I took my family to Colorado for our first "overlanding" experience. Yes it was more of a glorified car camping trip, but it was still a worthy effort. We loaded up the Jeep and camped in Colorado Springs, Ouray KOA, and Lake City. We hit a few 4x4 trails in Colorado- Red Mountain Mining Area and Engineer Pass (our plan was to do the entire Alpine Loop but we ran out of time). My Jeep was fantastic and the kids loved the roof top tent. Now that we know what it takes for a fun family adventure, we're better prepared and are planning our next overlanding trip.

nice, looks like a fun time!

Great video. Looks like everyone had a great time.

I see now why you didn't do Black Bear Pass! Its a long walk!

I have a suggestion for your next trip. RimRocker trail from Montrose, CO to Moab, Ut. Its 160 miles of dirt trail and gravel roads with great scenery. You can camp at several remote campsites along the way. Its easily done in 2 days at a leisurely pace.

And then you can try some trails in moab!

That's awesome, you crack me up. "I have to justify my spending on the jeep". Yep you accomplished that.

Awesome video! You are doing it right.

As stated in the video I remember taking my boys on those same trails when they where close to that age, will never forget those days. We did it with my old '49 Willys cj3a that I used to have with a v8 an all. Wife loves it now in the JK, was always nervous in the willy's. Just keep going up there, your wife will get easier with it.

I heard of that trail and almost did it when I went to Moab in June but my schedule didn't allow it. I talked my wife into a Moab trip next year and she wants to go to Colorado again. That trail would be a great compromise.

Well how else would I guarantee that we'd do more trips? The trip helped my wife understand why I spent money on certain things and she's appreciative.

Thanks for watching all the way to the end. The reflection was important to me, and when I showed it to my wife she cried.

We're going to Moab next year where there aren't as many shelf roads. It's been a few months since this Colorado trip and my kids are still talking about it and excited to go again.

If you decide to do the RimRocker trail, I have 2 suggestions. Drop your tire pressure to 14 psi. 26 psi is still way too high for a comfortable ride on rough roads and trails.

When you get to the base of the La Sal mountains, take the La Sal Pass road/ trail over to Moab instead of continuing on the RimRocker. Distance wise its shorter. Time wise probably a wash. The road to the pass is smooth and easy gravel road. Once over the pass it becomes more off a typical off road trail. Nothing hard, but much rougher and slower going.

Fewer shelf roads in Moab? We must not be doing the same trails. Shelf or shelf-like road situations would eliminate Hells Revenge, Poison Spider, Steel Bender, Cliff Hanger, Moab Rim, Kane Creek and others that I can't think of right now.

You might want to check out Dome Plateau. It has a large natural cave on it that your kids would enjoy. And its super easy.

that fourwheeler has been there a while LOL. I imagine eventually it will be picked clean.


I can tell you moab has way worse shelf roads than any of the Ouray area roads including Black bear pass. The cool thing about Moab and Colorado is the shelf roads are solid so even if you are on the edge at least the edge is not going to give way.
Great video by the way. it made me a bit emotional watching as my babies are grown up and it seems like yesterday they were that age.

I think it'll be easier if I just blindfold my wife.

I was in Moab this year and did Metal Masher, Hey Joe Canyon, and Hell's Revenge. I'll look into the others you suggested- there's just too much out there to enjoy.

lol, I guess the people I heard about that ATV from were wrong. That's both funny and sad that that thing was still there.

We went only two months ago and it already feels like my kids have grown since then. It's motivation to keep doing this stuff. This weekend I'm taking my dad and my son to Kansas Rocks for some wheeling.

Was your wife with you on Hells Revenge? If so, she is less fearful than your video implied. (Not disparaging your wife at all. I am afraid of heights and some of those trails scare the crap out of me!)

You might want to think about Steel Bender. There is a "shelf" road at the entrance, but its pretty tame and the drop is not very far. Not that it still wouldn't mess you up if you went over, but visually it is less intimidating than most true shelf roads. And its short. Once past that, you should be fine. Although I would probably remove the RTT before you hit the trail. The drop on the "Fall" is pretty intense. It actually looks worse than it is and the first time down it can be a real pucker factor. I think you would be fine with the RTT on but it will make you pause and think about it.

Another fun trail with kids would be Elephant Hill. There is a nasty shelf road at the entrance that might be an issue for your wife, and shortly after that, another one you have to descend. So maybe it won't work, but after those two relatively short shelf roads, its all shelf free. And you have access to "The Joint", a slot canyon you can hike to and through. Its very cool to experience.

Planning a trip to Telluride to hit Big Bear and Imogene Pass, any info or tips for weather conditions in March?

There will be snow...so you can maybe hike/snowshoe but the trails are typically closed during this time.

Thanks for the info, So it looks like no wheeling trip there until summer for me

In a big snow year, anything before July 4th can be dicey. So far this year the snowpack is below the average, so the season should begin sometime in June. Unless we get some big snows in March and or April.

Thats an understatement. We need snow!!!

I would like to try that one