Off-Roading can be both active and a lot of fun if you’re being responsible and safe. Health Fitness Revolution has done some research and put together a list of the Best North American Off-Roading Destinations:
Rubicon Trail, California
Location: Northern California
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 82 Low: 55; July – High: 90 Low: 61; August – High: 91 Low: 61
Permits Required: U.S. Forest Service Camp Fire, Green or Red State Use Sticker for non street-legal vehicles.
- The best known and most popular 4×4 trail in the world
- A rare combination of difficulty, beauty, length and pure rock-crawling fun
- Great camping next to crystal-clear lakes with stunning views
- Difficult Trail
- A mix of granite slabs, soft dirt, sharp rocks and large boulders that require precise maneuvering to avoid body damage
Moab, Utah
Location: Southeastern Utah
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 93 Low: 58; July – High: 99 Low: 64; August – High: 96 Low: 63
Permits Required: State Resident or Non-Resident OHV Permit, BLM Permit for Organized Groups
- Conveniently located near Moab, this trail offers a hardcore, four-wheeling experience that will scare and exhilarate you
- Great views of Moab from various points along rim
- Difficult Trail
- Trail wastes little time getting down to business. The first half mile is nothing short of terrifying.
- A long climb of tight, tippy, and extremely difficult ledges requires excellent driving skills and a very capable four-wheel drive rig
Mojave National Preserve, California
Location: Southern California
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 98 Low: 59; July – High: 104 Low: 73; August – High: 103 Low: 72
Permits Required: Recreational permit for groups of seven or more vehicles or 15 people
- Traveling the Mojave Road is a 2- or 3-day excursion, best made with a group of well-equipped off-roaders.
- The trip begins at the Colorado River and ends in Afton Canyon near Barstow.
- Easy to Moderate Trail
Superlift ORV, Arkansas
Location: Central Arkansas
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 88 Low: 67; July – High: 93 Low: 71; August – High: 93 Low: 70
Permits Required: $30 Daily Use Fee for Trucks/SUVs, $15 for ATVs and Motorcycles. Annual and family memberships available.
- Superlift ORV Park is a privately-owned off-road park and a premier off road adventure destination
- This park offers enthusiasts over 1,250 pristine wooded acres to explore
- Trails are clearly marked and difficulty rated
- Superlift ORV Park offers both tent camping and RV campsites nestled in beautiful shaded hardwoods
Ouray, Colorado
Location: Southwestern Colorado
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 72 Low: 45; July – High: 77 Low: 52; August – High: 74 Low: 50
Permits Required: OHV Permit for nearby Ridgway State Park, Daily Parks Pass for $7. No permits for San Juan National Forest. Some permits required for group or commercial activities.
- One of the most scenic off-road destinations on this list
- Imogene Pass is the second highest drivable pass in Colorado
- The drive is one of the most thrilling in the state.
- Difficulty is Moderate but do not take this trip lightly
- The road is rocky, steep and narrow in places and passing can be dangerous. Stock SUVs should have low-range gearing, 4-wheel drive, high clearance and skid plates
- Experienced drivers only
Ocala National Forest
Location: North central Florida
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 92 Low: 70; July – High: 93 Low: 71; August – High: 93 Low: 72
Permits Required: Annual/Day Passes required for entranced to concession-managed recreation areas. $50-60, good for one year from date of purchase.
- The Ocala National Forest is Florida’s top destination for off-roading
- Trails are designed for slow speeds for riders to view and appreciate scenery and wildlife as well as to highlight the importance of conservation, forest management, and history.
- Trail is Easy to Moderate
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Location: Southern New Mexico
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 95 Low: 62; July – High: 95 Low: 68; August – High: 92 Low: 67
Permits Required: $5 Per vehicle day use pass, $7 camping permit for BLM-managed areas.
- The Robledo Mountains Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System is a network of trails, including bike trails, in the southern Robledo Mountains
- The trails are dominated by enormous rocks, making the terrain extraordinarily challenging for riders.
- Trail is Difficult
Mendocino National Forest, California
Location: Northern California
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 85 Low: 50; July – High: 94 Low: 54; August – High: 93 Low: 52
Permits Required: Current registration for street-legal vehicles, Green Sticker state permit for Off-Highway vehicles. Campfire permits required for some areas.
- Just a three hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento
- Some 65 miles long and 35 miles across of beautiful trails
- The Forest’s 913,306 federally-owned acres of mountains and canyons offer a variety of recreational opportunities – camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study, photography, and off-highway vehicle travel
Whipsaw Trail, British Columbia
Location: South Central British Columbia
Average Temperatures (F): June – High: 72 Low: 44; July – High: 79 Low: 48; August – High: 79 Low: 47
Permits Required: None. Valid, current vehicle registration. License required for hunting or fishing
- Most of the trail is driven close to tree line but in several places it goes into alpine meadows where views from the top are breathtaking on a clear day
- The Falcon Hill Climb can be trying for some trucks, but the result is exhilarating
- Rough spots start after about 24 kilometres of forestry road access
- There are a number of rock shelves/ledges but all can be accomplished in dry weather
