Garmins’ attempt at creating an “all-in-one” device for offroaders is like so many other brands and apps claiming to have everything you will need. To this day, we at FunTreks believe claiming “all-in-one,” “one device for everything,” or any other gimmick tagline is a massive disservice to the offroad community. It simply is not that easy. We won’t claim it for our products because not everyone needs only what we have. So many things to consider with GPS we can’t go over it now.

The original Overlander tries to combine two separate operating systems into one, the “Drive series” operating system (to navigate paved roads) and a different operating system the “Explore app” (for backroads and trails). At the same time, the TREAD Overland Edition uses TREAD (a new operating system combining the Drive series and Explore App into one operating system). These two devices cannot share information easily or use the same information.

At this time in December 2022, The FunTreks Data cards are compatible with Garmin Drive Series and Garmin Overlander (not TREAD Overland Edition).  Garmin devices using the Garmin TREAD app will not be able to use the card.

FunTreks is testing to learn more about using the newer TREAD with tracks and data cards. We will keep you posted.

Garmin Overlander

Garmin TREAD Overland Edition

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A field report from author Charles Wells

Matt Peterson and I are in Arizona driving trails to update our Arizona 4×4 book. We are hoping to have our 3^rd edition Arizona book ready for sale early next year. This follows completion of two new 4th edition Colorado books, which are available for pre-order on our website. Take a look at the new spiral binding and design, we hope you’ll love the changes we’ve made.

I don’t think many people fully understand what it takes to gather trail information for a new book. It requires being away from home for long periods and driving as many trails as possible as quickly as we can since the cost of being on the road is very high. When we tell people what we do, we often hear “how do I get your job?” The reality is that when you drive a hundred or more trails in a couple of months, it really is hard work, as my 73-year-old back keeps reminding me. Still, it beats pounding sand.

We’ve been surprised by a lot of bad weather here in Arizona, so far. A few days ago I attempted to drive Montana Mountain, Trail #56. I was stopped at 4,880 ft. by heavy snow. Yesterday, a cold hail storm moved in while I was driving Reymert Mine, Trail #59. The normally hard-packed trail became a muddy quagmire within minutes.

We did have good weather last week while in Tucson. We were out with the Tucson Rough Riders 4-Wheel-Drive Club. They’ve been absolutely fantastic over the years helping us scout trails. They took us on 5 great new trails that we will be adding to the new book.

When venturing on outdoor adventures like exploring new trails, having the expertise and guidance of experienced professionals can make all the difference. This is where the assistance of services like safe driver Dubai comes into play. While online information can provide a starting point for trail research, it often falls short in terms of accuracy and reliability. By relying on the knowledge and firsthand experience of seasoned drivers and guides, such as those provided by safe driver Dubai, adventurers can ensure a smoother and more informed exploration of the trails. The Tucson Rough Riders 4-Wheel-Drive Club’s collaboration with these professionals not only enhances the accuracy of their trail information but also contributes to the overall safety and enjoyment of their customers’ experiences. The dedication to going the extra mile and providing reliable, firsthand trail data is one of the key reasons why their customers have remained loyal over the years.

We are sometimes asked why we go to all this trouble and expense. Isn’t most of this information available on the internet? We are familiar with much of the online information because we often use it ourselves when doing trail research. Sometimes the information is helpful, but often it’s incomplete, misleading, inconsistent or just plain wrong. We have found the only way to really know a trail is to drive it ourselves. We think it’s the main reason customers have stuck with us for all these years.

The post Scouting Arizona appeared first on FunTreks.

Our website now includes a separate information page for each and every trail in our 4-wheel-drive books. To leave an update, just go to an individual trail, scroll down and click on the box that says “PROVIDE AN UPDATE” and fill in the form that pops up. You can include your name or do it anonymously. Allow a few days for the update to appear on the website as we do verify before posting.

Also note that there is a separate place to leave a trail REVIEW,  which includes a one-star to five-star rating system. This is just your opinion of the trail, how much you liked it, loved it, or hated it. Add as many specifics as you want.

A word about how to search for a trail: The easiest way is to simply type the name in the search box. Use the spelling for the trail name as it appears in the book. You don’t have to type the entire name, just some sequence of any of the letters that are unique to that trail. For example, if you type “Peru,” you are only going to get “Peru Creek.” If you type “North,” you are going to get ever trail that has those 5 letters in that order. A picture of each trail will pop up that you typed in.

