A few years ago I had the opportunity to go rafting in Vermont and I had a blast. Whitewater rafting is a perfect opportunity for male bonding as it requires strength, balance, wits, intelligence, and courage. Most of all, it requires teamwork and leadership or else your whole group is going to tip over or worse. The idea of becoming a rafting guide is certainly appealing when you consider they get to do something awesome every day and meet some cool people, but what does it take to become one? Are you ready to become a whitewater rafting guide?

We are all clearly waiting eagerly for the as of yet unannounced "Ranger Raptor" to arrive but those of us in the United States will just have to keep waiting. In the meantime though, Ford continues to offer factory-built off-road options that bring us closer to that ultimate eventuality. With their latest update for the 2021 Ranger they are introducing the Tremor Off-Road Package complete with off-road tuned FOX shocks, Grabber all-terrain tires, a wider stance, and connections designed to make adding off-road accessories even easier. Only yeah and plenty of decals and cosmetic updates to make sure everyone knows that you are driving a Ranger Tremor!

Expanding on the Bronco family’s Built Wild^™ innovative design and capability pillars, these five adventure-inspired concepts further highlight the brand’s readiness for customization at launch. Beyond the standard options, there are more than 200 available factory-backed accessories for Bronco two- and four-door models, and more than 100 accessories for Bronco Sport models.

Conventionally you might think about hiking or using Jeep trails to go explore the history of the wild west mining boomtowns. However, Virginia City, Nevada has a bunch of bike trails that you can take to explore the history of what was once a vibrant mining town and today is one of the top places anywhere in the world to go explore an authentic wild west town that somehow manages to be family-friendly despite it's rough and tumble appearance.

As the off-roading season began on the Rubicon Trail over Memorial Day weekend, local law enforcement was able to patrol the trail with more capability thanks to a donation from BFGoodrich Tires.

Some vehicles are iconic for the sizzle and sex appeal, others are legendary for simply being dependable and the last of their breed. Sadly, the 2020 Toyota 4Runner is in that last category. I say sadly because I wish there were more "compact", reliable, refined SUVs out there with as high performance on and off-road as the 4Runner. I don't get as much time to profess my love for this vehicle as I'd like to, so when Toyota offered this to me for our road trip to Vegas for the Mint 400, I jumped at the opportunity.

For those of you who have dreamed of one day attending the Baja 1000, I've got an alternative closer to home. The Mint 400, also known as The Great American Off-Road Race might not be as well known as the Baja 500 and Baja 1,000 but it is an awesome experience and opportunity to meet your favorite drivers, manufacturers, and be a part of one of the greatest off-road races in the world. 

Hinting at upcoming Bronco production model, Ford’s Bronco R race prototype debuts in the desert to celebrate 50^th anniversary of Rod Hall’s historic Baja 1000 win, an overall victory in a 4x4 that’s never been duplicated in 50 years.

All too often vehicles get distilled down to just one aspect of their personalities. A Bugatti Veyron is fast, a Maybach is luxurious, and a Raptor is just badass. While those are true - at least in the case of the 2019 Ford Raptor, it doesn't tell a complete story of why this is possibly the best truck on the market today. While previous generations of the truck were 100% focused on off-road ability, the current iteration is equally adept on the pavement, including twisty mountain roads as it is flying over the desert at high speeds.

I’ve been a Jeep Wrangler owner for years, and I wouldn’t trade the vehicle for anything; It’s just too much fun. My love affair with Jeep began with the growth of my family. I wanted something fun to drive like a convertible, but I also found myself with the need to be able to transport three kids and a wife. Enter the Jeep Wrangler. It ticked all of the boxes and more. It was a convertible that could go anywhere and fit the family. Perfect….Sorta.

For cyclists looking for something new and exotic, Taiwan offers an extraordinary opportunity to see parts of the country and experience the culture in way tourists who only visit the city simply can’t. Let’s take a look at some of the cool destinations you can explore on bike when you visit Taiwan.

So you've thought about getting a recreational vehicle but are confused by the different types out there. To help simplify things, I'm going to divide them into two different categories - self-contained RV classes and trailers such as popup campers and fifth-wheel units. Thinking of things on the most basic level, RV classes are as simple as A, B, or C. Let's take a look at the differences in those classes what which one might be right for your lifestyle.

Chevrolet continues to crank out iterations of my favorite truck, the Colorado ZR2 and this time they've taken it to the next level. The Colorado ZR2 Bison is everything that the normal ZR2 is - but more rugged. For those of you who might not have thought it was tough enough, don't worry - it's now got steel bumpers, boron-steel skid plates, winch provisions on the front bumper and integrated fog lights. This was a partnership with AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) and while the normal ZR2 is a jack of all trades this is clearly for the overlander market. And those who just simply want a badass looking truck right off the dealer lot with a manufacturers warranty!

There are a lot of trails in Southern California, but here's three of my favorites because they are scenic and have a variety of terrain but aren't too technically arduous. While the Colorado ZR2 is a phenomenal vehicle that can conquer pretty much anything that you throw at it, sometimes it's nice to know that and never test the limits. This is especially true for novice off-roaders since those limits are often YOURS, not the vehicle itself. These trails a great for exploring and having fun while getting away from civilization for a few hours.

I'm privileged to live out west where there's tons of wide open public land, but for the rest of you guys - off road adventures are limited to private parks. For those in South West Florida, Florida Tracks and Trails is the place to go. With miles of trails ranging from compete mud holes to well packed sand, a beach area complete with tiki bar, paintball, and off road racing tracks this place pretty much has it all.

Cycling can be a great way to improve your general fitness as it has many health benefits, such as improving your muscle strength and core fitness levels. What’s more, cycling makes for an exciting way to travel when you go abroad, with many self-guided cycling trips available to help you to see the most beautiful sights in Europe.

We are thankfully in a renaissance of  smaller trucks and the 2019 Ford Ranger is among the most highly anticipated. It is also one of the best equipped, with awesome numbers and robust capability. With a truck like this though, it's about more than just raw numbers... it's about what you can do and where it can take you. The FX4 trim level that we were provided is not the Raptor or even a competitor to the Toyota's TRD Pro or Chevy's ZR2 off-road trucks but it delivers a solid and comfortable experience both on and off road. This makes it an excellent road tripping vehicle. To test it out, we decided to explore historic Nate Harrison Road and climb to the top of Mount Palomar in San Diego, California.

When it comes to modern SUVs, few are good at both on and off-road. They are focused on tuned to compromise and lean towards fuel efficiency on-road - or all out off-road ability. While I can talk for days about the need for more true, body-on-frame SUVs, the Toyota Land Cruiser is the epitome of what an awesome SUV should be. It offers a solid, perfectly refined driving experience with no compromises and brings you back to an era when sitting in the driver's seat of an SUV made you feel special. We took the 2019 Land Cruiser on a road trip to Scottsdale, AZ for Spring Training and it was one of my favorite driving experiences in a long time.

This custom Defender 90 Convertible from E.C.D. Automotive Design is outfitted with a five-speed manual transmission and powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine.

A prime objective for most guys seeking great vacation spots is the opportunity to relax and completely get away from your everyday worries and problems. I know that this ability to escape technology and seek beauty when uncluttered by other distractions is why I love exploring off-road. While some enjoy driving, others biking, planning an awesome hike to explore a remote part of the world is a great opportunity to relax. Plus, as a photographer this is your opportunity to share the beautiful landscapes and wildlife that you've found. This in turn will inspire more people to visit and share their experiences.