Leatherwood is an expansive park with scenic views, relaxed trail riding, and plenty of seat time. If you are new to off-roading or have never attended a Hummer Club event before, this is one of the best opportunities to get involved. The park layout allows drivers to build confidence while still enjoying full days on the trails.

At the same time, Leatherwood offers plenty of more challenging terrain. Members who want to push their rigs will find harder trails, steeper climbs, and technical sections throughout the park. You can keep it easy, step things up, or mix both styles over the course of the weekend.

Leatherwood Off-Road Park is located in southeastern Kentucky and officially opened to the public in 2023. The park sits on the historic Leatherwood coal seam, once mined by the Blue Diamond Coal Company before operations ended roughly 30 years ago. Under new ownership, the abandoned coal land has been transformed into Kentucky’s largest off-road park, spanning approximately 50,000 acres with over 250 miles of trails, with continued expansion planned.

Event Dates

Optional pre-run day: March 26, 2026
Off-road days: March 27–28, 2026
Departure day: March 29, 2026

Pre-Run Day Information

The pre-run day is an optional bonus day held before the official event begins. This day gives an opportunity for the event coordinator/trail leaders to get a feel for current park and trail conditions, identify any closures or hazards, and better plan routes for the main event days.

Not all Hummer Club members attend the pre-run, and participation is usually limited to a smaller group. If you wish to tag along, you are welcome to do so. The pre-run day is informal, played by ear, and does not follow a rigid schedule like the main event days. It is a great opportunity to get extra offroad time.

Daily Itinerary

Event Hotel Information

A room block has been reserved under The Hummer Club at the following hotel:

Quality Inn
2608 South Highway 421
Harlan, KY 40831
Phone: (606) 573-3385

Discounted Room Rates:
$97.00 per night for two double beds
$97.00 per night for one king bed

There are 10 rooms reserved for the club.
The hotel booking cutoff date is March 11, 2026. Rooms are first come, first served.

Event Pricing, Shirts and Guests

Event registration pricing for Leatherwood 2026 is as follows:

• Hummer Club members and one registered vehicle: $45
• Passengers: $25 per person
• Additional event shirts: $20 each

All registered attendees will receive an event shirt. Shirt sizes will be collected during registration. Additional shirts may be purchased during registration while supplies last.

Important Participant Notes

• Driver’s meetings will be held each morning in the side parking lot of the official hotel
• All trucks should be fueled and ready to leave for the trails without the need for additional fuel stops
• Be sure to pack a lunch, plenty of water, and extra snacks
• A lawn chair is recommended for sitting during lunch breaks on the trail
• A radio is required for communication during the event.
• The club now primarily uses GMRS radios, which have become the standard for most events.
• CB radios are still acceptable
• You do not need to have a radio permanently installed in your vehicle, but must have at least a handheld radio
• If you arrive at the event without a radio, please notify the event coordinator so a solution can be arranged
• In many cases a radio can be borrowed from another participant.
• Ensure your truck is well maintained and in good operating condition. Bring tools & spare parts as you feel necessary
• Be prepared for long trail days. Bring appropriate clothing, fuel, food, & water as trail days can vary in length and conditions

Park Location and Permits

All off-roading will take place at:

Leatherwood Off-Road Park
11802 State Hwy 699
Slemp, KY 41763

All drivers must purchase a park trail permit either online through the park’s website or in person at the trailhead on their first day

Trail Permit Pricing

Based on Leatherwood Off-Road Park’s official permit pricing:

Prices include park service fees. Annual permits are available through the park but are not required

Local Area and Park Access Information

The event hotel is located in Harlan, Kentucky, a small town in rural southeastern Kentucky. Harlan is a smaller sized city, but does offer basic amenities you may need during the event weekend. Within town, you will find grocery options, a Walmart, Dollar General, auto parts stores, gas stations, and several local restaurants where club members often choose to eat after a day out on the trails.

Because Harlan is a rural area, amenities are more limited compared to larger cities. If you need specialty items, vehicle parts, or anything specific, it is strongly recommended that you take care of those needs before arriving for the event.

The actual Leatherwood Off-Road Park is located in Slemp, Kentucky, which is not a traditional small town or city but rather a remote location. The drive from the hotel in Harlan to the park is approximately 30.5 miles and takes about 50 minutes each way, depending on road and weather conditions.

Because of the daily drive to and from the park, it is important that your Hummer is in good mechanical condition, with proper tire pressure, and capable of reliable on-road travel. Attendees should be prepared for mountain roads, winding highways, and limited cell service in some areas.

Cell phone coverage in Harlan is generally good. However, once you leave town and begin the drive to Leatherwood, cell service becomes very limited and in many areas you may have no signal at all. This is normal for the region. GPS navigation on your phone may still function, but data service should not be relied upon. At Leatherwood Off-Road Park, cell phone service is extremely limited and is typically only available at higher elevations near the tops of the mountains.

In some cases, it may be possible to leave your Hummer parked overnight in the off-road park parking area. If you choose to do this, you must confirm permission directly with Leatherwood Off-Road Park staff or ownership. If permission is granted, you may leave your vehicle at the park and ride to and from the trails with another participant. This can be a helpful option if your Hummer is less comfortable or less road-oriented for longer highway drives.

Trail Maps and Navigation

Leatherwood Off-Road Park uses onX Offroad as its official trail mapping system and does not provide a traditional in-house paper trail map. The onX Offroad app is available for smartphones and tablets and provides a detailed view of the park, including trail locations, difficulty ratings, and surrounding terrain.

GPS functionality works in the Leatherwood area even when cell phone service is unavailable. For those who plan to use the app, it is strongly recommended that you download the offline map for the area ahead of time while you still have cell service. This ensures full map access while in the park.

Downloading the onX map is not required for regular event attendees. Trail leaders and the event coordinator will be using the app to navigate and guide the group through the park. If you are simply following along with a group, you do not need to have the map downloaded.

That said, some attendees may find it helpful to have their own copy of the map if they want to see where the group is within the park, understand the trail layout, or identify areas of interest they may want to explore during the event. Having the map available can add context to the trail experience but is entirely optional.

Charging Information for EV Owners

There are no EV charging stations at the event hotel. The nearest public chargers are located at the Harlan Center in downtown Harlan:

Harlan Center
201 South Main Street
Harlan, KY 40831

This location has two J1772 Level 2 chargers rated at approximately 6 kW. These are not fast chargers and are best used for topping off rather than fully recharging a GMC Hummer EV. At this power level, expect roughly 9 to 10 miles of range per hour of charging.

Availability and operation of these chargers cannot be guaranteed, so they should not be relied upon as your only charging option. GMC Hummer EV owners are encouraged to plan charging ahead of time and arrive with sufficient range for the weekend