How to Use the Trails Offroad Website on Your Next Adventure

Welcome to the official guide to using the Trails Offroad™ website. Whether you are already a member of the Trails Offroad™ family or looking to sign up, we’ll break down every feature! 

About Trails Offroad™

At Trails Offroad™, we aim to deliver the most dependable and precise offroad trail information available. We founded Trails Offroad after encountering trails that were either too tame or unexpectedly difficult, realizing the importance of having accurate, detailed guides. As dedicated off-roaders with expertise in Overlanding, Rock Crawling, and Backcountry Exploration, we aim to help adventurers of all skill levels find trails that suit their abilities and desires.

We provide an expansive collection of trail guides that are easy to navigate and packed with essential information, from comprehensive maps to difficulty ratings, ensuring you're well-prepared for every outing. We're always out in the field, updating our content and discovering new trails to ensure you have the most current and useful information at your fingertips.

Community feedback is at the heart of what we do, and we constantly refine our guides based on your experiences. We’re also committed to preserving and advocating for legal motorized trails, partnering with organizations that keep these trails open and maintained.

How We Talk About Trails 

We offer two types of trail content at Trails Offroad™: Scout Routes and Trail Guides. 

What is a Scout Route?

Scout routes are an extra perk for our all-access members. They aren’t as detailed as our all-access trails but have been driven and verified by one of our crew members and they have a basic write-up, including the full trail for you to follow along and some photos. 

They also provide you with photos of the hardest obstacle you will encounter on this trail as well as a possible camping spot for you to set up for the night. 

What is an All-Access Trail Guide?

Our all-access trails are comprehensive, enhanced versions of our scout routes, designed to provide you with everything you need for a successful off-road adventure. These guides include every detail you could want: a thorough rating system that covers difficulty and conditions, an extensive collection of photos and videos showcasing the trails, all waypoints clearly marked, and a downloadable map that can be integrated into your preferred navigation app.

Our waypoints are meticulously detailed, ensuring you have all the critical information. They highlight obstacles and bypasses, giving you clear instructions on how to navigate tricky sections of the trail. Additionally, our waypoints often feature points of interest, such as must-see historical sites, breathtaking views, and other noteworthy spots that you won’t want to miss.

Just like the scout routes, you will find optional camping spots in these guides. These are perfect for those who prefer to have their trip pre-planned, making it easier to find a place to set up camp for the night. However, the difference is, that our authors may go the extra mile by including multiple campsite options within the waypoints, offering you flexibility in choosing the perfect spot to rest. Be sure to check these out!

Your Member Dashboard

Every account on Trails Offroad™ comes with a personalized Dashboard. This is where you'll easily access and manage your favorites, keep track of trail reviews you've written, and revisit any questions you've posted within the community. 

You can also customize your Dashboard to reflect your personality and off-roading style. Add a profile photo, craft a bio that tells others a bit about yourself, and link your social media accounts to share your adventures. You can even specify the type of off-roader you are, giving others a sense of your approach to the trails.

One of the coolest features of the Dashboard is the garage section. Here, you can showcase the vehicles you drive and offroad with, adding details highlighting your rig’s capabilities. It's a great way to share your setup with the community.

Trails Offroad makes it easy to connect with other members. You can view others' profiles, either by exploring the trail reviews they've written or by clicking directly on their author profiles from the trail guides. This feature fosters a sense of community, allowing you to engage with fellow enthusiasts and even find potential off-roading companions.

The Official Trails Offroad™ Blog

You will also find our blog on our site. Our blog features tons of different content. From trail guides to help you plan multi-day adventures to tips and tricks to ensure you have a safe and fun trip, we have it all. 

We take pride in creating content that is not only informative but also relatable. Our goal is to be realistic, offering advice and insights that resonate with our audience. We understand the unique challenges and joys of off-roading, and we aim to provide content that speaks directly to your experiences, helping you navigate the trails with confidence and ease. 

Trails Offroad™: All-Access Membership 

If you're eager to dive into offroading or want to explore new trails, signing up for our paid membership is the ultimate way to access everything you need for a successful adventure.

Our membership gives you access to thousands of offroad trails across the country, including routes in Canada, all complete with detailed directions to guide you through every adventure. 

With our membership, finding the perfect trail is a breeze. We’ve developed an easy-to-understand difficulty rating scale that helps you choose trails that match your skill level, whether you're a beginner, a seasoned off-roader, or somewhere in between. Additionally, our experience filters allow you to customize your search, ensuring the trails you select meet your specific needs and preferences.

As a member, you'll also benefit from our detailed Waypoints, which include important information about trail conditions, obstacles, bypasses, and points of interest, such as historical landmarks or stunning vistas. Plus, you'll have access to downloadable maps that integrate with your preferred navigation app, so you can stay on track even in remote areas with limited cell service.

In short, our paid membership is designed to give you everything you need to confidently explore new areas, tackle challenging trails, and make the most of your off-roading adventures.

Map View 

The map is where you'll find all our logged trails, organized for easy exploration. This section is divided into a few key parts.

On the left-hand side, you'll see the menu. Here, you can search for a specific trail using the search bar, either by name, location, or coordinates. This feature is especially useful if you're looking for something specific. Personally, I find that searching by location is the easiest way to discover trails near where you are.

Just below the search bar, you'll find a list of trails displayed on the map. Each trail entry provides a brief overview, including its length, difficulty, member-rated trail rating, and current status. When you click on a trail, you'll be taken directly to the detailed trail guide.

If you're open to exploring different areas and don't have a specific location in mind, our filters will come in handy. We offer three filters: difficulty, trail status, and experiences, allowing you to narrow down your options and find the perfect trail for your adventure.

