This wasn’t just another weekend ride. This was 10 hours of asphalt, one flooded state, and a crew of Jeepers determined to make it count — all heading straight for the legendary Hot Springs Off-Road Park in Arkansas.

It’s April, which means the state is usually a little wet. But this year, the weather cranked it up to full chaos. Just days before we arrived, tornadoes ripped through the region, and over 8 inches of rain poured down, leaving behind a trail system soaked, slick, and full of surprises.

And that’s exactly the kind of trip we live for.

Our convoy rolled out from North Georgia early, loaded up with gear, parts, and purpose. We had two goals: test our builds, and take on some of the gnarliest post-storm terrain Hot Springs could throw at us.

None of this would have been possible without the help of my sponsors for this adventure:

• RealTruck – hooked me up with a GoRhino Stubby Bumper loaded with heavy-duty recovery points, and a Rugged Ridge snorkel that ended up being essential in the deep Arkansas runoff and stream crossings.
• Anthem Off-Road – I ran a fresh set of Liberty wheels wrapped in 37” Kenda Klever MT2 tires, which clawed through the muck and stuck to rock like glue.
• OnX Offroad – From planning to trail navigation, the OnX app made mapping out our adventure seamless and efficient, even with spotty cell signal and weather-ravaged routes.

Each sponsor helped level up this trip, and their gear passed every single test Arkansas threw at us.

After airing down and disconnecting sway bars, we headed up to the Hot Springs Off-Road Park store to grab our passes ($50 for a day pass), and that’s when the real action started.

The trails were unlike anything I’ve driven. What should’ve been moderate loops had become technical climbs. Water filled every dip. The rocks were polished from runoff and snot-slick in the shadows. You couldn’t ease into these lines — you had to commit.

I relied hard on my Kenda Klever MT2s to bite through clay and hold grip on wet stone. The GoRhino bumper gave me the clearance and anchor points needed when things got hairy, and the Rugged Ridge snorkel was a lifesaver when we crossed deeper water than expected.

With OnX Offroad, we could reroute on the fly when trails were blocked or washed out, tracking everything with offline maps. Honestly, I wouldn’t do a trip like this without it.

Our group from the Georgia Jeep Alliance showed up strong — every rig different, but every driver committed. We tackled everything together: spotting each other up ledges, winching when needed, and laughing through the chaos.

This wasn’t a trail ride. It was a team event.

Day 1 was all about discovery — finding the edges of the park and our rigs. We didn’t chase any Jeep Badges just yet. Instead, we tested Hot Springs on its worst week of the year… and came out grinning.

This park demands respect, especially in the spring. But if you’re looking for adventure, challenge, and unforgettable memories — this is the place to get them.