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So recently there was a little drama on here about proper etiquette when wheeling out west. I've been wheeling in CO and UT for about 9 years now, and from what I understand things out here are a bit different than back east for you guys. A lot of your guys' wheeling is private land and OHV parks, meaning you can pretty much go wherever you want. Out west that's not the case though. There are very strict rules dictating what we can and can't do out here.
In the past the law had pretty much said that unless an route/area was marked closed, it should be considered open. That has recently changed, and now not only must the route be marked as open, it must also be included in the area's MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map). If the specific route you are on is not listed on this map, you are breaking the law and damaging our already fragile reputation. There are plenty of trails to check out on these maps, so you should not feel limited at all. There are probably thousands of miles of public trails that we have access to out here, so if you make a trip out west, it should be easy for you to find something that works for you.
If you're looking to make a trip to CO, and want a recommendation on some trails to check out, www.colorado4x4.org is a great local board for Colorado and the members there would be more than happy to assist you in choosing some trails for your trip west.
Now once you're on the actual trail, there may be a few things that are a little different out here too. Many of our most popular trails travel above timberline, which is usually a new concept for people from the east coast. When you're above timberline you're well over 10,000ft in elevation. There are MANY things to take into consideration when you're at this altitude. First, you will notice very quickly the lack of oxygen in the air. Your lungs will notice it, and many times your vehicle will too. Be prepared for this. Also, make sure to bring extra water as you can dehydrate very quickly at these altitudes.
The other big thing is Alpine Tundra. While it may look like it's just a field, the Alpine Tundra is actually an extremely fragile ecosystem. Usually the soil is MUCH softer than what you might expect, so it is crucial that you do everything you can to stay within the boundaries of the trail/road that you are on. The terrain you traverse above timberline can also be very steep, and without much to slow you down, mistakes truly can be fatal. Be sure to exercise extreme caution when you encounter vehicles coming the opposite way, or if you need to turn around for some reason. It also very common to encounter snow still on the trail at any time of year in Colorado. If the road/trail is blocked by snow, PLEASE DO NOT leave the trail/road to go around the snow.
I could go on for hours and hours about this stuff, but I think this covers the basics and some of the biggest issues for Colorado.
A couple links to check out too:
www.staythetrail.org
A great foundation we have here in CO dedicated to educating people on using our public lands responsibly
www.treadlightly.org
Something everyone should be familiar with, regardless of what part of the country you wheel in.
Here's a couple .pdf's of some good brochures too
http://staythetrail.org/media/brochu..._optimized.pdf
http://staythetrail.org/media/brochures/STT_4WD_v1.pdf
In the past the law had pretty much said that unless an route/area was marked closed, it should be considered open. That has recently changed, and now not only must the route be marked as open, it must also be included in the area's MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map). If the specific route you are on is not listed on this map, you are breaking the law and damaging our already fragile reputation. There are plenty of trails to check out on these maps, so you should not feel limited at all. There are probably thousands of miles of public trails that we have access to out here, so if you make a trip out west, it should be easy for you to find something that works for you.
If you're looking to make a trip to CO, and want a recommendation on some trails to check out, www.colorado4x4.org is a great local board for Colorado and the members there would be more than happy to assist you in choosing some trails for your trip west.
Now once you're on the actual trail, there may be a few things that are a little different out here too. Many of our most popular trails travel above timberline, which is usually a new concept for people from the east coast. When you're above timberline you're well over 10,000ft in elevation. There are MANY things to take into consideration when you're at this altitude. First, you will notice very quickly the lack of oxygen in the air. Your lungs will notice it, and many times your vehicle will too. Be prepared for this. Also, make sure to bring extra water as you can dehydrate very quickly at these altitudes.
The other big thing is Alpine Tundra. While it may look like it's just a field, the Alpine Tundra is actually an extremely fragile ecosystem. Usually the soil is MUCH softer than what you might expect, so it is crucial that you do everything you can to stay within the boundaries of the trail/road that you are on. The terrain you traverse above timberline can also be very steep, and without much to slow you down, mistakes truly can be fatal. Be sure to exercise extreme caution when you encounter vehicles coming the opposite way, or if you need to turn around for some reason. It also very common to encounter snow still on the trail at any time of year in Colorado. If the road/trail is blocked by snow, PLEASE DO NOT leave the trail/road to go around the snow.
I could go on for hours and hours about this stuff, but I think this covers the basics and some of the biggest issues for Colorado.
A couple links to check out too:
www.staythetrail.org
A great foundation we have here in CO dedicated to educating people on using our public lands responsibly
www.treadlightly.org
Something everyone should be familiar with, regardless of what part of the country you wheel in.
Here's a couple .pdf's of some good brochures too
http://staythetrail.org/media/brochu..._optimized.pdf
http://staythetrail.org/media/brochures/STT_4WD_v1.pdf
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