The park may close during inclement weather. East Texas clay and rain do not mix — call before you commit to the drive.
Permit required — TMTC family membership $60 first year, $50 renewal.
⏰ THE TEXAS OHV STICKER YEAR TURNS OVER IN LATE SUMMER — TMTC lists it as valid from 1 August, TPWD publishes 1 September to 31 August. If you are riding in August or September, check yours has not just expired. BMRA sells them at the office for $17.
Guide
About this area
• 1,850 acres, over 200 miles of trail — the largest OHV park in Texas • East Texas pines near Gilmer, not desert • Opened July 2000 as TMTC's first property; one of the premier off-highway parks in the United States • Built largely with Recreational Trails Program grant funding • Easy wooded loops through to some of…
Facilities
• Full shower and bath facilities
• Several vault toilets across the property
• Six rental cabins, sleeping 3 to 6
• Five bunkhouse units, max 4 each
• Electric RV sites (30-amp, key deposit) and premium sites
• Primitive camping
• On-site office selling Texas OHV stickers at $17
• Well-marked trail system, 200+ miles across 1,850 acres
• Resupply in Gilmer, 5 miles: Brookshire's (groceries + 24hr fuel) and Walmart Supercenter, both on US-271 north
Full agency description
Barnwell Mountain is the big one in Texas — 1,850 acres and over 200 miles of trail in the East Texas pines near Gilmer, running from easy wooded loops to some of the most technical rock crawling in the state. It opened in July 2000 as the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition's first property and is now one of the premier off-highway parks in the country. Two things to plan around: it is a private membership park with a gate fee, and it is only open from noon Thursday to 6PM Sunday. There are cabins, showers, RV hook-ups and primitive camping on site, and the office sells the Texas OHV sticker you need anyway.
At a glance
Quick facts
Best season
🔴 WEEKENDS ONLY — open noon Thursday until 6:00PM Sunday. May close in bad weather.
Camping limit
Primitive sites throughout · 20 electric sites (30/50-amp) · 8 premium RV spaces with full hookups (50-amp, water, sewer) · showers, toilets and dump stations on site
Managing agency
Texas Motorized Trails Coalition (TMTC)
Access
Getting there
Main Rd — park access off Highway 155Gate
⚠️ Open noon Thursday to 6:00PM Sunday only. Gate shut midnight to 8:00AM — no entry after midnight.
North on Highway 155 out of Gilmer, then east onto Main Rd. Main Rd runs southeast into the property — the staging and camping ground is along it. Postal address is 6284 State Highway 155 North, Gilmer TX 75644.
Texas OHV decal required — available at the BMRA office for $17
Show all 22 area-specific rules
Open weekends only — noon Thursday to 6:00PM Sunday
Gate closed midnight to 8:00AM; no entry after midnight
The park may close during inclement weather
🔴 OPENING HOURS ARE THE THING TO PLAN AROUND
Open every weekend from NOON THURSDAY until 6:00PM SUNDAY, unless otherwise noted
The gate closes from MIDNIGHT until 8:00AM — entry after midnight is NOT allowed
The park may close in inclement weather
ON THE TRAIL
PAPERWORK
Texas OHV decal required — sold at the BMRA office for $17
Gate fees waived for children six and under, and for active military with ID
Evening gate fees waived after 5:00 PM for campers
No entry once the office has closed — time your arrival, especially on a Thursday
Everyone must be out by 6:00PM Sunday, except on extended holiday weekends
📋 TEXAS — OHV DECAL REQUIRED on public land: $16, valid one year. Applies to non-street-legal motorcycles, ATVs and non-street-legal 4x4s on ANY public land in Texas — municipal, county, state or federal. Street-legal vehicles do not need it, and it is not needed on private land.
⚖️ TEXAS — riding public land without the decal is a Class C misdemeanour: a citation and a fine of $25 to $500.
🪖 TEXAS — UNDER 18 must wear a DOT-standard helmet AND eye protection, goggles or a face shield. Adults are not required to, but should.
🧒 TEXAS — under 14 may only ride with a parent, guardian or authorized adult. Ages 14 to 17 may ride alone but must have completed a state-approved ATV safety course.
Standard OHV rules (2)
Common equipment, registration and trail-use rules still apply.
⭐ RIDE TO THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARD, NOT THE LEGAL MINIMUM. What is written below is what the managing agency requires. A helmet, eye protection, a flag and proper gear are what get you home — wear them whether or not the law where you are riding insists on it.
📖 CHECK THE LAW YOURSELF — these requirements come from Texas Parks & Wildlife — Texas OHV Program. Rules change, and you are responsible for compliance: tpwd.texas.gov
Permits
Permits & registration
Day pass
$30 non-member per rider · $15 per family for TMTC members
Season pass
TMTC family membership $60 first year, $50 renewal
Permit and registration details
This is a private membership park with a gate fee — not open public land.