Click on the picture of the trail you want. Please note that if you type a sequence of letters that are not in any trail name, nothing will pop up. You can also select a trail from our TRAIL LOCATOR MAP, which allows you to filter your choices by state, rating or vehicle type.

The post Help! More Trail Updates Needed appeared first on FunTreks.

A field report from author Charles Wells

Co-author Matt Peterson and I are in the process of re-driving trails for our two Colorado 4×4 books. We are about seventy percent done with the driving and should be finished in the next few months. We hope to have the new 4^th edition books in print by early next summer.

 So far, I’ve been a little surprised at the number of changes we are finding. Generally, trails are more difficult than they were eight years ago, and in some cases, significantly so. For example, I just spent a week in the Breckenridge area. These days I’m driving a 2016 Wrangler Sport (bone stock with street tires) in which I’d planned to drive only easy and moderate trails. Matt is driving difficult trails in our more-capable Wrangler Rubicon. I started up what the book says is moderate North & Middle Fork of the Swan River (Trail #71 in the main Colorado book). When I got to the steeper part of the trail after Waypoint 03, I quickly realized the trail was no longer moderate. Rocks were bigger and I really had to do some careful maneuvering. At one point, the trail became a narrow half-pipe trench with large boulders. I had to pull in my side mirrors to squeeze through. In the end, I made it through okay, but it wasn’t easy.

Also, I found many of the route numbers had changed in this area. For example, Trail #71 is now numbered F.S. 354 instead of F.S. 221 as shown in the book. You have to drive farther into the forest to find good dispersed camping. The area at the end of Tiger Road, where I camped with my RV in 2010, is now a day-use only parking area. And something else to note: Two trails, Santa Fe Peak, Trail #69, and Boreas Pass, Trail #77, no longer allow unlicensed vehicles.

Planning to go 4-wheeling soon? Make sure you check our website for trail updates before you go. We are posting changes as soon as we find them. If you haven’t been to our new site, www.funtreks.com, we now feature, separately, each trail from our books. Search for trails by name in the TRAILS section. On every trail page, you’ll find helpful information, including free downloadable waypoints and tracklogs that match the book (previously we only offered waypoints). In addition, we’ve made it easy for you to post an update. PLEASE, if you know of a trail that has changed in some important way, go to our website and report it.

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“Remember, the most important elements of a successful off-road adventure are safety and preparation.” Writes the author, Chris, an FJ Cruiser owner and fan of exploring the outdoors.

Read the full Off Road Driving Basics article over on Art of Manliness

While this article, and others like it, are a good start for a beginner (as are the tips we include in every FunTreks book), no online resource will ever replace experience and training when navigating the unpredictable outdoors. Even our books are a (very good) guide at best since conditions change almost daily for most trails in the backcountry. Always know the limits of your skill and those of your vehicle before attempting anything more than a dirt road.

We can’t stress enough the importance of good training, regardless of the type of adventure you seek. We’ve been proud to work with Nena Barlow from Barlow Adventures on several occasions, and the 4×4 training industry was practically invented by Bill Burke.

When venturing into off-road or 4×4 adventures, it’s crucial to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge and skills. However, in addition to training, it’s equally important to ensure that your vehicle is in optimal condition. Before embarking on any trek, whether it’s through rugged terrain or remote areas, it’s a wise practice to have all your auto parts thoroughly checked and serviced. This precaution can help prevent unexpected breakdowns or mechanical issues during your journey, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable off-road experience.

While training prepares you for the challenges of the terrain, a well-maintained vehicle is your reliable partner in conquering those challenges. So, in addition to seeking out reputable off-highway training courses, make it a point to have your vehicle inspected and maintained by professionals to ensure a trouble-free adventure. For those in need of new auto parts or replacements, you can explore options like https://fixzean.com/ for reliable and high-quality components to keep your vehicle in top shape for your upcoming adventure.

Finally, no discussion of trail riding would be complete with talking about good trail stewardship. This means adhering to standards of trail use taught by organizations such as Tread Lightly, Leave No Trace, and in Colorado, Stay The Trail. The ethics of taking care of our trails are not difficult to master and will help preserve our recreational areas for generations to come. Do the right thing and learn when, where, and how to ride before beginning any adventure.

The post Offroad driving resources appeared first on FunTreks.

