Overland Trail Guides Podcast (OTG)

The Owyhee Canyonlands are an expansive wilderness covering more than 2 million acres with rugged canyons, low elevation mountains, and rolling hills of sagebrush in the high desert of Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho.  We talk with Matthew Mangus of Mangai Rollin, who's been exploring the Owyhees for a number of years.  

You can learn more about Matthew's creative agency, by visiting https://www.mangai-rollin.com/

The Owyhee Discovery Trail
If you're intersested in exploring the Owyhees, check out OTG's Owyhee Discovery Trail.  A 200+ overland route through some of the better known places in the Owyhees, and some out of the way places as well.  https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/post/owyhee-discovery-trail

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

The Flat Tops Adventure Trail is a 298 mile overland route in northern Colorado that was developed by Overland Trail Guides.  While lesser known than the San Juan Mountains to the south, the Flat Tops certainly aren't lacking in impressiveness or grandeur. The area gets its name from a series of table-top mountains that dominate the region. These unique geological formations were created by ancient volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years.

For this episode, we chat with Eric Raymond of XplorAdventure who explored the Flat Tops Adventure Trail over the course of two separate trips in the summer of 2023.  

The Flat Tops Adventure Trail
The 298 mile long Flat Tops Adventure Trail forms a loop just north of Glenwood Springs in northern CO.  Lesser known than the San Juan mountains to the south, the Flat Tops sees a fraction of the trail traffic.  For overlanders seeking alpine views, lakeside camping, and more challenging terrain, the Flat Tops Adventure Trail is the perfect track.  

To get the GPX File, complete route guide and more, please visit our website. 
www.overlandtrailguides.com

XplorAdventure Flat Tops Series on Youtube

Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/Y7RVREC3I_Q?si=gVcirZdY4NItzLDa

Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/mvRrkPaQFzg?si=qMzbM0Hgk9xV9_4p

Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/ubZZh4-Mm14?si=RdaMRuVkPxsyNYJ3

Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/1l61pg3HqG4?si=x3WH6pVxEU69tC4_

The Cascadia Skyline is a 188 mile route through the heart of the Cascade Mountains in Northern Oregon.  The route can typically be completed in 2-4 days of driving.  The complete route guide, maps, and gpx files can be found at  www.overlandtrailguides.com   .

Steve Tipton from Silverton, Oregon, joins us to talk about his experience doing this route in summer of 2020.  Despite the route being right in his backyard, this was Steve's first time experiencing the route.  Tune in to hear his take on the Cascadia Skyline.  

Support Overland Trail Guides

We chat with Jeff Thiel from Washington state about his experiences exploring the Olympic Peninsula this past summer.  We'd shared a route still under development called the Olympic Traverse, and Jeff agreed he'd provide us with some boots-on-the-ground intel, recognizing that the route hadn't been fully researched and developed at the time.  We're happy to say that Jeff's feedback has been a godsend and it's motivated us to finish up the route guide before winter rolls around.  The Olympic Traverse is a 600+ mile loop through the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest that visits some of the Pacific Northwest's most spectacular scenery.   

Check Out Jeff's Youtube Channel at Where to Next?

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the Olympic Traverse.   

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

For Episode 017 we chat with two bad ass women about their rookie experience competing in the 2021 Rebelle Rally.  Angie Lux (team She-Wave Velocity) and Carey Lando (team Mountain Subi) are both based in Northern California, and spent countless hours training and studying for the 2021 Rebelle Rally.  We talk with them about the rally raid format (it's not a timed race), the time spent preparing for the rally, and their experience competing in the 2021 Rebelle.

You can follow both Carey and Angie on Instagram:
@xterra_athena (Angie Lux)
@mtnsubi (Carey Lando)

The Rebelle Rally
The Rebelle Rally is a 2000+ km rally raid competition that typically takes place in the California and Nevada deserts (and sometimes Arizona too!).  Unless rally races which are timed competition, the rally raid format is a points compeition, where teams collect points by locating various checkpoints using only a map, a compass, and their intellect.  To learn more about the Rebelle Rally, visit https://www.rebellerally.com . 

About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides features over 20,000 miles of curated overland routes throughout North America.  The best way to support us is by buying one of our subscriptions or buying merchandise at www.overlandtrailguides.com 

Welcome to our inaugural podcast episode.  Our primary focus for the podcast is to have guests and discuss their experience traveling one of the routes featured on our site, www.overlandtrailguides.com .  While overland and off road adventures will be our primary focus, we'll talk to people in the industry, specialty shops, technical and trail tips, trail etiquette, and a whole lot more!

