The 15 Best Off-Road Destinations In The US
From towering dunes to mountainous trails and canyons, America’s diverse landscape offers nearly every terrain out there—and they’re waiting for you and your 4x4.
To start you off, we’ve compiled a list of our top 15 off-road parks in the US and what we like about them—saving the best one for last.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes ORV Park, Mears Michigan
Silver Lake State Park in Oceana County, Michigan spans a whopping 2,000 acres along the shores of Lake Michigan. With the state park lies Hart’s Silver Lake Sand Dunes ORV Park—a 450-square-mile area dedicated to wheelers, buggies, motos, UTVs, and ATVs.
Numerous businesses in town offer rentals if you can’t bring your own rig.
Windrock Park, Tennessee
Windrock Park is a privately owned off-road trail system in eastern Tennessee boasting 300 miles of trails with some of the steepest, wettest, and rockiest mountains in the South.
The 73,000-acre park is in a lush rainforest, so expect mud, rocks, tight spaces, and trails between towering hardwoods.
Hardrock Off-Road Park, Ocala Florida
Hardrock Off-Road Park in Ocala, Florida is a 100-acre off-road park that has everything from moderate rock crawling sections to rutted rails, hill climbs, and descents.
It was originally designed as a bike park, but in recent years, has been shifting to wheeling and welcomes every wheeler, from heavily-modified Jeeps to nearly bone-stock Land Cruisers.
Ocala National Forest, Florida
Another great off-road destination in Florida is the Ocala National Forest—the second largest National Forest in Central Florida. It’s home to an 81-mile trail system that’s open year-round.
The trails are largely made of dirt and are well maintained—but there’s plenty of muddy, sandy areas and narrow passages adding just the right amount of challenge.
Death Valley National Park, California
California’s Death Valley is home to the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth, and is also the lowest point in Northern America.
Located in the Mojave Desert’s Great Basin near the Nevada border, this park is known for its ruthless and nearly inhospitable landscape—making it a 4x4 dream.
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley is loaded with technical and isolated back country roads, but has something for every skill level. Here are three of our favorite trails:
Echo Pass and Inyo Mine Loop: A challenging 7.3-mile trail featuring various terrain types and technical obstacles.
Echo Canyon to Overlook: A moderately difficult route spanning 6.1 miles.
Big Four Mines Road: A relatively easy and flat 15.9-mile road that is ideal for beginners in motorsports. It’s accessible by most stock 4x4 applications with moderate ground clearance.
RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Calico, California
Calico Ghost Town was once home to California’s largest silver boom, but it’s now an abandoned ex-mining town.
Located just north of Barstow, California, Calico features several surrounding trails that offer exhilarating wheeling in incredible surroundings.
Be sure to check out the challenging Doran and Odessa Canyons.
PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
San Gabriel Canyon OHV, Azusa California
About 11 miles north of Azusa, California, along Highway 39, you’ll find the San Gabriel Canyon OHV area—a popular destination for off-road enthusiasts.
The park is operated by the California Forest Service, so it has a staging area, restrooms, and an obstacle course. It’s basically a big play area located in the San Gabriel Canyon’s dry river bed.
It features deep mud, dirt crawling sections, water crossings, and more.
F Armstrong Photography, Shutterstock
Table Mesa Road, Arizona
Table Mesa Road is an easy path, designed for beginners and those looking for a relaxing adventure. It descends about 450 feet and doesn’t have any significant obstacles.
It’s free to drive and does not require a permit.
If you’re looking for a challenge, though, the Terminator trails are available—as long as you’re not afraid of taking risks.
Ogletree Photography, Shutterstock
Hidden Falls Adventure Park, Marble Falls Texas
As they say, everything’s bigger in Texas—and the Hidden Falls Adventure Park is no exception. With over 2,000 acres, the park is full with trails of varying difficulties, offering a sure-fire adventure for enthusiasts, from beginners to the more experienced.
Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister California
Hollister Hills is known as one of Northern California’s top OHV parks. It spans about 6,800 acres and includes 200 miles of trails.
The park boasts ever-changing terrains that have rolling hills, deep canyons, and seasonal creeks.
Aside from wheeling, there’s also miles of hiking and biking trails.
Johnson Valley OHV Park, Johnson Valley California
Johnson Valley is the birthplace of King of the Hammers—the world’s toughest one-day off-road race—and is another mecca for off-road enthusiasts.
The park covers a whopping 96,000 acres, and is known as one of the largest off-highway vehicle parks. It features steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds, and sandy washes—which means it has something for every skill level.
Rubicon Trail, South Lake Tahoe California
The Rubicon Trail is a common bucket-list Jeep trail among off-road enthusiasts. It’s located along Lake Tahoe’s Southern shore and is said to be on par with Moab, Utah in regards to its stunning landscapes.
Aside from breathtaking views, the trail provides a variety of challenging obstacles, including massive rock climbs.
Completing the trail has become a right of passage among Jeep owners. Mopar even went so far as naming its highest-spec Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators after the trail.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend is an off-roading paradise, offering trails of varying difficulty, from sandy desert paths to mountainous trails and even more challenging routes.
One of Texas’s Badge of Honor Trails is located at Big Bend—Black Gap 4x4 Trail. It connects Black Springs Road with River Road, and is moderately difficult. It is considered “un-maintained,” making it ideal for more experienced enthusiasts.
Holly Oaks ORV Park, Michigan
Just north of Detroit is Holly Oaks ORV Park—a former sand and gravel mine that spans 106 acres.
This park offers various obstacles, including steep hills, water crossings, deep mud pits, rock crawls and a purpose-designed concrete peak covering 9,000 square feet.
The mandatory trails are relatively easy, but optional roads are available that are considered “severe”.
Moab, Utah
Moab, Utah is a well-known hub among dedicated off-road enthusiasts. It’s packed with trails weaving through the desert’s red rock canyons—making it ideal for Jeeps and other mid-sized vehicles.
But the caliber of your build doesn’t matter, as Moab boasts a wide variety of trails ranging from entry-level to technical.
Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock
Moab, Utah
Our three favorite trails in Moab include:
Hell’s Revenge: A 14-mile-long complex and technical trail, surrounded by beautiful scenery, adrenaline-inducing ledges, and various well-known obstacles like Hell’s Gate, Mickey’s Hot Tub, and the Escalator.
Shafer Trail: An 18-mile-long milder terrain—but still not for the faint at heart. This trail is full of jaw-dropping cliffs sporting breathtaking views.
Poison Spider Mesa: A 36-mile-long challenging trail that takes you through some of Moab’s most stunning landscapes, featuring everything from flat sandy terrain to intensive waterfall climbs.