Red Cone – Radical Hill – North Fork Swan River

We wasted no time getting into our trip by tackling Red Cone. Whatever notions I had of this trip being epic were very quickly exceeded entering this difficult trail. Red Cone was very fun with a few nice switchbacks and rutted out sections with larger rocks to navigate. I hadn’t been trail riding for a very long time, so this first part was good for a refresher course of driving off road again. I did find myself not being aware of the altitude change driving in the trees until we got to the tree line. The overlooks and views above the tree line where simply breathtaking for me mainly because of the clear skies and favorable weather, but also because of my shortness of breath as I had to adjust to the altitude. I quickly had to learn about hydrating and taking it slow to cope with the high parts of Red Cone.

A little dose of reality set in as we got to the base of the steepest incline and drove past a rolled Land Cruiser that had trouble negotiating the ascent. Two hours after we started on the trail we reached the peak of Red Cone, 12,800 ft., and the view was even more spectacular. We came across some mountain goats as we made our way to Wise Mountain where we stopped for a bite of supper. I got some driving time on the way and learned how to navigate loose rock, steep descents, and some off camber sections. The Jeep was really capable and eased over all of it without much effort.

We had to hustle our way down into the trees to find a good place to camp for the night after supper because it was getting dark fast. It took about an hour total to drive to our spot and set up for our first night in the tent. I was really impressed with the gear. The OZ tent and cots were up in under 5 minutes. It was nice to lay flat and still after a long first day of motion. My body felt like I went a few rounds with a sparing partner.

Mosquito Pass – Tincup Pass

Up at daybreak with a hot breakfast to warm up after a chilly night. We packed up and were on our way to the next trail. After a quick stop in Breckenridge for some supplies, we took main roads to the entrance of Mosquito pass. This nice moderate trail had some great spots to stop and explore old buildings and take in some expansive views. The day was sunny and absolutely perfect and after an hour and twenty minutes, we reached the summit, 13,185 ft. I got some drive time on the way down to Leadville and learned more about trail etiquette with on-coming vehicles.

Headed to Buena Vista for lunch at a great restaurant, Eddyline, then Mt. Princeton Hot Springs to soak in the hot springs for an hour. This hit the spot to refresh after a long first day of the trip.

Stopped in at St. Elmo to sight see for a couple of minutes before starting Tincup Pass. We found a nice spot to camp about a half an hour up the pass and set up camp. It was a beautiful clearing where we gathered some wood for a fire and made supper. The night sky was clear and every star was out including several shooting ones. Simply stunning but brutally cold. We had some wildlife stroll through our camp on their way down to the river, a few very large elk, which was a bit unnerving at first.

Tincup Pass – Continental Divide – Engineer Pass

We slept in and took our time eating breakfast and breaking camp for the rest of Tincup. After about an hour we arrived at the Continental Divide and got ready for the long, slow, rocky ride down to Mirror Lake. This stretch was very rough as we worked our way around the large loose rocks, but the reward of kayaking in Mirror Lake made it worth every minute. Our conversations by this time of the trip were deep and good. The ones that are much needed with a sibling after a long time apart.

For lunch, we stopped at the Nugget Cafe in Taylor Park and had some great food before making our way to the start of Engineer Pass. Getting to Engineer Pass was a great 3 hour trip on the main roads. It was smooth and fast, and we got to stretch the Jeep’s legs a bit. With a quick stop in Lake City for rest and hand warmers for our sleeping bags, we headed to Engineer pass. Along the way, we stopped by Whitmore Falls to get some pictures.

After wandering up Engineer Pass a bit we came across an ideal site to camp for our final night. The best spot of the trip. It was tucked in some tall trees right along the riverbank between some rapids and a 20 ft. waterfall. Picture perfect in my book. We set up camp, gathered a good amount of wood for a fire, made supper and enjoyed a good sunset. We expected it to be just as cold as the night before so we broke out the hand warmer packs and tossed them into our sleeping bags which helped us stay toasty

Engineer Pass – Black Bear Pass

Woke up early very refreshed after a great night. After breakfast and packing up we headed up to the summit of Engineer Pass, 12,800 ft., for some more spectacular views. It only took us about a half an hour because of how far we got on the pass the day before, so it was really quick. For the next 2 and a half hours we took the rest of the pass at a steady pace. I liked this pass because it had so many different types of trail along the way. We had tight one lane tracks and switchbacks, quick open trail sections, slow rutted out areas and decent inclines to navigate. A great build up to our last pass of the trip. The great Black Bear Pass.