About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of overland routes across North America, complete with guides, maps, and GPX files.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

Since its inception, the High Water Mark Trail has gone through numerous iterations.  The trail is one of the most popular overland routes in the greater Southeast, and gets its name from the numerous creeks and rivers that must be forded along the route.   We sit down and chat with Matt McClellan from Ozark Overland Adventures bout the history of the route, bringing it back to life, and what you can expect should you decide to take on the High Water Mark Trail!  
 

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the High Water Mark Trail.

Ozark Overland Adventures Website

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

Episode Notes

The California Crest Trail is poised to become the grand daddy of overland routes in California.  Once fully developed, the route will span approximately 1,500 miles, with over 1,000 miles of dirt backroads and traversing a wide variety of ecosystems from the high desert to the lush evergreen forests near Mt Shasta.    

Largely built along the backbone of the California Backcountry Discovery Trails, OTG has been persistently extending this network of routes by developing the Shasta-Trinity and Tahoe BDTs in 2020.  In 2021, OTG looks to develop the route even further south and east to create the California Crest Trail.   Once all is said and done, the route traverses through the basin ranges and high desert, central and northern Sierra, southern Cascade Ranges, the Klamath Mountains, and the Coastal  Mountains of Northern California.  

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the Mojave Road.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

Lost Coast 4x4 Trail
The Lost Coast 4x4 Trail is a 177 mile overland route through the rugged and wild Lost Coast in  far Northern California.  We recommend setting aside 2-4days of total driving time to take in the full Lost Coast experience.   The complete route guide can be found at 
www.OverlandTrailGuides.com .   

We chat with Gerard Horan about his experience driving the Lost Coast 4x4 trail.  Ger is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and travels up to his relative's ranch in Southern Humboldt County quite frequently, but he'd never visited the Lost Coast until recently.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

The Ozark and Ouchita mountain ranges form the greater Interior Highlands of the American Southeast.  We chat with Arkansas native, Joey "the Brofessor" Slayton about overlanding in the Natural State, and why you should consider looking east of the Rockies for your next overland adventure!  

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the High Water Mark Trail (Ozark NF) and the Ozark Adventure Trail (coming soon).

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

The Brofessor
You can catch the  Brofessor philosophizing about camping and adventure travel on his podcast, the Overland Philosopher,  or on Instagram @joeythebrofessor

If you live in the American West, there's a good chance you've either been to Baja, or it's on your overlanding To Do list.  And take it from us, every overlander should visit Baja at least once in their life!  But being in a foreign country, there are a few things you'll need to prepare for when crossing the border into Baja.  

We talk with Kiley Johnson about some of his recent experiences exploring Baja.  The first was with a guided tour lead by Pacific Overlander, where the group traveled from Tecate at the US-Mexico border down to the quaint seaside town of Loreto in Baja Sur.  The second trip Kiley and crew went without a guide, and explored the mountains and Baja's east coast along the Sea of Cortez.  Turn in to learn more about Kiley's adventures, along with some tips and recommendations to help you prepare for your first Baja trip!

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including various routes in Baja and Sonora, Mexico.  To check out OTG's Mexican Overland Adventures, CLICK HERE.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

The MERUS Adventure Park is a first of its kind off roading and outdoor recreation private park in the Texas Panhandle.  Covering 5500 acres and more than 50 miles of off roading trails and 30 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, MERUS is situated in the rugged and beautiful Palo Duro Canyon, which happens to be second largest canyon complex in the country.  

In this episode we talk with Dirk van Reenan, founder of CEO at MERUS about his background as an entpreneur, his vision, and what led him to create the MERUS Adventure Park.   We dig into the current state of MERUS, along with the phase 2 plans for MERUS, and even bringing the same model to different locations across the country.  

Visit MERUS Adventure Park
MERUS was created specifically with off roaders and overlanders in mind.  Daily visitorship is capped and only 4x4s (no ATVs, UTVs or motos currently allowed) so the park can retain its rugged backcountry charm, while preserving the trails for posterity.  And since the trails were purposefully built with off roaders in mind, we've been told they're some of the best trails you'll find anywhere.  If you'd like to experience MERUS adventure park, please visit their website at https://merusadventure.com

With nearly 100,000 square miles of public land (nearly 88% of land is public), Nevada is an Overlander's Paradise.  If you thought the Basin and Ranges that dominate much of Nevada as a barren wasteland, you'd be sorely mistaken.  The mountain ranges and basins that separate them are rich with pioneer and mining history, and the hidden canyons and mountain peaks hide craggy trails and high desert forests made up of various juniper and pine.  

We talk with Mike Henderson from All Terrain Family about some of the hidden gems and his favorite places to explore near his hometown of Reno, and why Nevada is the free-est state in the lower 48 (sorry Texas!).  Whether you're seeking out a quick day trip or a multi-week dirt adventure, Nevada has got you covered!  

