These Are The Unbreakable Rules Of Off-Roading In U.S. National Parks

Most national parks forbid off-roading, so you can’t just pick a name out of a hat, show up in your Jeep Wrangler and expect to be able to go off-road. If you do that anyway, you’re going to tear up land that was meant to be preserved, which should be enough of a deterrent on its own, but since it isn’t, there’s a good chance you’ll be hit with fines. This is the federal government we’re talking about here. You don’t mess with the feds. You’ll find its mostly parks out west, like Rocky Mountain National Park or Joshua Tree National Park, that allow off-roading, and only in certain areas.

This is an important part of any off-roading adventure because if you get stuck, you could easily be screwed. Forget the potential fines and bill for your rescue. Get stuck in the wrong place, and you might not be alive enough by the time they find you to give you a fine. That said, even if you’re fine, the National Parks Service takes trail restrictions seriously, and if the sign says 4WD-only, all-wheel drive doesn’t count - even if you drive a Subaru Crosstrek.

It’s possible there are some exceptions, but you should go in assuming you’re going to need one. If you skip that step and get caught, you’re going to end up spending way, way more money settling any fines you’ll be hit with than you would have if you had simply paid for a permit. Parks don’t just require permits to make money, either. They’re also a tool for limiting how many people use the park or trail, which helps preserve the parks for future generations.

Before you start, you need to know where the trail begins, as well as what it looks like. After all, you don’t want to get in trouble for driving on what you thought was the right trail when it really wasn’t. Beyond that, though, it’s also important to ensure you know how long the trail is and how difficult it’s going to be, as well as the general direction you’ll be traveling and where the trail will spit you out. You need to be a good citizen, but you also need to stay safe.

Plenty of people have gone off-roading without bringing anything more than their Bronco and been just fine, but things can still go wrong. What are you going to do if you get stuck in mud or sand? What if you snap an axle in an area without cell phone service? What if you roll your Jeep?

Being prepared for the worst means packing recovery equipment but also more water than you think you could possibly need, a first aid kit and even some basic survival items. You probably won’t starve to death on the trail, but bringing food will at least put you in a better mood while you wait to be rescued. Also consider bringing a satellite communicator such as the Garmin inReach Mini.

Expect to check in with a ranger for a safety inspection before you hit the trail. They’re going to want to make sure you’re actually prepared for what you plan to do. If you don’t need to check in with a ranger, then do your own safety check. It’s entirely possible that you accidentally left your recovery boards or water at home, and it’s better to figure that out before you start than it is to find out the hard way in the middle of the trail with no way to get back.

In a national park, what the rangers say goes. If they tell you to do something, you do it. If they tell you not to do something, you don’t do it. They may not be able to keep you safe from your own stupidity, but they can at least try. If you ignore their instructions, they can fine you, but you could also end up stranded, injured or even dead. If a trail is closed, it’s closed for good reason. If they say you don’t have enough ground clearance to safely use the trail, you don’t have enough ground clearance. You don’t have to be happy about it, but you do have to respect them and what they tell you. If you can’t hear someone tell you no without pitching a fit, you shouldn’t be at the park in the first place because kindergartners can’t get driver’s licenses.

Just because you’re allowed to go off-roading in a national park doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. There’s a trail. Stick to the trail. Do not go off the trail. Destroying otherwise untouched land just to do a few donuts or a little mudding is an asshole move, but it’s also a great way to get stuck. You can still run into trouble on established trails, but there’s no telling what’s going on off-trail. If something goes wrong, simply getting stuck and having to pay a fine might be the best-case scenario. If you roll down a cliff, it could easily be over for you.

These trails aren’t your private property. They belong to everyone and need to be treated that way. You also probably won’t be the only person using that trail on any given day. Be respectful of the land, but also be respectful of your fellow off-roaders. Give them space. Treat them with kindness.

If they look like they might be in trouble, stop to see what you can do to help. Even if you can’t fix a snapped tie rod, you can at least offer them some water and offer to call for a rescue. And if you see someone who shouldn’t be there, encourage them to turn back before they get themselves in trouble.

Off-roading is awesome, but even if you have plenty of experience, nature still has a funny way of humbling the proud. You need to recognize that there are a lot of things that can happen that aren’t in your control. Respect the park, the trail and the rules, but also respect nature itself.

No one is going to give you a gold star for finishing the trail faster than anyone else. This isn’t time for showing off. Cutting corners on safety and preparedness is actually a big deal, and there’s no reason to take unnecessary risks. Yes, even if it would make for a better YouTube video. That’s how you end up in a Matt’s Off-Road Recovery video.

Most importantly, if you need help, call for help. You’re not Survivorman.

Sometimes, it isn’t always clear where you’re supposed to go. Even if you’ve driven a trail before, recent storms and erosion can make things look different from the last time you used that trail. If you go the wrong way, you could easily end up lost in a way that requires unscheduled overnight camping, and again, that’s one of the better possible scenarios if you accidentally go off-trail and get lost.

If something looks or feels off, stop and get your bearings. Check your map or GPS. Get out and walk a little to see if what you think is the trail is actually the trail. Even if you went a little off-course, it’s better to realize it early and turn around than is to just keep going until you can’t go any further.

We’d all like to believe we’re master off-roaders who have the skills and equipment to conquer any terrain. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Maybe your SUV starts making some concerning sounds on the trail. Maybe the terrain proves more difficult than you expected. Maybe you’re just feeling off and can’t really concentrate like you should. No matter what the reason is, there’s no shame in turning around. You can always come back another day and give it another try. If you push through, you may be fine, but you could very easily end up the opposite of fine.

This is another one of those things that shouldn’t need to be said, but sadly, tourists have proven time and time again that it does. Leave. The. Animals. Alone. Remember the part of the introduction that mentioned jail time for violating the Endangered Species Act? Well, running over an endangered species would be a great way to face exactly that. The animals also don’t need you to rescue or feed them, no matter how adorable they are.

Also remember, these are wild animals. You don’t mess with wild animals. That neat snake you want a closer look at could kill you. That bison you want a photo with could kill you. That moose you want to pet could kill you. That bear cub? Not going to kill you, but its mother sure could. If you encounter an animal on a trail, treat it with the respect it deserves and leave it alone.

Even if you’re not camping, “leave no trace” still applies while you’re off-roading. Aside from doing your best not to damage any trails, that also means cleaning up any mess you make. Need to take a dump? Bury that shit. Stop for a little lunch picnic? Gather all your trash when you’re done, and put it back in your truck. Skip building a fire in favor of using a camp stove if you absolutely have to cook or boil something. You’re probably not allowed to build a fire in the first place.

Basically, just generally be a good steward of the land you’ve been allowed to use. No one wants to find Pop-Tarts wrappers in the middle of a gorgeous park. So even if you’re not the one who left it there, be kind and clean it up anyway. You won’t get an award for cleaning up other people’s trash, but it’s the right thing to do.

The U.S. doesn’t offer much that would make other developed countries jealous, but if there’s one thing that does, it’s our national parks system. It’s massive, gorgeous and truly something special. While you’re off-roading, it’s important to keep your focus on the trail so you don’t end up in a situation where you need to use that first aid kid. At the same time, though, don’t miss the forest for the trees (in some cases, literally). Stop every now and then to take it all in, take photos and really appreciate how beautiful the scenery is. After all, making memories is far more important than simply checking another trial off your list.