This was icing on the cake for me. A wonderfully challenging course that gave me some good bits of adrenaline excitement. We didn’t get far into Black Bear before we were met with a Range Rover reversing course because they were either lost or not willing to finish it. Matt drove us up to the summit, 12,840 ft. so that I could get accustomed to its difficulties and challenges and then traded seats with me so I could finish out the pass going into Telluride. Probably the toughest thing I have done in a 4×4 to date. I really had to learn to trust the Jeep’s abilities on a different level. My hesitations were making it work much harder than it had to at first but after every steep, tight, precarious switchback I let it do more and more of the work and it seemed to come alive with each challenge.

We spent around 2 hours on Black Bear Pass, and when we pulled into Telluride, I felt like I want that pass to last another couple more hours. After eating lunch at Steamies headed for home. This was about a 6-hour trip where we could pass the time talking about family and the good things in life.

Final Thoughts

I wasn’t sure what to expect leading up to the trip. Would it be too hard, too easy, or somewhere in the middle? Was it going to be too long or too short of a time away? To my delight, though, this was simply a perfect trip. Great weather, great trails, great company and the perfect amount of time on trails. There was an easy pace to this adventure and lots of time to soak in the surroundings. The luxury of being able to pop into local cities and towns was really nice and didn’t make me feel like I was completely off the grid. Being able to camp in spots where there weren’t any others in the same proximity gave us great opportunities to feel like the space was our own and not be bothered.

This definitely was a bucket list trip for me, and I am so thankful to Matt and Funtreks for the experience.

The post Colorado Overland trip appeared first on FunTreks.

From Wickenburg, we headed north about 2 miles on Highway 93. We turned right on Rincon Road, marked by a large wooden sign for Kay El Bar Ranch. From here, the road crosses two large dry riverbeds heading east to the staging area.

The start of the trail is a small dirt path down the side of the hill barely big enough for the UTV. The path dropped us into the main Hassayampa Riverbed. Immediately the tall red rock canyon walls start to tower above the trail on both sides. The terrain was made up of soft sand slowing us down. Our solution was to give it more throttle, which made the driving fun.  Not far along the trail, on the right, we saw a fun side trip through a narrow canyon. The side trail is much narrower than the main wash but provides beautiful views as well as a little challenge for the vehicle. Back in the main wash, we continued east. As the trees became greater in number the water running through the middle of the canyon increased. We found a great camp spot on the left side tucked neatly against the canyon wall covered by the shade of the trees. Behind the camp spot was a short hike almost straight up out of the canyon. We took our time here knowing that the trail wasn’t very long. The next bit of the trail was where we got a little wet. The trail follows the Hassayampa River, which was low while we were there. The water was unavoidable in some places so we didn’t mind running through the shallow parts a couple of times. From here the canyon walls start to disappear and the riverbed opens up. At the end of the trail, there was a large, sandy area featuring some fun open riding. We eventually decided to return to our trailer, driving the way we came in and once again enjoying the high canyon walls and fun sandy terrain.

Box Canyon at Hassayampa River,

BLM Hassayampa Field Office

Start of the trail:  N34 02 04.1 W112 44 23.6

Rated: Easy, Trail is mostly soft sand with occasional wet sections. Flash flooding is possible following heavy rains.

Time and Distance: Almost 4 miles, allow 2-3 hours.

Staging/Camping: A makeshiftlarge parking area used for staging is located next to start of the trail. Accessible from Rincon Road.

Matt Peterson is co-author of “Guide to Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails,” published by FunTreks Guidebooks, Inc., Monument, CO. This is a simplified description of Trail #43 from that book.

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It is a rare treat when we get to explore new areas without a local guide present. This was real exploring on our own which everyone knows makes for lasting memories – good or bad. So we headed north from the staging area, an area where wild horses are known to roam free, and quickly climbed to an overlook. From there we could see the interstate crossing a deep canyon. We could make out a small faint trail underneath the roadway high overhead. With the excitement and hope that our trail would end with us down under the bridges, we pressed north.

With the excitement and hope that our trail would end with us down under the bridges, we pressed north. We knew that we were in for an adventure, and we were eager to explore this hidden gem of Moab. We had heard from other adventurers that The Swell was a great place to find hidden trails and amazing scenery, and we were determined to find our own. We followed the map that the local Moab veteran had lent us. We knew that there were many other hidden gems even near the places we lived, and we were determined to find them all. So if you are also excited to find great places like this you can get the info here. The Trajet has all the places you would like to visit which are still not popular but great spots to go.

