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Best Way to Find Off-Highway Routes?

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by Japhy, Mar 18, 2017.

  1. Mar 18, 2017 at 6:58 AM
    #1
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    My girlfriend and I are driving from Austin to Alaska this summer!

    We have 3-4 months in our 4x4 Taco, so want to drive as much of it on dirt as possible.

    What's the best way to find dirt road and off-road routes between Point A and Point B? Short side trips along the way are nice, but we're mainly looking for long stretches of dirt that get us closer to AK.

    We're open to guidebooks, websites, apps, whatever you've heard of or can recommend.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Mar 18, 2017 at 7:09 AM
    #2
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

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    For the Canada portion I would highly recommend www.backroadmapbooks.com.

    They have very detailed off road maps and lots of "featured" places in their books so you can find places that you'd be interested in checking out!

    They have physical books, an app for Android or Iphone, and they have overlays for Garmin GPS.

    Everybody into exploring here has at least a few of these books :thumbsup:

    Edit: and also, congrats on your trip! That's going to be so awesome!! Feel free to stop by in Vancouver and maybe we'll be able to get out and show you some cool spots on your way north in person!
     
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  3. Mar 19, 2017 at 7:34 AM
    #3
    iwagner

    iwagner Well-Known Member

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    irish_11, Arlaghan and DustStorm4x4 like this.
  4. Mar 19, 2017 at 2:24 PM
    #4
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @WormSquirts, obviously my truck wants to be your truck when it grows up!

    It's a stocker, but it has gotten us into and back out of lots of trouble, which is about all you can ask of a truck.

    Thanks for the recommendation, will check that out for sure.

    And yeah, we'd love to meet up when we're there! Sounds like a blast. I imagine we'll be heading north in June, then back south in August. Will you be around both months?

    I read over your posts, they're a fun read. And I could look at your trip pics all day. We'll have many more of those by September :D

    Pic is from Big Bend National Park, BTW

    IMG_4410.jpg
     
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  5. Mar 19, 2017 at 2:28 PM
    #5
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @iwagner , thanks also for the recommendation. That looks like a HUGE step toward what I'm looking for, if not the whole thing!

    I'll spend more time on the site, but do you know if there's a way to see what parts of the route are passable by truck, not just motorcycle?
     
  6. Mar 19, 2017 at 4:17 PM
    #6
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

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    Thanks for the compliments!

    Yeah we should be around! Hit me up on here for sure!

    We did a lot of trips and adventures with the truck stock before it got to where it is now. Just keep using it and figuring out what you need and what is just TW lust. My rule is if you are limited 3 separate times by something, then it's reasonable to upgrade.
     
  7. Mar 19, 2017 at 7:42 PM
    #7
    iwagner

    iwagner Well-Known Member

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    I would look at each states homepage for their route, they usually state in the description. WA is truck accessible
     
  8. Mar 19, 2017 at 8:05 PM
    #8
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @iwagner, sweet! My excitement for the trip leveled up a notch when I saw those maps! Thanks again.
     
  9. Mar 19, 2017 at 10:11 PM
    #9
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

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  10. Mar 20, 2017 at 8:14 AM
    #10
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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  11. Mar 20, 2017 at 8:16 AM
    #11
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @iwagner, I looked on the site and it said that all their routes are public roads and all all passable by 4x4, except for one spot on one route.
     
  12. Apr 4, 2017 at 7:53 PM
    #12
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @WormSquirts, we decided that Alaska is just too damn far away! We'll probably get as far north as Vancouver though, so may still drop in.

    On iOverlander, is there a way to look for routes? Or is it just about services that can be found at certain points?
     
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  13. Apr 4, 2017 at 8:44 PM
    #13
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

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    Fair enough! It is a very substantial distance. If you do make it to Vancouver, definitely let us know though!!

    I believe that IOverlander is more for locations than route making. I know there are a few other map apps out there, but I just use Brmb, so have never looked too much into it. For BC, Brmb would be your best bet any way. Sorry I'm not more help
     
  14. Jun 24, 2017 at 12:34 PM
    #14
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    @WormSquirts, how ya been?!

    Laurie and I have been making our way North and West for a month now, following Backcountry Discovery Routes a lot. We've made it to central Washington. Been having an absolute blast being so far away from everything with 4wd capabilities. Except for yesterday, when we were 20 miles away from the home of the friend we wanted to visit, then rounded a bend and found that a landslide had taken out the road! Long day of re-routing but we made it.

    Hey, we're reaching out to all the friends we want to see in the area, and see when people are available. Are you and your wife still available / interested in taking a short trip or something while we're up here? If so, email me at andrew@bostbenefitauctions.com and let me know what dates are best and what dates definitely won't work for you. It would be fun to romp around together while we're up here!

    IMG_5055.jpg
     
  15. Jun 25, 2017 at 9:50 PM
    #15
    WormSquirts

    WormSquirts Armageddon

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    I emailed you :thumbsup:
     
  16. Jun 30, 2017 at 11:57 PM
    #16
    JStarr

    JStarr Life Off the Road

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    Have fun, look for those faint tiny lines, and try to always leave enough time in the day to turn around if it gets too hairy or you find a gate or whatnot. Best way to travel.
     
  17. Jul 1, 2017 at 5:40 PM
    #17
    Japhy

    Japhy [OP] Member

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    Thanks, @JStarr ! Yeah, we learned hard way about leaving enough time when we ran into the landslide! Other than that, everything has been passable so far, though we've been jumping off the Backcountry Discovery Routes to make time on pavement a lot.

    @iwagner, thank you again for the BDR recommendation! We've now done parts of NM, UT, ID and WA. So much fun!
     
  18. Jul 1, 2017 at 5:56 PM
    #18
    JStarr

    JStarr Life Off the Road

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    That's a big part of the fun. Those days that I still remember from adventures long past, are those where stuff didn't turn out as planned... appreciate them.
    We're heading out to Southeast Alaska soon, will be pushing the envelope more in skiffs & small boats than on wheels this trip, though have had some memorable times up there on 2 & 4 wheels, rafts and on foot.
     
  19. Jul 28, 2017 at 10:44 AM
    #19
    BillBraski

    BillBraski Potato

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    One of these days I or someone will make a Google Map catalog with 4x4 trailheads searchable by state, maybe showing routes, Compiled from all the "local spots" and other info

    Its somewhat difficult to find trails in a new area unless you know people, Especially on the East coast.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2017
  20. Jul 28, 2017 at 10:48 AM
    #20
    fishfinder

    fishfinder Whoever dies with the most toys wins

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    Check out benchmark maps for southwest states like Utah and Colorado, they cover everything and are pretty accurate
     

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