Best Off-Road Trails by State: What Your Rig Actually Needs for Each One

Most "best trails by state" articles are just lists. Trail name, location, difficulty, and nothing else. That doesn't actually help you decide if your rig can run it, or what you'd need to do before you go.

This guide is different. For every trail listed, we tell you what your rig needs, minimum tires, required mods, best season, and permit status. No surprises at the trailhead.

How to Use This Guide

Each trail entry includes:

• Difficulty: Easy / Moderate / Hard / Expert
• Minimum tires: Smallest tire size you should run
• Key mods: What you need before you go
• Best season: When conditions are optimal
• Permit required: Yes / No

California

Rubicon Trail, Lake Tahoe, CA

The crown jewel of American rock crawling. 22 miles of granite ledges, water crossings, and the kind of terrain that breaks unprepared rigs.

• Difficulty: Expert
• Minimum tires: 35" (37" recommended)
• Key mods: Front and rear lockers, 4"+ lift, skid plates, winch, recovery gear
• Best season: July, October
• Permit required: Yes

Hungry Valley 4x4 Playground, Gorman, CA

One of Southern California's largest OHV areas, 19,000 acres with trails ranging from beginner-friendly loops to gnarly rock sections.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Minimum tires: 31" all-terrain
• Key mods: Basic recovery gear, minimal lift
• Best season: October, May
• Permit required: Day use fee

Johnson Valley OHV, Lucerne Valley, CA

Home of King of the Hammers. 188,000 acres of open desert riding mixed with serious rock lines for those who seek them.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Expert (depending on line)
• Minimum tires: 33"
• Key mods: Skid plates, recovery gear; lockers for harder lines
• Best season: October, May
• Permit required: No

Utah

White Rim Trail, Canyonlands, UT

100 miles of canyon road beneath the Island in the Sky mesa. This is a multi-day overland route, expect dramatic scenery, remote camping, and zero services.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Minimum tires: 33" all-terrain
• Key mods: Dual spare tires recommended, extra fuel, recovery gear
• Best season: March, May, September, November
• Permit required: Yes (advance reservation required)

Moab Area Trails (Hell's Revenge, Fins & Things, Poison Spider)

Moab is the off-road capital of the US. Hell's Revenge is slickrock at its most dramatic. Fins & Things is a great all-day moderate trail. Poison Spider is relentless.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Expert
• Minimum tires: 33" (35" recommended for Hell's Revenge and Poison Spider)
• Key mods: Lockers strongly recommended on harder trails, skid plates, tow points
• Best season: March, May, September, November
• Permit required: No (day use fee at some trailheads)

Shafer Trail, Moab, UT

The most photographed switchbacks in off-roading. An exposed shelf road descending from Canyonlands Plateau to the canyon floor.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Minimum tires: 33"
• Key mods: Cliff exposure makes this a mental challenge, stock is fine mechanically, but don't go alone
• Best season: Spring and Fall
• Permit required: No

Colorado

Alpine Loop, Silverton, CO

A stunning high-altitude loop through the San Juan Mountains hitting Engineer Pass (12,800 ft) and Cinnamon Pass (12,620 ft). Ghost towns, mountain wildflowers, and breathtaking views.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
• Minimum tires: 33" all-terrain
• Key mods: High-clearance required, skid plates recommended, recovery gear
• Best season: July, September
• Permit required: No

Black Bear Pass, Telluride, CO

One of Colorado's most notorious trails. One-way descent into Telluride with extreme switchbacks, thousand-foot drop-offs, and a section called "The Steps" that has claimed many rigs.

• Difficulty: Expert
• Minimum tires: 35" (37" preferred)
• Key mods: Full skid protection, lockers, winch, experienced spotter, don't go alone
• Best season: July, September
• Permit required: No

Arizona

Sedona Area Trails (Broken Arrow, Schnebly Hill, Soldier Pass)

Sedona is one of the most photogenic off-road destinations in the country. Broken Arrow's "Chicken Point" ledge is iconic.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Minimum tires: 33" all-terrain
• Key mods: Minimal, a basic lift and all-terrains handles most Sedona trails
• Best season: Year-round (avoid summer midday heat)
• Permit required: Broken Arrow requires a permit ($15, $25 per vehicle)

Texas

Bandera, Hill Country Off-Road, Bandera, TX

The best technical off-road park in Texas. 160+ miles of trails on 3,000 acres, ranging from beginner-friendly to serious rock.

• Difficulty: Easy to Hard
• Minimum tires: 33"
• Key mods: Lift and all-terrains for intermediate/hard trails; skid plates recommended
• Best season: October, April
• Permit required: Paid admission ($20, $30/day)

New Mexico

Jemez Mountain Trail, Jemez Springs, NM

A scenic 163-mile loop through the Jemez Mountains with side trails ranging from easy gravel roads to moderate 4x4 routes.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Minimum tires: 31" AT handles most of it; 33" for side trails
• Key mods: Basic clearance
• Best season: May, October
• Permit required: No

Nevada

Nellis Dunes OHV, Las Vegas, NV

30 minutes from the Strip. Sand dunes, washes, and open riding across 4,000 acres.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Minimum tires: Stock (aired down) for sand dunes; 33" AT for harder washes
• Key mods: Airing down is your biggest tool here, bring a compressor
• Best season: October, April
• Permit required: No

What to Do Before You Go

Whatever trail you pick, three things matter before you leave the trailhead:

1. Know your rig's specs, tire size, ground clearance, drivetrain, and what mods you have. The Trail Matchmaker compares your rig to the trail requirements automatically.
2. Check conditions, trail conditions change with weather, seasons, and recent use. Check the Live Trail Conditions widget on each trail page before you go.
3. Have recovery gear, every trail on this list has gotten someone stuck at some point. A snatch strap, shackles, and a Hi-Lift jack are the minimum. A winch for anything rated Hard or Expert.