Took my Jeep offroad for the first time this past weekend at Down South Offroad Park about 20 min outside Houston http://downsouthoffroad.com/. Here are just a few of poser pics from the day (friend is in the truck). My summary review of this place is that it's a lot of mud, not really any technical stuff (not that I was up for that anyway). There's no trail map, so it gets pretty confusing for a first timer. There's no real difficulty level indication on any of the signage along the trails. Nevertheless, I had a blast. Got kind of bogged down and stuck once, but was able to get through. I was worried about there being too many ATV's and side by sides, but it wasn't too bad. I was there on a Sunday and I think that helped with the crowd because it didn't seem anything like the pics on their website from a crowd perspective. Definitely one of the best features/aspects of this park is the "beach" along the river. Great spot to take a break, drink a beer(s), swim/ski/cool off.

 

So, no trouble with the law? From their website it sounds a little unnerving to go and pay to access something to risk being penalized and possibly have your vehicle impounded. I'm in Houston and have hit the beach a few times for a challenge but not being from here I'm a little depressed with the options (I'm from the Rockies, I prefer rocks and mountains over mud).

 

Hidden falls offroad park over by round rock is a nice place. There are a few others also.

 

No problems with the law here. I actually hadn't read that part of the website until you just mentioned it, but they did give me a disclaimer when I paid at the gate. Basically, I think they're having the property re-surveyed b/c some property lines are in dispute. What they told me is that they've barricaded off the disputed areas so that you're not actually wheeling now in any problematic areas. I get what you're saying about the wheeling options around here. I think that's what has kept me from wheeling until now. I wanted to go to Brazos Valley Offroad Ranch near College Station, but you can only wheel there on certain days of the month. I'm not a big fan of mud either, but I would recommend this place for a really close spot to Houston to go if you have a need to get offroad and have some fun. With this much mud though and not having a winch, I needed to go with someone in the likely event I got stuck. Maybe there'd be less mud on another weekend - we've had a good amount of rain in/near Houston lately.