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of routes across the American West.  Check out our growing overland route library at www.Overlandtrailguides.com . 
 

Mike Henderson / All Terrain Family Youtube Channel
https://allterrainfam.com/
 

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

Kofa Pioneer Trail
The Kofa Pioneer trail is a 243 mile overland route through the Sonoran Desert outside of Quartzsite, AZ.  We recommend setting aside 4-6 days of total driving time to take in the full desert experience.   The complete route guide can be found at www.OverlandTrailGuides.com .   

John Liotti is based in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Northern California and joined OTG on the trip just before the Thanksgiving Holiday.  We talk to John about his take on Kofa, and traveling the area in his bone-stock Toyota Tacoma.  Spoiler alert, he's getting sliders and a fridge as a result of his trip to Kofa!  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

For this week's episode, we welcome John Liotti of Big Thumpers back to the show.  This past summer, John had the opportunity spend 3 weeks in Pakistan, most of which was spent exploring the highways and backroads with a local guide.  The group traveled 1,600 miles through Pakistant visiting locations such as  the Silk Road, Islamabad, Lahore, the Hindu Kush, KarakoramTune in to hear about his time traveling through Pakistan, along with a couple of near death experiences.

Different Agenda Motorcyle Tours
Moin Khan grew up in Pakistan and received his bachelors from San Francisco State University.  Today Moin leads motorcycle tours through his homecountry, visiting both well known locations, as well as out of the way villages and tracks that only locals know about.  If you're interested in a tour, you can find A Different Agenda on Facebook, but they also work closely with the Recylcery Garage in Santa Cruz, CA.  

Join us as we chat with Christian Fick about his time exploring southwestern Oregon.  The Wild Rivers Discovery Trail is a 225 mile overland route in southern Oregon  was developed by Overland Trail Guides.  While most Oregonians head inland in search of views, this section of western Oregon features those vistas seldom seen in this part of the state.  The region of southwestern Oregon got its name due to the numerous Wild and Scenic Rivers along this stretch of coastline. This section of coast is part of the Klamath-Siskyou ecoregion, that's home to the largest concentration of Wild and Scenic rivers in the lower 48.  Prior to the establishment of commercial fishing, the salmon and steelhead runs along this section of coast were said to rival those in Alaska.  

The Flat Tops Adventure Trail
The 225 mile long Wild Rivers Discovery Trail travels from the Oregon-California border, hugging the coastal mountain ranges as it heads northward to its terminus in Port Orford.  The track crosses through the watersheds of more than half a dozen rivers, with fantastic riverside and creekside camping opportunities.  For those looking to extend the adventure, one can easily connect the Wild Rivers track with the Steelhead Adventure Route (Smith River NRA / Northern CA) and the Siskiyou Crest Adventure Trail, that sits on the eastern side of the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF.  

To get the GPX File, complete route guide and more, please visit our website. 
www.overlandtrailguides.com

In early June of 2020, the OTG team set out on an expedition to map the newly minted Shasta-Trinity Backcountry Discovery Trail in far Northern California. We talk to Joey Grimmer, who joined the OTG team about his experience on the Shasta-T. 

Complete Guide, Map and GPX files: https://www.overlandtrailguides.com/post/shasta-trinity-backcountry-discovery-trail 

About the California Backcountry Discovery Trail 
Picking up where the Forest Service Left off, the Shasta-Trinity BDT connects the Backcountry Discovery Trails along the coastal range (Six Rivers, Mendocino), with the BDTs to the east that run along the Sierra and Cascade ranges (Tahoe, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc). With the addition of the Shasta-Trinity and Tahoe BDTs (mapped in July 2020), it's now possible to string these various routes together for a 1,000 + mile dirt adventure.

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

Originally, a favorite among the van life and outdoor recreationalist community (surfers, rock climbers, etc), more and more folks are using their Sprinter 4x4s to explore the dirt roads of the backcountry.  And while many Sprinter owner stick to mellow gravel and graded dirt roads, there is a small group of folks pushing deep into the backcountry on trails geared towards 4x4s.  

For this episode, we chat with Dan Blanchard, Sprinter Sportsmobile owner, and longtime OTG member.  Dan has persistently been in touch with us, touting the capabilities of a Sprinter Van when driven by an experienced off road driver.  And we completely agree, an expert driver is capable of pushing the limits of a vehicle far beyond the driving skill and capabilities of your average Joe or Jane.  We chat with Dan about his experiences buying his Sportsmobile Sprinter at the start of Covid, and then using it to explore the West and gradually taking on harder and harder trails.  If you're wondering about the limits of a Sprinter van, then be sure to tune in!  

