The Trinity Alps Backcountry Discovery Trail threads through the heart of one of the most geologically wild and botanically bizarre corners of North America, connecting the Sacramento River drainage to the deep canyon country of the Salmon River along the way. Ancient gold mining history, snow-capped alpine lakes, fire lookouts with views that stop you cold, and a stretch through the rarely visited Russian Wilderness make this one of the finest overland routes in Northern Cal

The Mammoth Backcountry Discovery Trail traces a 360 mile loop through the volcanic heart of the Eastern Sierra, connecting a landscape that few overlanders have explored in its entirety. Ancient calderas, obsidian domes, alpine ghost towns, and the highest drivable ridgelines in California are all on the table here, cycling through pumice flats, Great Basin sagebrush, and high alpine terrain before dropping back into the shadow of the Sierra Nevada. This is a route where geo

Let me describe something I witnessed last spring at a trailhead in the Trinity Alps that has been living rent-free in my head ever since, like a bad country song you can't unhum. A woman (maybe twenty-eight, hair professionally tousled in the way that takes forty-five minutes) climbed out of a bone-white Sprinter van with a ring light strapped to a gorilla pod and a camera guy who, I kid you not, was wearing a safari vest with the tags still on it. She walked approximately t

Mark your calendar cuz we're heading back to Big Sur for our 3rd Annual BaseCamp — and this year it's completely free to attend. This is a relaxed, family-friendly on the eastside of Big Sur (not the coast). Expect rolling green meadows, ancient oak trees, a creek with swimming holes,, hiking trails, and some of the best scenery California has to offer. Highlights include: Iron Chef Overland Edition Chili Cook-Off (Saturday at 7pm!) Saturday Trail run to South Coast Ridge Ro

The TransGaspé CDT traverses one of the most geographically dramatic peninsulas in North America, looping nearly a 900 miles through the Gaspésie peninsula — a landscape where ancient Appalachian summits, world-class salmon rivers, and sheer Gulf coastline collide in a region that remains largely off the radar of the overland community. Trading the familiar for the extraordinary, this route exchanges well-worn dirt roads for remote forest tracks, roadside attractions for genu

The San Juan Mountains, Colorado. One of the most spectacular dispersed camping areas in North America — 14,000-foot peaks, aspen groves shimmering gold, a sky so dark at night you can practically reach up and grab a fistful of stars. The kind of place that makes you feel genuinely small and genuinely alive simultaneously. I had a fire going. Hot dogs on sticks. A cold beer sweating in my hand. Total sensory perfection. Then the rig next door fired up their pizza oven. Not a

The rooftop tent is overlanding's greatest marketing achievement — a product that costs ten times more, requires a ladder to access at 3am, and somehow convinced an entire community it was an upgrade. This is how the con works.

The SCAR is a 1,000-mile overland journey that traverses the state’s most diverse geological transitions, from the prehistoric sands of the ancient coastline to the rugged granite shoulders of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Much like the mining camps of the high desert, this track explores the weathered remnants of a bygone era, trading silver and gold for the intangible treasures of Revolutionary War relics, abandoned textile mills, and haunting blackwater swamps. Whether you’re

The unspoken truth about overlanding? We're all chasing that perfect outdoor bathroom experience with a view. A hilariously honest take on wilderness freedom.

Beyond its crowded coastlines, California offers millions of acres of public land for overlanders. The state’s diverse geography—ranging from temperate rainforests and volcanic plateaus to high-altitude granite peaks and desert playas—is categorized into six primary regions. This breakdown and accompanying video guide are designed to help travelers choose the perfect destination for anything from a weekend escape to a multi-week expedition.

We were just looking through all of our old emails and articles and realized we hadn't done a featured routes article in quite some time. And just because it may be cold, dark, and snowy in your locale, there's plenty of places to explore during the winter months! . In Search of Solitude? Overlanding and outdoor recreation in general has absolutely exploded since Covid hit 5 years ago. And those once hidden gems seem to have been discovered by the weekend warriors. But, if yo

Traversing the rugged topography of the Ontario Highlands, the Bush Chicken is a 730-mile loop composed of 60% gravel and 40% pavement. This guide details the track from the dense forests of Haliburton to the Ottawa Valley, highlighting key discovery points and surface conditions. Prepare for a mix of scenic backroads and technical terrain through this diverse geological province.

There's a particular flavor of sanctimonious bullshit that's infected the overlanding community, and honestly, I'm tired of pretending it's not ridiculous. You know the type - the adventure purists who've appointed themselves the Supreme Court of What Counts , complete with arbitrary rules, minimum requirements, and a smugness that could fuel a small power grid. According to these self-appointed judges, your week-long backcountry trip through the Rockies doesn't qualify. Your

The Verdict Up Front: If you're tired of trash bags sliding down your spare or disintegrating after a season or two, the Blacksmith Camping 4WD Wheel Bag justifies its premium price. It's not flawless, but the Australian poly-cotton fabric and sleeve design solve the two most frustrating problems with wheel-mounted trash bags. Blacksmith Camping wheel bags are made from Aussie poly-cotton in their Adelaide workshop. Who Is Blacksmith Camping? Blacksmith Camping probably is

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Dive into the heart of the Great Basin on the Northern Nevada Treasure Trail, highlighting the incredible mineral history that defined this region. Beyond the ghost towns and mining relics, the trail rewards explorers with unique geological stops, including Tufa Cave, the Blue Wing Playa, and the bizarre rock formations of Elephant Land. If your idea of adventure involves endless desert solitude and horizon-to-horizon vistas, this rugged track is a must-do experience.

Let me paint you a picture of authenticity in 2025: A $90,000 Land Cruiser with a custom paint job in some aggressively earthy shade that probably has a name like "Tactical Sage" or "Desert Warfare Tan," seventeen sponsor decals, a YouTube handle plastered across the rear window in letters large enough to be seen from the International Space Station, and enough electronic equipment in the cab to run a small television production company. This magnificent beast is piloted by a

We drove into the wilderness to escape our screens, then paid one of the world's richest billionaires to bring them with us. This satirical look at overlanding's satellite internet obsession explores how Starlink and similar services are killing boredom, destroying campfire culture, and turning backcountry trips into just another place to doomscroll. Spoiler: we told ourselves it was for the kids, but we're the ones who can't disconnect.

Adventure riders have been exploring the backroads and dirt trails in the San Jacinto Mountains for years, and the Idyllwild Adventure Tour is one of the best routes in the area. This 80% dirt route climbs over 7,000 feet through desert lowlands, chaparral hills, and pine forests with incredible views. Accessible from Southern California in just a couple of hours.

Let's talk about the absolute fever dream that is modern overlanding culture. We've somehow collectively decided that the best way to...