Mall Crawler Truth

[Climber]

I currently live in Wisconsin. The off road opportunities are few here. I travel with the wife once, maybe twice a year west for Moab, Ouray or other ‘real’ jeep trails. We have been on quite a few BOH trails along with other greats but our truth is maybe 90% mall crawling. It’s not our fault rather an access issue. We hope to cure this with a move west in the near future. Looking at Grand Junction, CO. Maybe Montrose.

Any suggestions on where to move west for great wheeling access, please I’m open ears.

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[HalfmuleFarmer]

Almost a year ago we moved to Cedar City, UT. The exact why is a long story, but I’m a booster. It’s (I think) a pretty special combination of things: a smallish, quaint 35K person town, that also has a big 14K student university, SUU. The dominant Utah culture means there’s lots of young people and unlike a lot of other rural states the kids aren’t fleeing for college or just after. There’s arts, culture, and a giant world-class Shakespeare festival every summer. There’s a real hospital and good healthcare. But, best of all, the trails are right outside my door. Literally. Zion Natl Park is 40 minutes away, Tocqueville and Sand Hollow an hour or less. Five national parks within a half-day’s drive. Unlike Moab, Cedar is at 6000’ elevation so it’s not the scorching Arizona style summers you get further south. It’s gonna snow this week. Utah is made for a Bronco. Come visit!

 

[Brian_B]

Almost anywhere from Colorado westward really. Can find any type of driving you are looking for out here.

High desert
Low desert
Slick rock
Alpine mountain
Chaparral
Snow
Beaches
Volcanic
Temperate Rainforest

At every elevation from -282 to 14,000+ ft. And in the right spots you can hit almost any of that and go to something else on that list in the same day.

About the only thing we don't have in abundance would be swamp - gotta go to The South for that.

 

[crenca]

Almost any town/city in New Mexico - besides Albuquerque, which is a big city with big city problems (though folks make it work) - qualifies.

However, I should be honest and tell you that for most of us in the west we would rather you stay where you are. Too many places (Denver and adjacent front range for example) are no longer recognizable, not merely because of the population but because of what those from the Midwest, East & Cali bring with them. You probably already know this but just in case

 

[Climber]

Almost a year ago we moved to Cedar City, UT. The exact why is a long story, but I’m a booster. It’s (I think) a pretty special combination of things: a smallish, quaint 35K person town, that also has a big 14K student university, SUU. The dominant Utah culture means there’s lots of young people and unlike a lot of other rural states the kids aren’t fleeing for college or just after. There’s arts, culture, and a giant world-class Shakespeare festival every summer. There’s a real hospital and good healthcare. But, best of all, the trails are right outside my door. Literally. Zion Natl Park is 40 minutes away, Tocqueville and Sand Hollow an hour or less. Five national parks within a half-day’s drive. Unlike Moab, Cedar is at 6000’ elevation so it’s not the scorching Arizona style summers you get further south. It’s gonna snow this week. Utah is made for a Bronco. Come visit!

Almost any town/city in New Mexico - besides Albuquerque, which is a big city big city problems (though folks make it work) - qualifies.

However, I should be honest and tell you that for most of us in the west we would rather you stay where you are. Too many places (Denver and adjacent front range for example) are no longer recognizable, not merely because of the population but because of what those from the Midwest, East & Cali bring with them. You probably already know this but just in case

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Almost anywhere from Colorado westward really. Can find any type of driving you are looking for out here.

High desert
Low desert
Slick rock
Alpine mountain
Chaparral
Snow
Beaches
Volcanic
Temperate Rainforest

At every elevation from -282 to 14,000+ ft. And in the right spots you can hit almost any of that and go to something else on that list in the same day.

About the only thing we don't have in abundance would be swamp - gotta go to The South for that.

Yeah, finding the driving experiences is going to be the easy part. What type of life you want your daily existence to be like might be the more complex set of questions. We didn’t really assess Cedar City against a lot of other options (part of the longer story), but after several years of research it just seemed like a great spot that checked a lot of boxes (did I mention it has an airport?). Make your list of what’s important to have. What are must haves and what can you (and your partner) live without? Invitation stands!

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Interesting, I always heard that the middle of Wisconsin had some great trails.

 

[Oilbrnr]

Anywhere but AZ. We've had enough of an influx of people that don't bring a lifetime of water with them.

Seriously and sincerely from a 3rd gen native.

 

[SeptuagenarianSasquatch]

Not having been there, but I've seen photo reports of interesting stretches in northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, especially. Also northern Minnesota, the Iron Range especially, but the mineral content in the mud there calls for vigorous washing, especially on the undercarriage.

 

[Desmolicious]

Just head west, but avoid southern california. There just aren’t many decent trails is socal due to the population density. When I offroad I head north and/or east into AZ.

 

[TheKim]

Avoid Utah, there is zero fun things to do there.
Yup, definitely don't move there, it's filled with weirdos!

 

[raptorusmaximus]

I used to live in Evergreen Co, beautiful place, BUT the western slope and southern part of the state are HOT in the summer. Be prepared for a huge cost of living increase too. Colorado can't raise taxes without a vote so they charge fee's for everything instead, including hefty sales tax. $1500/yr to reg my car (I counted 28 different fee's).... $900/yr for my tent camper ( $15 in Wi ) $60 for a fishing license etc......

 

[HotdogThud]

anything within the boundaries from Phoenix to SLC to Grand Junction to Abq would be ideal if that is the life you're after. literally thousands of miles of trails in that zone to explore

 

[Nate Train]

I currently live in Wisconsin. The off road opportunities are few here. I travel with the wife once, maybe twice a year west for Moab, Ouray or other ‘real’ jeep trails. We have been on quite a few BOH trails along with other greats but our truth is maybe 90% mall crawling. It’s not our fault rather an access issue. We hope to cure this with a move west in the near future. Looking at Grand Junction, CO. Maybe Montrose.

Any suggestions on where to move west for great wheeling access, please I’m open ears.

I live in Rifle. If you've driven to Grand Junction, you've passed me. I am planning a move to Montrose in the nearish future, and highly recommend. It's a great town. GJ isn't too bad either - just bigger and more crime.

 

[CitrusBronco]

Does Canada have places to ride? The entire county is like one giant forest and it’s a lot closer than UT. I always thought Canada must be a outdoorsman paradise.

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