New England Unpaved

Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I am stuck in bottomless mud.

Psalm 69:2-3

Here are some publically-accessible locales in Southeastern New England suitable for some four-wheeling. As always, follow the regulations for each area (note that these guidelines are subject to change without notice on this site; this is not an official recommendation of any site, but simply a summary of publically-available information).

As with anything, use common sense and observe the Tread Lightly principles whenever you do venture off pavement here in New England; there is not much unpaved space left here in the first-place, so we can't be careless with our enjoyment of it.

If you are familiar with any other sites suitable for legal and responsible four-wheeling, e-mail me at rbarry@providence.edu and I'll add the site to the list.

Rhode Island-

Management Areas included unpaved roads are listed under, where you can also find a .zip file containing maps of these areas:
http://www.huntri.com/wma.shtml
I've mainly driven in the George Washington Management Area, and some of the larger Arcadia M.A. trails for accesing fishing spots. Some management Areas, especially Arcadia, have restricting access  by gating many if not all the trails, but I've never run across any at GW that were closed. Again, the GW area roads only really need 4wd in some areas, except if they are muddy, in which case I wouldn't want to be out there without somebody else around to yank me out of a sticky spot. Also be aware that you are sharing this space with hunters, so it is advisable to display some flourescent orange if you are out on these roads in hunting season. Check the Hunt Rhode Island website for details.

There is also beach access down in RI's South County at East Beach. For permit information, follow these links:

http://www.riparks.com/Info.htm
http://www.riparks.com/eastbeach.htm

Massachusetts-

A map of the State Forests in Southeastern Massachusetts can be seen at:
http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dem/region1.htm
    Freetown seems to allow access for off-highway use:
http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dem/parks/free.htm
    and Myles Standish lists 35 miles of "recreational vehicle trails":
 http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dem/parks/mssf.htm
 
UNFORTUNATELY, Massachusetts limits the use of those trails to vehicles UNDER 1000lbs (so quads, bikes and the like). There are no forest roads permitting use of 4wd trucks.

And for those who would like to reach a beach that only 4x4's can reach, access rules for the National Seashore on Cape Cod can be found at their website:

http://www.nps.gov/caco/activites/oversandvehicles.html

Connecticut:

The State Forests large enough to contain unpaved roads include:

    COCKAPONSET - 15,652 acres, in Haddam
    PACHAUG - 22,938 acres, in Voluntown

You are travelling on public roads through the forests, so must obey all motor vehicle regulations.

The state website does not have maps of these areas, so you'd have to experience them firsthand.

http://dep.state.ct.us/rec/parks.htm#Forests

New Hampshire:

State policies, such as "closed unless marked open", are outlined at the following site:
http://www.nhparks.state.nh.us/trails/atv.html
 
Like Massachusetts, the policies are primarily geared for the smaller ATV users; full-size 4wd Jeeps and trucks are not accommodated.