• NON-MEMBER: $30 each, per rider or driver
• TMTC MEMBER: $15 per family, covering IRS dependants
• Park guest with no vehicle: $5 per day, not charged for children six and under
• ✅ Gate fees WAIVED for active military with ID, and for children six and under
• ✅ Evening gate fees WAIVED after 5:00 PM
💡 THE MEMBERSHIP MATHS: $60 the first year, $50 to renew. At $30 a head non-member against $15 a family member, a couple riding together clears it in two visits — and a family clears it in one.
🔑 The BMRA office stocks the Texas OHV sticker at $17, so you can sort the state decal at the gate. A Texas OHV decal is required. Gate fees are set by the park — call ahead.
State residents
Texas residents: a Texas OHV decal is required to ride on public OHV venues.
Out-of-state riders
Out-of-state riders: the Texas OHV decal is required regardless of where you live. It is sold through Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Permit rules change. Confirm with the managing agency before you ride.
Trip support
Fuel, food & local help
Local fuel notes (9)
🛒 ONE-STOP ON THE WAY OUT: Brookshire's at 1075 US-271 N is groceries AND fuel at the same address, on the north side heading toward the park.
��️ The grocery closes at 10PM; the fuel center stays open 24 hours.
Walmart Supercenter is right next door at 1102 and runs to 11PM.
🕛 ARRIVING LATE THURSDAY? 24-hour fuel: Brookshire's Fuel Center and the Exxon at 1117, both on US-271 NORTH, plus the CEFCO Travel Center on US-271 south.
��️ Several close early — Tiger Express at 1418 (the one nearest the park) and the Phillips 66 shut at 10PM; Gilmer Express and Lone Star at midnight.
🚚 TOWING? CEFCO is the travel center — diesel and space to turn.
�� PROPANE: Blue Rhino on N Wood St, 24 hours.
Sort everything in Gilmer.
There is nothing on Highway 155 or Main Rd between town and the gate.
Pump gas & diesel
🚚 CEFCO Travel CenterfuelfoodGasolineDiesel
US-271 south side of Gilmer — travel center · 1011 US Hwy 271 S · (903) 228-6424 · OPEN 24 HOURS. The travel center in town — diesel and room to maneuver a trailer. Travel center — hot food as well as fuel, and room to park a rig.More
US-271 south side of Gilmer — travel center · 1011 US Hwy 271 S · (903) 228-6424 · OPEN 24 HOURS. The travel center in town — diesel and room to maneuver a trailer. Travel center — hot food as well as fuel, and room to park a rig.
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side of town · 1075 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 843-5181 · OPEN 24 HOURS. North side, so it is on the way out toward the park. Locals rate it the cheapest in town.More
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side of town · 1075 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 843-5181 · OPEN 24 HOURS. North side, so it is on the way out toward the park. Locals rate it the cheapest in town.
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side of town · 1117 US Hwy 271 N · (430) 314-6002 · OPEN 24 HOURS · "plenty of pumps" — easiest to get in and out of with a rig.More
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side of town · 1117 US Hwy 271 N · (430) 314-6002 · OPEN 24 HOURS · "plenty of pumps" — easiest to get in and out of with a rig.
US-271 NORTH — closest to the park · 1418 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 797-3206 · ⚠️ CLOSES 10PM. Furthest north and nearest the park, but no use for a late arrival.More
US-271 NORTH — closest to the park · 1418 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 797-3206 · ⚠️ CLOSES 10PM. Furthest north and nearest the park, but no use for a late arrival.
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side, one stop for both · 1075 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 843-5181 · ⚠️ GROCERY CLOSES 10PM, but the FUEL CENTER at the same address runs 24 HOURS. Stock the cooler before 10, fuel any time. Locals rate it the cheapest fuel in town.More
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side, one stop for both · 1075 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 843-5181 · ⚠️ GROCERY CLOSES 10PM, but the FUEL CENTER at the same address runs 24 HOURS. Stock the cooler before 10, fuel any time. Locals rate it the cheapest fuel in town.
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side · 1102 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 797-6501 · closes 11PM. Right beside Brookshire's — the full resupply stop if you need more than groceries.More
US-271 NORTH — the Barnwell side · 1102 US Hwy 271 N · (903) 797-6501 · closes 11PM. Right beside Brookshire's — the full resupply stop if you need more than groceries.
1923 N Wood St, north side · propane · 1923 N Wood St · (903) 797-6501 · OPEN 24 HOURS. Propane exchange at any hour — rare, and useful if you roll in Thursday night with empty hauler tanks.More
1923 N Wood St, north side · propane · 1923 N Wood St · (903) 797-6501 · OPEN 24 HOURS. Propane exchange at any hour — rare, and useful if you roll in Thursday night with empty hauler tanks.
Area information is informational only and may be inaccurate or out of date. Verify access, weather, closures, permits and hazards before and during any trip. See Terms.
Your privacy
We use essential cookies to run the site and, with your consent, analytics cookies to improve it. See our Privacy Policy.
