Labor Day weekend is almost here. The weather is beautiful, the mountains are calling, and approximately everybody in Colorado has apparently decided to answer at the same time. Trailheads will be crowded. Campgrounds will fill up. Popular routes will see everything from full-size 4x4s and side-by-sides to motorcycles, hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. That doesn’t have to ruin the adventure. A busy trail can still be a great trail—provided we communicate, remain patient

Your trail app has satellite imagery, 3D terrain, difficulty ratings, and a comment from TrailDad87 saying the route was open last October. What it does not have is legal authority. That bright line on your screen can show where a road exists. It cannot guarantee that you—or your particular vehicle—may drive it today. We love trail apps. We use them constantly for planning, navigation, scouting, and finding alternate routes. But an app is a navigation tool, not a permission s

BEARS DON’T CARE THAT YOUR COOLER WAS EXPENSIVE You researched it for three weeks. You watched a 47-minute video comparing ice retention. You paid enough for it that your family assumed it came with groceries, health insurance and a small vacation home. Unfortunately, the bear does not care. To a bear, your expensive cooler is not rugged outdoor equipment. It is a lunchbox with handles. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ BEAR ACTIVITY IS INCREASING On August 13, the U.S. Forest Service announce

Welcome to the first-ever Off-RoadX Trail Report! So…what the heck is the Trail Report? Each week, we’re going to dig into something happening in the off-roading world and break it down from the Off-RoadX perspective. That might include: A major race or off-road event A new vehicle, product or piece of trail technology Changes to laws, permits or trail regulations Safety, recovery and vehicle-preparation information A viral off-road video that deserves a closer look Colorado