with the added organized safety aspect, excitement, and competition. During this event, loops are set up along the legs of the quarry to challenge rock racers. Through this race, competitors experience the terrain at Northwest OHV Park.

The unique thing about these events organized by the NRRA is that the race only closes about 25% of Northwest OHV Park. So the rest of the park is still open for trail riding. Guests who come to the park to have a good time and not necessarily watch the racing events can ride on the OHV trails using their Jeeps, dirt bikes, ATVs, or other off-road vehicles.

Dirt Riot Endurance Racing

The 2016 National Rampage Dirt Riot held at Northwest OHV Park in Bridgeport, Texas, is a 4×4 off-road endurance racing for UTVs, stock rigs, and buggies. The goals were to teach off-road enthusiasts to race, establish their race family, and support local race series.

Dirt Riot scheduled ten races a year since 2011, with stock Jeeps and customer-built 4×4 race vehicles flocking to different ATV trails across the U.S. to experience an all-day action-filled event. Spectators and race participants enjoy concessionaires, handicap parking, and full amenities. Gates open an hour early before the event.

Texas 4Fest

The park also hosts the premier Texas 4Fest Offroad Festival and features heavily-sponsored back-to-back Jeep and Enduro tournaments. Park-goers can join skills seminars throughout the day with industry professionals.

For the upcoming 2020 event, the first 100 registrants can avail of a $250 VIP package with the following inclusions: an early entry pass, a weekend pass for all activities (one-vehicle pass), a VIP park entrance, VIP Pit Tour, and Racer Intros, VIP tent that includes catered lunch, VIP Dinner & Racer Gathering Saturday night following the prologue, a VIP Jeep Tour, and an event shirt.

Blaze Trails Running

Since 2018, Northwest OHV Park has been hosting Blaze Trails competitions, specifically the Bridgeport Trail Run. This race consists of four events – a 10K run, an 18K run, a marathon, and a 54K run. 

The most recent Blaze Trails event was held at the park in December 2019.

The race begins at the pavilion inside the Northwest OHV Park. It descends 155 feet within 1/2 mile of the OHV trails to the gate connecting to the hike/bike trail system. The next five miles are on the flatter sections of the bike trails south of the power lines. The course then moves into the more technical or hilly part of the track before arriving back at the OHV park gate. The path back to the pavilion follows a different half-mile section of trail, climbing another 155 feet back to the start/finish.

Aid Stations

There are aid stations on the course – two staffed aid stations at the start/finish and trailhead, plus one unstaffed Water Only aid station. Racers should bring their water to carry and consume fluids on the course, especially those participating in the 54K run. Water and endurance drinks are available at all aid stations along with favorite food items such as fruits, PB&J sandwiches, potato chips, Oreos, fig cookies, soda, and much more.

The top males and females in each event receive prizes. Finisher medals are also given to all participants who complete the distance they signed up. As a souvenir, all race participants receive a race shirt upon checkout.

For inquiries, check out their website or call their Parks & Recreation Office for schedule updates.

Northwest OHV Park General Park Rules

Camping on the property may be put to a halt at present, but it will be back in no time. For the sake of preparedness, here are Northwest OHV Park’s camping rules you need to know, along with other park guidelines that are for strict compliance:

When Planning for Your Trip:

• Make sure to read up on the Northwest OHV Park when planning your trip. Take note of possible seasonal hours, updates on services offered, and guest conduct inside the Northwest Park. You can obtain all this information from their official website.
• Secure the Bridgeport OHV Park map online. Also, check out their calendar if you wish to plan your trip with a special off-roading event.
• Have an OHV permit for park areas.
• The permit is a decal, which you should place on your window for law enforcement and park rangers to see. The decal is cheap and valid for a full year.

While at Northwest OHV Park:

• Waivers, which are available at the park gatehouse, must be signed.
• A parent or guardian must accompany anyone below 18 years old.
• Entry to any oil or gas pad site is not allowed. Tampering with any equipment is also not permitted.
• Obey the speed limit and warning signs.
• All firearms (rifles, shotguns, and handguns) are prohibited except for concealed handguns with the required Concealed Handgun License.
• Fireworks, BB guns, air rifles, and paintball markers are not allowed.
• Glass, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed on-site.
• Do not harass wildlife. No hunting is allowed on the property.
• Remove trash from your area when leaving.
• Leave the park at closing time.

When Riding on Trails:

• Park and ride only in designated areas in Northwest OHV Park.
• ATV/UTV/motorcycle riders must wear helmets.
• The park does not tolerate the dangerous operation of any vehicle.
• Be cautious when riding as many trails are not marked well.
• Follow trail markings.
• Don’t make new trails.
• Respect other riders and pass them with caution.

Other park rules are on the City of Bridgeport website.

Remember, violation of any Northwest OHV Park rule is grounds for eviction. If you are evicted, you will not be entitled to a refund. Worse, you will not be allowed to return to the park for one year. Deliberate or continued disregard for these rules may lead to a permanent ban.

Northwest OHV Park – Experience Texas!

Off-roading is not always simple, but the challenge it provides and the thrill of discovering a new place are unequaled. Although Texas has plenty of natural beauty to explore, the state laws make finding a place for legal off-road wheeling challenging.

Thankfully, towns like Bridgeport have taken the initiative to create OHV parks where off-road fanatics can gather and ride to their heart’s content. All you need is your trusty 4WD, an OHV permit, your gear, and a weekend. You’re then ready to set off for the Lone State where everything’s bigger and better.

So checkout some NW Jeep offroad trails. You might have to do some driving to get to a good trail, but rest assured, the trip will be more than worth it!