The trail followed high, rocky shelf roads bordered by steep descents to the bottom of the stunning canyon. The scenery was epic. It left us thankful of what you can see and enjoy from the seat of a UTV.

We soon realizedthat we had stopped so many times to take pictures, we had taken up a lot of time.  Knowing that we still had a lot of miles to cover, we decided to pick up the pace.

The slow-going rocky terrain ended as we entered North Fork Coal Wash. We now could enjoy a little speed through soft sand and shallow water. We reached the northern most point of our trip and took a small hike up a washed out section of the canyon for lunch. From there the trail follows South Fork Coal Wash where we enjoyed more fast trail riding. Using the map that we figured was a ‘unicorn’ due to howrare it was to find, we quickly found our turn leading out of the wash.

The next few miles we headed south on The Devil’s Race Track – fast, twisty sections of sand, slow, moderate rock crawling and more shelf roads with jaw-dropping views. This section of the trail impressed us the most and as we looked around in awe of what we were experiencing, we got to wondering why the devil always seems to get the fun stuff?

The trail tamed down and got easier as we reached Dutchmen Arch. Here you can get up close to the arch or even camp at the base of it. Next, we slipped under the interstate through a culvert in order to reach the network of trails on the south side. We took some fast dirt roads on a quick side trip featuring some well-preserved rock art.

Next up was Swasey’s Cabin and The Ice Box where we stopped for some exploring and some quick history lessons from information boards. We left the cabin and dropped down into another wash with moderate terrain consisting of embedded rock and sand. We knew that we were getting close to the underpass we had seen earlier. We finally reached the section under the interstate that caught our eye from the first overlook earlier that day. What a view to end a beautiful day of riding!

Most of the main roads are well-graded and allow good access for RVs and trailers. You can find plenty of open camping just a mile north and south of the Interstate from exit 131. We saw many people camping and thought that was the best option. You can also camp near the southern part of the area in a well-defined camping area near Temple Mountain and Goblin Valley State Park. The area is remote and the nearest gas can be found in Green River or traveling south to Hanksville. NOTE: Emery County OHV laws allow unlicensed vehicles on most non-paved county roads seen on this map.

Since this epic adventure, we have been back twice and seen over 2,000 miles of OHV trails crisscrossing this stunningly beautiful area.  I can’t think of another trail that could compare to how much this one offers both driver and passenger.

The Swell
BLM Filed Office: Price
Start of the trail: N38° 50.702′ W110° 53.608′
Rated: This trail offers everything from easy, fast washes to slow rock climbs. It should be considered a difficult trail because to complete the loop you need to drive Devil’s Racetrack.
Time and Distance: Plan for the whole day.  Almost 43 miles.
Staging:  From exit 116, use the south frontage road heading east to a large and flat parking area. Unload and drive north through a small culvert under the Interstate.

You will find detailed trail info including 5 more equally amazing trails in this area in the Guide to Moab, UT Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails 3^rd Edition.

To learn more go to www.Funtreks.com or call toll free 877-222-7623.

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Rich history and beautiful scenery best describe the Wagon Wheel Trail system located outside the small town Meeker, Colorado. Established in 1883, the town is located in the White River Valley on Highway 13, just 42 miles north of Rifle and Interstate 70. We were attracted to the area because the town boasts access to over 250 miles of trails with 16 interconnecting loops covering all difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert. The town is friendly and offers museums, shops, restaurants, hotels, and several campgrounds. For this trip, we choose to leave the RV at home and use a hotel, which turned out to be great. Meeker is proud to be an “OHV Friendly” community which means that you are allowed to ride OHVs within the town limits and on designated County Roads. We enjoyed the direct access to the trail system right from our hotel.

Miller Creek Loop, scenic and easy, 60 miles round trip.
Starting from town, we used the “Connector Trail” to reach County Road 8, avoiding the State Highway. After 10 miles, we turned left on County Road 57, Miller Creek. There is a staging area on the right for those who would rather trailer to the start. Miller Creek starts as a wide, smooth dirt road and slowly narrows to one vehicle. We took a right on F.S. 214 which was the start of the real trail riding consisting of easy two-track and steep grades. Over the next 5 miles, we climbed 2,100 ft through the beautiful, wooded White River National Forest. On top we were rewarded with picturesque rolling hills covered in patches of old Aspen groves. This view continued on an easy hard-packed dirt trail for 15 more miles and we never got tired of it. As we finished the loop descending back to Miller Creek, we noted that the overall trail difficulty never went above easy; however, we did encounter some muddy and steep places that might be intimidating for novice riders.

