1) Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (Utah)
You want remote? You got it! GSENM in southern Utah spans 1.9 million acres, and boasts a large network of roads and trails (over 1,000 miles by our count). Some are suitable for 4x4 & ORT exploring, as long as they're dry.
Make sure you check current conditions and the forecast before setting out on your journey.
Explore the Scenic Backways for an even more amazing experience!
Image courtesy BLM Flickr Account
Resources:
- Current Road Report (PDF)
- PDF Map from the BLM
- Utah Travel GSENM Information
2) Outer Banks (North Carolina)
One of the must-do trips if you're planning to explore the eastern United States. The Outer Banks in NC are one of the best places in the country to take your 4x4 on to the beach, and careful driving will allow you to bring your trailer as well. Make sure you're aired down, you stay in the tracks, and you'll need a beach driving permit to enter Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Image courtesty of OuterBanks.com
Resources:
- Outer Banks Driving on the Beach guide
- A Big Map of the Outer Banks
3) Death Valley National Park (California)
This one may be better for the off-season (think September->April), due to the extreme summer temperatures.
Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the United States. It's a study in extremes. Snowy peaks in the winter give way to vast fields of wildflowers before the temps soar and become almost unbearable (and dangerous) during the winter months. There are several tracks across the valley just ready for you to explore.
Image courtesy of Expedition Portal
Resources:
- Expedition Portals Overland Route
- Hema Explorer Cloud Tracks (from Scott Brady of Overland International)
