Once the snow starts to fall and the days are noticeably shorter, many who love their time spent outdoors are forced to be patient for warmer days and tough it out. Fortunately, if off-roading happens to be your forte, you can be equipped adequately enough to plow through the white stuff in a blaze of adrenaline-laced glory! You'll want to make sure you contact the local authorities in parks and ranger positions and other winter off-roading experts to see if the trails are open, because a few feet of powder dumped on a snow packed base may foil your plans for just a few days.
Tips For Winter Off-Roading
One of the most common mistakes made by newbies is assuming that having a 4-wheel-drive will allow them to tighten their steering around corners so drastically that they lose control. It's always best to find a large parking lot after business hours and get used to just how different the ice is on a flat surface before hitting the hazard-filled trail. There are a few specific ways to prepare your vehicle that you'll be thankful for once you are immersed in the winter wild, and locating the perfect lift kit will aid in better navigation over any obstacles in your way.
- Snow Tires - Snow tires can be a massive help in avoiding the need for chains, and provide better traction. If you can nail down around 600 miles of highway driving before pinpointing where to off-road in winter, it will provide the ideal conditioning for the journey.
- Fluids - Fluids should be closely examined. Make sure the antifreeze has a rich level of potency, and a fresh oil change that ultimately results in lower weight. Washer fluid with antifreeze will be worth its weight in gold, especially during the days where the temperature hovers right around 30 degrees.
- Vision - The promise of finally getting your truck out to cut some lines in the snow may be so exciting that you don't want to wait an extra minute. If you happen to live nearby your desired terrain, it is crucial to warm up your car and not be attempting to navigate expert-level and slippery terrain through a small sliver of visible windshield space!
- Heater - If this all-important function happens to go on the fritz, you are going to be one very unhappy off-roader. Blankets can save your life in this situation as well, but if the blower or other components happen to decide during winter off-roading to fizzle out, you'll want to avoid a world of worry and discomfort!
- Recovery - Recovery items such as a hand winch and shovel are key instruments for getting you moving again. No matter how much experience you have with this type of terrain, winter elements can sometimes creep up and render you regrettably stuck. A buck saw to rid the path of brush, a spare tire and chains, Safety Seal Kit to repair flats, and traction strips to situate under spinning wheels will all come in handy.
- Battery - The battery in a vehicle designated for winter off-roading should be tested before you embark on the journey. If you are encountering extremely frigid temperatures and the battery is over two years old, you may want to play it safe and replace it altogether.
Winter Off-Roading Trails
Big Horns Mountain, Wyoming
These mountains boast very thick powder snow during the winter, and there is a large variety of terrain. This is also a world-famous place to try ice climbing for a day, and a site where many ancient geological locations are there to stoke the sense of adventure in any rugged traveler.
St George, Utah
This is the fantastic and awe-inspiring winter off-roading location where “Winter on the Rocks” takes place. Known for many narrow off-shoots and scenic waterways within its boundaries, there are multiple challenges here when it gets muddy and winter views of the canyons will make a lifetime impression while offering an expert-level outing.
Drummond Island, Michigan
Situated on beautiful Lake Huron, there are over 60 miles of ATV trails here, boasting the state's largest closed-loop trail network. From scenic routes on the shores of Sitgreaves Bay to narrow and difficult trails that definitely see their fair share of snowfall, it is quickly becoming one of the premier destinations in the nation due to its many different skill levels of trail offerings.
Lake Tahoe
This is where the famed Rubicon line derived its namesake from, as it is a trail located here that is consistently ranked as one of the toughest to conquer in the nation. Every off-roading expert who knows this place like the back of their hand swears that you'll NEED 4-wheel-drive, and snowfall totals here are massive enough to blanket this destination in pure white for months on end!
Death Valley National Park, California
Although this may not be a destination that many have in mind immediately for winter, one of its best-known traits is its nearly one thousand miles of paved and dirt roads. Since elevation varies dramatically here, it's not all desert: snow and ice requiring chains are quite common, and we'd have to render this location full of every obstacle imaginable as expert level through and through.
