When you think about recreational off-roading, several images may come to mind. Perhaps you envision a car speeding over desert sand or a vehicle climbing over rocks up a mountain. While these two images may look very different, both are accurate representations of off-roading. An optimal off-roading adventure won’t look the same for everyone. There are many different types of off-roading activities you can try depending on the environment you go to—almost all of which can be done in Colorado. To find an off-roading activity that is best suited to your lifestyle, check out these popular types of recreational off-roading activities.

Rock crawling

Rock crawling is the poster child of off-roading activities. However, it isn’t for beginners or the faint of heart. This exhilarating activity involves maneuvering vehicles across trails plagued by challenging rock and boulder obstacles. Climbing these obstacles safely typically requires a high level of skill and various vehicle modifications. Common modifications for vehicles that take on the challenge of rock crawling include a lift kit, larger tires, robust bumpers, rock sliders, and differential covers.

Dune bashing

Dune bashing is a recreational off-roading activity that takes place on sand dunes. The primary goal of dune basing is to traverse up and down the dunes at various speeds. The constantly shifting terrain which reduces traction coupled with the steep incline of the dunes makes dune bashing one of the more challenging off-roading activities.

Learning how to avoid getting stuck and preventing rollovers are a couple of the main challenges that off-roaders face when dune bashing. To help ensure one’s safety while out on the dunes, it’s important to prepare your vehicle properly. Examples of how to get your vehicle ready for dune bashing include reducing tire pressure to increase traction or equipping your vehicle with a roll cage to protect you if you roll down the dune.

Green laning

Another popular type of recreational off-roading activity is green laning. While not quite as exhilarating as the other types of off-roading activities listed above, green laning is a great option for beginners or those who simply enjoy a more leisurely ride.

Green laning involves riding along unsurfaced trails or forest tracks that aren’t regularly used or maintained. Because it doesn’t require tackling intense obstacles or particularly challenging terrain, green laning is suitable for most stock vehicles with four-wheel-drive—no fancy mods necessary.