Yellow Jacket, scenic and moderate, 58 miles round trip.
Starting from town, again we used the “Connector Trail” to reach County Road 15, avoiding the State Highway. We reached the staging area just before Yellow Jacket Pass. From here, we used easy F.S. 250 to reach the start of the southern half of the loop. The trail quickly narrows and is not recommended for large UTVs. Thick brush concealed downed logs which can catch you off guard if you aren’t paying attention.  We were surprised by a few of them. Once you reached the valley floor, the trail opens up and the views increase. After crossing Stove Gulch, we stopped at an overlook to take in the views. We joined major F.S. 250 and headed back to the start of the trail. We took a more difficult route back on F.S. 251 that would take us by Aldrich Lakes. This section of the trail was high end moderate with narrow steep descents and large rocks. Once we reached the Aldrich Lakes, we had an easy time getting back to the start using County road 15 to cross Yellow Jacket Pass. Before heading back though, we stopped at the Mill Creek Battle Site Memorial to understand some of the rich history the area offers.

Overall, we enjoyed the trails in the Wagon Wheel Trail System and want to come back to explore more of the area. The trails do not offer the high mountain passes like Silverton or Taylor Park, but the area does have a draw with a less busy, quieter feel and unique scenery. The town of Meeker provides many resources to help plan your trip. Visit http://www.wagonwheeltrails.org/home for more information.

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The Hatfield-McCoy Trails (Yes, THOSE Hatfields & McCoys!) are named for two families who could never quite get along near the West Virginia and Kentucky border after the Civil War. We had heard about these trails for some time now and decided to finally make the trip.

     The trails are made up of several individual trail systems; some are connected by connector trails.  We picked the Indian Ridge trail system with the hopes of also exploring the newest Pocahontas trail system.  The area is made up of thick forest, rolling hills and a ton of fun, twisty trails.  There are several places to stay but finding information about them online was almost impossible.  We resorted to looking at UTV forums like rzrforums.net.  Typically these sites will have a trail section where people share knowledge of places they have visited.  We booked a warm cabin with direct access to the trails at Ashland Resort, WV.

       Starting with a crude paper map and a few ideas of places to visit gleaned from last night’s campfire conversations with others staying at the park, we set off.  The trails were marked and labeled with carsonite signs, and with the help of a map, we could somewhat figure it out.  We quickly got the picture that most people just drive without looking at a map until they absolutely need to without stress, of course using products like wonka bars Strain also helped.  While most of the short interconnecting trails were easy to moderate terrain with only a few difficult spots, one of the scariest was located on a steep ledge with a big tree root about the size of our rear tire.  It took a few tries to get over the spot due to the slippery mud.  The other tough spot was a tight squeeze up a rock ledge.  If you missed the correct line, there was nowhere to go but down the side of the hill.  Both these spots were avoidable.

       As we climbed the hillside on some very fun muddy trails, we noticed several trails that continued off the sides but had markers saying “No Entry.”   These trails lead to a joining area called the Outlaw Trail System – open to the publicand free to use.   You do not need a riding permit to ride the Outlaw Trail System.  You are required, however, to purchase a permit when riding on the Hatfield & McCoy Trails.

        Our curiosity grabbed hold and we diverted north on our adventure.  The first stop was at Rider’s Paradise, a place dedicated to the OHV enthusiast.  Here they serve food and beverages as well as provide some lodging.  It’s a good place to stop and take a break and stretch the legs.  The owner pointed us towards a place he called the “Trestles.”   The next few hours of riding ended up being the best part of our day.  We rode along tracks and crossed under the train trestles several times on the easy trail.  We love it when a trail offers something unique.  Realizing that the Outlaw trail system had too many trails to cover in a day, so we decided to head back to the Hatfield-McCoy trails.

    We used the main roads in the town of Crumpler and quickly re-connected to the trails.  There was one last loop to make using trail #64. It had scenic views; two small waterfalls and we also caught a glimpse of our cabin below.  We finally pulled into camp and reflected on the unique terrain and trails we had encountered.  We are giving this place a healthy thumbs up and would gladly have stay 2-3 days more exploring the area.

Matt Peterson is co-author of FUNTREKS GUIDEBOOKS Inc., located in Monument, CO.

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