Top 5 Places to Trail Ride Your Jeep Wrangler in the USA

If you own a Jeep Wrangler, sooner or later the pavement starts to feel a little boring. The Wrangler was built to explore beyond the pavement, and there are thousands of miles of trails across the country ranging from scenic dirt roads to technical rock-crawling adventures.

But if you’re looking for theultimate Jeep trail destinations, five places stand out above the rest: Moab, the Rubicon Trail, Ouray, Big Bend, and Hatfield-McCoy.

Whether you’re driving a nearly stock Wrangler or a heavily modified rig on 37s, there’s an adventure waiting for you.

1. Moab, Utah — The Jeep Mecca

If you could only choose one place to take your Wrangler,Moab would be hard to beat.

Moab combines massive red-rock formations, slickrock, steep climbs, technical obstacles and scenery that looks like another planet. The area has an enormous selection of trails, ranging from relatively easy scenic routes to trails that will challenge even heavily built Jeeps. Jeep’s own Badge of Honor program includes numerous Moab trails, including Hell’s Revenge, Fins & Things, Golden Spike, Poison Spider, Steel Bender and Pritchett Canyon. (Trails Offroad)

Trails to check out:

• Hell’s Revenge — One of Moab’s signature Jeep trails, featuring steep slickrock climbs, descents and incredible views.
• Fins & Things — A great introduction to Moab’s slickrock terrain.
• Steel Bender — A longer, more technical adventure with plenty of obstacles.
• Top of the World — Famous for its spectacular overlook.
• Pritchett Canyon — Save this one for experienced drivers and well-equipped Jeeps.

Moab’s difficulty range is one of its biggest advantages. A stock or mildly modified Wrangler can enjoy plenty of trails, while experienced drivers can find terrain that will push a highly modified rig to its limits.

Best for: Red-rock scenery, technical trails, Jeep culture and an enormous variety of terrain.

2. Rubicon Trail — California

TheRubicon Trail is legendary for a reason.

Located in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe, the Rubicon is one of the trails that helped establish the Jeep’s reputation as an off-road icon. Unlike some destinations where the scenery is the main attraction, the Rubicon is about the trail itself.

Expect large rocks, steep climbs, water crossings, tight lines and obstacles that require careful tire placement and good spotting.

This isn’t necessarily the place to show up in a completely stock Wrangler and see what happens. Proper recovery equipment, underbody protection, capable tires and good trail experience can make a huge difference.

For serious Jeep enthusiasts, however, completing the Rubicon is almost a rite of passage.

Jeep’s Badge of Honor program specifically recognizes the Rubicon Trail, making it one of the most iconic trails in the Jeep community. (Jeep)

Best for: Experienced Jeepers, technical rock crawling and checking an iconic trail off your bucket list.

3. Ouray, Colorado — High-Altitude Jeeping

If you want your trail ride to combineserious off-roading with unbelievable mountain scenery, head to Ouray.

Often called the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray sits in the San Juan Mountains and provides access to some of Colorado’s most famous four-wheel-drive routes.

The area is known for historic mining roads, narrow mountain passes, rocky climbs and high-elevation terrain. Trails around Ouray and nearby Silverton can take you from valley floors to elevations where the landscape changes dramatically.

Popular routes in the region include:

• Engineer Pass
• Imogene Pass
• Black Bear Pass
• Poughkeepsie Gulch
• Corkscrew Pass

Some of these routes are extremely challenging, and conditions can change quickly with weather. High-clearance Jeeps, experienced drivers and careful planning are essential on the more difficult routes.

The reward is spectacular: waterfalls, alpine lakes, abandoned mines, mountain peaks and panoramic views that are difficult to match anywhere else.

Best for: Mountain scenery, high-altitude trails, historic mining roads and an unforgettable Jeep vacation.

4. Big Bend National Park — Texas

For Texas Jeep owners,Big Bend is a must-visit destination.

The landscape is completely different from Moab or Colorado. Instead of red-rock slickrock or alpine forests, Big Bend delivers desert mountains, canyons, open spaces and some of the most remote scenery in Texas.

One of the area’s notable four-wheel-drive routes is theBlack Gap 4×4 Trail, which Jeep’s off-road program recognizes as a Badge of Honor trail. (Mopar)

Big Bend also offers a variety of other roads and trails, allowing you to build an adventure around your Jeep’s capabilities and your experience level.

The remoteness is part of the appeal—but it’s also something to take seriously. Bring plenty of water, fuel, recovery equipment and navigation capability. Don’t assume you’ll have reliable cell service once you’re deep into the backcountry.

Best for: Texas Jeepers, desert scenery, remote exploration and combining camping with trail riding.

5. Hatfield-McCoy Trails — West Virginia

If mountains, mud, forests and miles of interconnected trails sound better than desert rocks, putHatfield-McCoy on your list.

The Hatfield-McCoy trail system offers a completely different Jeep experience. Instead of the exposed slickrock of Utah, you’re surrounded by Appalachian forests, ridgelines, creek crossings and rolling mountain terrain.

The trail system is enormous and provides a variety of difficulty levels. It’s particularly attractive for groups because you can spend several days exploring different sections rather than riding the same trail repeatedly.

West Virginia is also home to Jeep Badge of Honor locations, including the Bearwallow section of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. (Trails Offroad)

Best for: Forest trails, mud, mountain riding, group trips and multi-day adventures.

Which Jeep Trail Destination Is Right for You?

Destination	Terrain	Difficulty Range	Best Feature
Moab, Utah	Slickrock & desert	Easy–Extreme	Legendary Jeep trails
Rubicon Trail, CA	Rock & granite	Difficult–Extreme	Technical rock crawling
Ouray, Colorado	Alpine mountains	Moderate–Extreme	Mountain scenery
Big Bend, Texas	Desert & mountains	Easy–Difficult	Remote Texas adventure
Hatfield-McCoy, WV	Forest & mountains	Easy–Difficult	Miles of trails

Before You Hit the Trail

The biggest mistake a new off-roader can make is choosing a trail based solely on how cool it looks.

Trail difficulty can change with weather, trail conditions, vehicle setup and driver experience. A trail that was manageable yesterday can become substantially more difficult after rain or other changes in conditions.

Before heading out:

• Check current trail conditions and closures.
• Know your Wrangler’s limitations.
• Carry recovery gear.
• Bring extra water and food.
• Have a way to navigate without cellular service.
• Travel with another vehicle whenever possible.
• Air down your tires when appropriate.
• Walk difficult obstacles before attempting them.
• Use a spotter on technical sections.
• Never exceed your driving ability or your Jeep’s capability.

Jeep’sBadge of Honor app is also worth checking before a trip. It provides trail locations, maps, difficulty information and user photos, and allows Jeep owners to check in and earn badges on participating trails. (Jeep)

The Bottom Line

There isn’t one perfect Jeep trail for everyone.

Moab is the choice for the ultimate Jeep experience.Rubicon is for the serious rock crawler.Ouray delivers some of the country’s best mountain scenery.Big Bend is an incredible choice for a Texas adventure, whileHatfield-McCoy offers miles of Appalachian trail riding.

And that’s really the best thing about owning a Wrangler: you don’t have to choose just one.

Pick a destination, load up the Jeep, grab a few friends and start exploring.

The best trail is the one you haven’t driven yet.