Starting with difficulty, we categorize trails into five tiers: easy, moderate, difficult, severe, and extreme. Within each of these tiers, we further break them down into 10 different ratings. You can learn more about how these ratings are determined by reading here. When using the filter section, you have the option to select both a minimum and maximum difficulty level, allowing you to narrow your search to a specific range. If you prefer to stick to a single tier, you can select that as well.

Now, let's talk about trail status. Nobody wants to drive all the way to a trailhead only to discover it’s closed for the season. That’s where our trail status rating comes in. When you filter, you will most likely pick the "open" status, but other possibilities include "temporary closure," "seasonal closure," "impassable," and "partially open." These statuses are frequently updated by our members who venture out and explore the trails.

For all our trail guides, we strive to inform you in advance whether a trail is open year-round or subject to seasonal closures. However, we don’t always have the latest information, so if you come across a trail that is unexpectedly closed, we encourage you to leave a review and update the trail status. This helps keep our community informed and ensures everyone has the most accurate information before heading out.

And finally experiences, which I personally think you should always use to find a new trail. The filter includes:

• Altitude 

• Camping

• Desert

• Forest

• Ghost Town 

• Iconic 

• Mine 

• Mud

• Overland 

• Rock 

• Sand

• Scenic 

• Snow Wheeling

• Wash 

• Water

• ORV Park

• Beginner  

These can be a great tool if you are looking for something specific from your adventure.

Scout Route View

With our membership, you'll have access to our scout routes. Think of these routes as high-level overviews compared to our more detailed All-Access Trails. While scout routes have been run and verified by one of our authors, they don’t include as much detail as the all-access trails. However, if a particular scout route receives enough votes from our community, we’ll send our team out to fully map it, transforming it into an all-access trail with comprehensive information.

Each scout route includes a brief description of the trail, along with essential trail information and highlights of what you can expect. One key difference, aside from the level of detail, is a section called "Best Suited For," which offers insights into who will get the most out of this trail, whether it’s beginners, seasoned off-roaders, or those seeking a specific type of terrain.

All-Access Trail View

Our second type of trail guide is our All-Access Trails, which provides a comprehensive, in-depth look at everything you need to know about each trail. While they include all the features of our scout routes, they go far beyond, offering a wealth of additional information to ensure you're fully prepared for your adventure.

In the Trail Information section, you'll find detailed insights, including when the trail is open, its condition, the best direction to travel, and precise location details. This information is invaluable if you’re planning a multi-day adventure and want to explore nearby areas or if you need to share accurate trail descriptions with others. Our All-Access Trails are designed to be your go-to resource, giving you the confidence and knowledge to tackle any trail with ease.

Moving down, you’ll find our Highlights section, which offers a general overview of the trail, including what the terrain looks like, nearby trails or attractions, and noteworthy features such as lakes, obstacles, or other points of interest.

This section also includes tags that give you a clear idea of what to expect on the trail.

Our All-Access Trails also include a clear and easy-to-understand trail difficulty assessment. This section highlights any potential challenges you might face, such as off-camber areas, narrow roads, or water crossings, giving you a solid understanding of what to expect. We also provide recommendations on the type of vehicle best suited for the trail, though keep in mind that these suggestions can vary depending on weather conditions.

Just below this, you'll find the Community Consensus section, where fellow off-roaders can vote on the accuracy of our difficulty ratings. This feedback helps ensure that our assessments remain reliable and up-to-date.

Finally, we offer a detailed overview of the trail, complete with waypoints, potential camping spots, and clear directions to the trailhead. As an added bonus, we include a trail video, giving you an even closer look at the terrain and what to expect before you set out.

Trails Offroad - Free Edition 

In addition to our paid membership, we do offer a free option for those who are not ready to commit. While the free edition offers limited access, you can explore 206 trail guides and get essential information both on our website and app. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to experience our premium membership with a 7-day free trial, allowing you to fully explore our extensive trail database and decide if it's the right fit for your adventures.

Map View 

With the free version, you’ll still have access to a full view of our Trail Map. The main difference is that you won’t see the exact locations of the trails. Instead, you’ll be shown a general area, which can be helpful if you’re more interested in exploring broader regions rather than pinpointing specific trails.

To find trails using the free version, you’ll need to navigate around the map and use the search menu on the left-hand side. You can still search by trail name, location, or coordinates. However, please note that all of our filters will be restricted until you upgrade to the paid membership.

Scout Route View

Just like the paid membership, our trails are separated by scout routes and all-access trails. All of our scout routes will be locked and you will only be able to see a single photo of the trail as well as any nearby all-access preview trails. 

All-Access Trail View

Under the free membership, you’ll see that our all-access trails will have a bit more information including highlights of the trail, the length, what time of the year it’s open, and some information about the location. You will also get an overview of the trail, written by the author. 

But any directions, photos, camp locations, etc., will be locked until you upgrade. 

All-Access Preview Trail

Our free membership will also come with a few select all-access preview trails. This will give you an inside scoop for a select number of trails. You will get access to almost all of what a paid member will get access to for our all-access trails, except you won’t be able to open the trail in Gaia, download the GPX file, or print the trail. 

Some of these trails include: 

• Quebradas Backcountry Byway - New Mexico
• Alamo Road - Nevada
• Tincup Pass - Colorado
• Stampede Pass - Washington
• Hungry Valley SVRA - Pronghorn Trail - California 

I hope this guide helps you make an informed decision about which option is best for you. As an avid offroader, I’ve found that striking a balance between discovering trails on your own and using pre-mapped routes offers the best of both worlds. Sometimes, you just want a stress-free day of exploring new areas, and Trails Offroad can be the perfect tool to help you do just that.