December + January Featured Routes

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!

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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 you know where to look, there's still plenty of wide open spaces largely devoid of humans. Below are a few of our favorite places to escape the crowds! East Mojave Heritage Trail (Southern California) While the 100+ mile Mojave Road seems to get all the fanfare, in our humble opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to the 700+ mile East Mojave Heritage Trail. Don't let the mileage intimidate you, as one can easily slice up the EMHT into smaller adventures. And once you get away from the Mojave Road, it's possible to travel an entire day without seeing another human. Some of our favorite locations along the EMHT include Hole-in-the-Wall, the cinder cone fields, Kelso Dunes, Granite Pass, the old cabins circa the Evening Star Mine, and so much more!

Kofa Pioneer Trail (Southern Arizona)

With its majestic saguaro forests and towering red rock cliffs and buttes, the Kofa Wildlife Refuge is easily one of the prettiest corners of the Sonoran Desert. And the Kofa Pioneer Trail is filled with narrow and bumpy two tracks that lead to old mining camps, historic homesteads, and some of the best campsites in the American Southwest. If you're looking to escape the winter hordes in Quartzsite, head a few miles south into the empty trails of Kofa!

Weekend Adventures for City Dwellers

Do you live in or near the major population centers of Southern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Tucson? Well dangit partner, you've got some amazing places to explore right in your backyard! Idyllwild Adventour Tour (Southern California) Just a short drive from San Diego County, Orange County, and Riverside County, the Idyllwild Adventure is the perfect way to explore the mountains in and around Idyllwild. Connecting some of the region's favorite off-road tracks with some more obscure dirt roads, this is the perfect weekend adventure for folks looking to explore the high country.

Anza-Borrego Discovery Trail (San Diego)

At over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California's largest state park and one of Southern California's premier overlanding destinations. The 216-mile Discovery Trail showcases the incredible diversity of this desert wilderness—from badlands and slot canyons to towering mud palisades, hidden palm oases, and the famous Wind Caves. Highlights include the white-knuckle Diablo Drop-Off, spectacular sunrise views from Fonts Point, and Ricardo Breceda's massive metal sculptures at Galleta Meadows. Whether you're looking to escape the winter crowds or catch the legendary spring wildflower superblooms, Anza-Borrego delivers an unforgettable desert adventure!

Gold Butte Adventure Route (Las Vegas/St George)

The Gold Butte Adventure Route begins just outside of greater Las Vegas in Lake Mead NRA. The route features an incredible diversity in terms of desert scenery, from the rock-strewn trails of Bittersprings Backcountry Byway, the iconic red rocks of Valley of Fire, to the numerous sandstone outcroppings within Gold Butte National Monument—like Little Finland. The Gold Butte track is easily one of our favorites in the Southwest, and features some of the most incredible campsites we've ever stayed at!

Saguaro Traverse (Tucson) The Saguaro Traverse creates a clover-shaped loop around Tucson. In fact, both the start and ending points begin just beyond the city limits, but an hour traveling into Ironwood Forest National Monument will have you feeling like the city is hundreds of miles away! The Saguaro Traverse features an incredible amount of varied terrain from the rocky Ironwood Forest in the west, to the saguaro forests in the north, and the climb up around the backside of Mt. Lemmon through mixed oak and pine woodlands before descending back into the Sonoran Desert. Gila Traverse (Phoenix)

Just outside of greater Phoenix sits a desert wonderland filled with majestic saguaros, towering pale red bluffs, historic mining relics, and an extensive network of OHV trails. The 144-mile Gila Traverse showcases the incredible diversity of Arizona's Sonoran Desert, beginning with a crossing of the Gila River before climbing through desert canyons dotted with century-old mines and stone ruins. As you climb higher into the mountains, towering saguaros gradually give way to chaparral and eventually thick pine forests around 7,838-foot Pinal Peak. Whether you're seeking mild adventure on graded dirt roads or technical challenges through rocky jeep tracks, the Gila Traverse delivers an unforgettable range of terrain and scenery—all within striking distance of the Valley of the Sun!