The Best Places to Off-Road in Winter Weather

What Makes It Special

Slickrock still grips with a dusting of snow, and slippery climbs will mean you need to stay cautious. Winter cuts the crowds and opens up the kind of views you don’t get during busy season.

Popular Winter Routes

• Fins and Things
• Hell’s Revenge
• Gemini Bridges

Difficulty

Moderate to difficult depending on snow and ice coverage

What Makes It Special

Mountain trails, tall pines, and technical lines turn the ride into a thinking game.

Popular Winter Routes

• John Bull Trail
• Holcomb Creek
• Gold Mountain

Difficulty

Moderate with technical obstacles

Big Bear rewards patience. Rushing leads to wheelspin and regret.

What Makes It Special

High-altitude roads and alpine views remind you fast that this terrain plays by its own rules.

Popular Winter Routes

• Camp Bird Road
• Lower Yankee Boy Basin
• Governor Basin lower sections

Difficulty

Moderate with exposure

Ouray demands focus. Small mistakes add up, and clean runs feel earned.

What Makes It Special

This is real winter off roading. Deep snow, frozen ground, and long stretches without services. The Upper Peninsula turns simple forest roads into white-knuckle challenges once winter locks in.

Popular Winter Routes

• Hiawatha National Forest trails
• Ottawa National Forest backroads
• Seasonal ORV routes near Marquette and Munising

Difficulty

Moderate to difficult, depending on snowfall. Snow depth and drifting raise the challenge fast.

Expect packed snow, fresh powder, and icy sections under tree cover. Temps stay low, daylight stays short, and weather changes quick. Driving the UP in winter feels like pushing through a freezer with traction problems. Preparation beats bravado every time.

Winter exposes weak links fast. The right setup keeps trips moving and stress low when conditions turn against you.

• Suspension upgrades add clearance and control when snow stacks up or ruts freeze solid.
• Recovery gear such as winches, straps, shackles, and traction boards helps manage ice, snow, and deep mud mistakes.
• Lighting upgrades matter more in winter with shorter days, glare, and shaded trails.
• Overlanding accessories support warmth, power, and storage so cold nights and long runs stay comfortable and reliable.

The right setup keeps you moving when winter tries to shut things down.

Winter off-roading brings out the best and worst in drivers and vehicles. Trails feel quieter, mistakes cost more, and good decisions pay off fast. Snow, ice, and cold force you to slow down, think ahead, and rely on solid equipment instead of luck.

There are plenty of winter trails beyond the ones covered here, and every region offers something worth exploring when temperatures drop. With the right setup and the right mindset, winter becomes one of the most rewarding seasons to get off pavement.

Got a favorite winter trail or a lesson learned the hard way? Drop a comment below and share where winter wheeling takes you.