How to find awesome off-road routes for overlanding?

Does it happen to you? It's only January and you're already dreaming about places to visit and explore this year?

It certainly happens to me. I've already started pouring over maps and lists from years past, dreaming about where I could go. Finding new places and new options is almost as fun as the trip itself. It's like I get to travel without ever leaving my house.

And while I like returning to my favorite places, it seems like there are always new places I want to visit. I have endless lists of places to check out from other travelers. And every time I look at a map, I seem to find somewhere that I haven't been but sure looks like a lot of fun. Pine forests, red rock deserts, towering mountains, sandy beaches, small towns. I love them all! I just love being out there living the simple life - driving, camping, eating, hiking, padding, hanging out.

But planning can sometimes be a lot of work. Too many places to visit. Too much research. And too many options to prioritize and decide between. And that's before even packing or heading out on your trip. I get it. It happens to me too. Sometimes I just want to go and figure it out along the way.

Over the years, I've tried to make it easier on myself. I've found that I don't necessarily need a lot of planning in advance, especially if I'm happy to find adventure down a dirt road and camp at a dispersed campsite along the way. Looking for an uncrowded hiking trail or lake? I can probably find one at the end of an off-road trail. Most of the time I can drive there. And sometimes it's too hard, so I turn around and try another trail. It's an adventure either way!

Now before you think "Adam doesn't many any plans", it's not true. I plan. I make reservations. But I've also added offroad trails and dispersed camping to the mix. And I've moved from planning to preparing - identify multiple options and make decisions when I'm out there based on weather, fire, crowds, difficulty, etc. I prepare to make it up when I'm out there. It can be a bit stressful at times not knowing if you'll get a spot at that campground but it can also be freeing knowing there are some dispersed campsites just a few miles further down the trail.

One tool that's been making it a bit easier to prepare and make decisions along the way is onX Offroad. I've been using onX Offroad over the past few years and recently created a deep dive video explaining all of the features I use to find awesome off-road trails, dispersed camping, and activities like hiking and paddling. My favorite feature is the 100,000s of miles of Guided Trails each with a difficulty rating, description, photos, satellite imagery, and more. Guided Trails give me just enough info to find trails that have the right mix of enjoyment and challenge for me and my rig. 

Check it out if that sounds helpful. I hope it helps you get out there on an awesome adventure this year!

See you out there,

-Adam