Category: Featured Open Air Dispatch

Living in Colorado, it became clear to me that many of the best adventures were found down a dirt road. So I got a new Ford Bronco and began to explore the roads less traveled. Over the past year of off-roading, I’ve learned so much! I also met lots of folks who bought a new Bronco and were excited to get out in nature but hadn’t been off-roading before and really weren’t sure where to start learning.

Last summer, my friend Cassie Hughes took me out on Medano Pass in Southern Colorado, a sandy trail that starts inside Great Sand Dune National Park. Cassie’s been in the off-road scene for nearly a decade and she has a 2010 JKU Sport with a Bestop Glider that’s had everything upgraded for wheeling except the skid plates. During our day out on the trail she dropped a ton of knowledge and I was grateful to learn from a humble pro.

Meet Cassie Hughes

“What’s the best way to learn?” I asked Cassie. “Lean into your community,” Cassie told me confidently.  “Learn from other women”.  So, as part of the community, and with Cassie’s input, I put together a few tips for folks just getting started and some resources where you can find more support.

KNOW YOUR VEHICLE.

Although it’s a simple concept, many people wait until they are in a risky situation to understand the capabilities of their vehicle. Test your vehicle and understand it’s limits first so you are prepared.

As a new Bronco owner, I was invited to attend Bronco Off-Roadeo an immersive experience that teaches new Bronco owners how to use the vehicle’s built-in 4×4 features where I was fortunate enough to learn from off-road experts.

START ON EASY TRAILS.

Always research the trail ahead of time and make sure you are comfortable with the obstacles along the trail. Don’t go out on any trail that’s beyond your capabilities. Start on trails with easier obstacles then work your way up. It’s a progression so just enjoy learning as you go. Also, remember that some trails are seasonal, so just check it out before you go.

PRACTICE TRAIL ETIQUETTE.

Everyone is out there to enjoy the natural beauty and have fun on the trail, so be conscious of others and keep a few things in mind:

• Vehicles uphill have the right of way.
• Signal the amount of people in your group to oncoming traffic.
• Stay on marked trails.
• Be friendly.
• If you can go and the other one can’t, go, regardless of the ‘rules’.

DON’T GO OUT ALONE.

Obviously it’s never a good idea to venture far into the wild without a friend, and off-roading is no exception. Don’t drive remote trails alone. Also tell someone else (who isn’t in your group) where you’re going.

FULL GAS TANK.

Fill up right before you leave civilization to maximize your time remotely. Also, off-roading requires more fuel awareness so pay attention to your vehicle fuel mileage on tough terrain to understand how far you can venture.

BE PREPARED.

Your recovery and safety gear can usually just stay in your vehicle. I always pack a cooler with lunch, snacks and beverages. It gets hot out there and it’s nice to have cold refreshing hydration.

• Recovery & Safety Gear
• Snacks, Lunch
• Water
• Sunscreen

MAKE IT YOURS.

The off road accessory industry offers a plethora of options to customize your vehicle to get the comfort, efficiency and/or protection you crave. A few of the gear I’ve added to my Bronco so far includes:

• Bestop Trektop Soft Top
• Bestop Mesh Bimini Top
• Baja Designs Lighting Kits
• Tuffy Swing Gate Table
• Tuffy Cargo Area Enclosure

REACH OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

Connect with others who enjoy the same thing. It’s a great way to learn, get support and make friends. You can find off-roading groups on Facebook or online.

OFF-ROADING GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCES:

• LADIES’S OFF-ROAD NETWORK
• COLORADO 4X4 GIRLS 
• ROCK CANDY
• STAY THE TRAIL
• TREAD LIGHTLY
• BRONCO NATION

Immerse yourself in everything Bronco at the one-of-a-kind Bronco Off-Roadeo experience.

Folks who ordered a new Ford Bronco are invited for an off-road adventure at one of four locations: Texas, Moab, Nevada and New Hampshire. I spent one and a half days at a 360-acre ranch at the Texas location, just an hour outside of Austin.

Led by industry experts, the first part of the day is spent learning about the engineering and design of the new Bronco and its built-in capabilities. After the educational component, we all got into the driver’s seat for the 12-part Obstacle Course. Corey, my personal off-road guide, walked me through each obstacle showing me how to use the GOAT modes, Trail Turn Assist, and Sway Bar Disconnect Features. I was amazed how the Bronco handled and it was so much fun doing donuts in the sand!

The catered lunch with live music offered a nice opportunity to bond with other members of the Bronco community, who were just as stoked as me to be there! Plus, there were a ton of Broncos on display outfitted with a variety of cool accessories. I really loved the Bestop Trektop Soft Top and the Tuffy Security Swing Gate Table, plus there were some cool rooftop tents!

The next day I drove the Bronco on the trails, guided by Corey’s expertise. He was like a little bird in my ear, giving me step by step instructions on where to put my tires and when to use different features. Then we climbed up the steep rocky hill to a beautiful lookout point. I always love to get above it all, and what a lovely view it was!

For the very last part of the experience, Corey hopped in the driver’s seat and gained some serious speed on the Baja racing track. We both had huge smiles on our faces as we braced ourselves around the turns.

If you ordered a new Ford Bronco, don’t miss the opportunity to really get to know your vehicle and learn how to drive it off-road at Bronco Off-Roadeo.

Just an hour North of Detroit, Michigan is a 260 acre oasis for off-road recreation lovers. Holly Oaks ORV Park features water crossings, rock crawling, sand dunes and Mt. Magna, an obstacle designed to replicate various famous features in Moab, Utah. Recently they opened additional land called “North 60” that is a ‘scramble area’ where users can create their own path. The area consists of old mining roads and extreme terrain such as 40’ verticle cliffs.  Considering it was my first time on an off-road park and I was driving a stock Ford Bronco, I stuck to the less aggressive obstacles.

My guide for the day was Tony Carvallo, an off-roading expert who’s made a career designing and building vehicles. Although Tony is a Jeep guy, he was happy to teach me the basics, like proper cueing techniques for rock crawling obstacles, the use of rear lockers to avoid getting stuck in the mud and how to successfully complete multiple donuts in a row, and kick up a ton a sand in the process! I think the Baja Race Track was my favorite part though; the sun finally came out so I put back the Bestop Trektop for the full open-air experience. I just loved the feeling of my hair blowing wild in the wind as I cruised effortlessly over the large dirt humps.

If you are in the Detroit, Michigan area and looking for a fun place to test your off-road skills, Holly Oaks ORV is open to all types of vehicles including full-size vehicles, ATVs, side by sides, Dirt bikes, and motorcycles.

Visit their site for more information, and don’t forget to bring a flag for your vehicle.

Join me on my first solo expedition to The Great Sand Dunes National Park where I try sand boarding, camp overnight and learn just how far my Bronco can tilt on the famed 4×4 trail Medano Pass with the help of my friend Cassie Hughes.

Click here to shop Bronco products

Give your JL Wrangler an all-new look by adding this kit to an existing JL Trektop soft top.

Give your JL Unlimited Wrangler an upgrade and all-new look with the Trektop Halftop.

The Bestop family would like to take the time to wish you a very happy holiday season. May you be blessed with time with those you love. This year is filled with many triumphs and challenges and we cannot thank you enough for choosing to make Bestop a part of your story. We look forward to an incredible 2023.

See you on the trails!

Pondering life in the 1890 as I explore the mountain ghost town of St. Elmo then climb an old 4×4 road built by one of the most successful gold mines in Colorado.

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