About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides, or simply OTG, features North America's most extensive directory of curated overland routes (90+ routes and growing).  You'll get recommendations on appropriate vehicle, technical ratings, best time to visit, places to see and camp, and more. 

www.overlandtrailguides.com

At over 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest National Park in the contiguous United States.  Death Valley is filled with geological wonders like massive mountains and slot canyons, hundreds of mines and ghost towns, and nudist hot springs.  We talk with Ed Colonna about his adventures through the park on motorcycle as well as 4 wheel drive vehicles.  

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the Death Valley Adventure Trail.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

With so many folks burnt out from the daily grind of the corporate world, more and more folks are trying to figure out a way to turn their passion into profit.  We chat with Brent Baker of Oregon Adventure Trucks about his path from the corporate world, to landing a job at EarthRoamer, and eventually starting Oregon Adventure Trucks.  

Brent shares some invaluable advice in regards to breaking into the industry and starting your own overlanding business.  If you're thinking about hanging up the towel at your daily grind, you'll definitely want to tune into this episode.  

Oregon Adventure Trucks
Founded in 2020 by Brent Baker and his partner Aaron, Oregon AT is Overland AT's regional distributor and installer in northern California and the Pacific Northwest.  Beyond truck capper and camper installations, Oregon AT also offers a variety of off roading classes, sells a variety gear out of the Bend storefront, and have been doing more and more custom modifications and installations for overland vehicles.  

www.oregonat.com


About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides, or simply OTG, features North America's most extensive directory of curated overland routes (90+ routes and growing).  You'll get recommendations on appropriate vehicle, technical ratings, best time to visit, places to see and camp, and more.  

www.overlandtrailguides.com

The Gold Butte Adventure Route is a 350 mile overland route in southern Nevada that was developed by Overland Trail Guides.  We like to call the route the gateway to red rock canyon country of southern Utah and northern Arizona.  The Gold Butte ADV Route sits on the northern edge of the Mojave desert and with dozens of hikes, slot canyons, and Native American Heritage sites along the way, there's a lot to see and discovery.   The Gold Butte Adventure Route travels through Lake Mead NRA, Valley of Fire SP, Logandale OHV Trails, and of course, Gold Butte National Monument.  

For this episode, we chat with Nick Walton who experienced the Black Rock Desert Adventure Route this past fall with the OTG Crew along one of our annual pre-Thanksgiving trail runs.  

The Black Rock Desert Adventure Route
The 350 long Gold Butte Adventure Track begins just outside of greater Las Vegas in Henderson, NV before going deeper into Lake Mead NRA.  The highlights of the track are the numerous slot canyons, incredible rock formations, absolutely spectacularly camping opportunities, and dozens of Native American heritage sites.   

To get the GPX File, complete route guide and more, please visit our website. 
 www.overlandtrailguides.com

The 138 mile long Mojave Road is one of the most iconic overland routes in California.  And while it's not the longest, most technical or arduous track, the stark beauty of the Mojave desert, quirky attractions, and rich pioneer history makes this route the perfect weekend get away.  And because it's relatively mild on the technical rating scale, it's a great route for beginners to try their hand at overlanding and off road exploration. 

We chat with John Liotti from Northern California about his experiences on the old Mojave Road and why he keeps heading back to the deserts of the American Southwest.  In fact, you may recognize the voice or name, which is because we had John on a previous episode to discuss the Kofa Pioneer trail.  

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the Mojave Road.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

For this week's episode, we talk with Brooks Hassig, of "Get Lost With Brooks." Back in 2018, Brooks borrowed his friend's Pinzgauer and decided to explore the Northern California backroads while in between jobs. Tune in to find out what happens when you put a prideful 20-something your old behind the wheel of the 6-wheel drive Swiss military vehicle with limited food and supplies, a few maps, and no real itinerary. What could possibly go wrong? 

About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of Overland Routes throughout North America complete with guides, maps, and GPX files.  www.OverlandTrailGuides.com

Get Lost With Brooks Social media Channels
 Instagram: @getlostwithbrooks 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClilnx4Nr92uNLaXySTKmJA

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

As the world of overlanding and off roading continues to grow, more and more folks, especially those with families are considering upsizing to full size trucks by the makes of Ram, Ford, Chevy and GM.  And while full size rigs offer a variety of benefits like increased space and comfort, massive payloads, and the ability to fit oversized tires (37-40+ inches), it isn't all peaches and creams.  

Long time friend and supporter of OTG, Nick Walton joins us to discuss his experiences traveling with his family in a Land Cruiser, along with the decision making process to upsize to a Ram 2500 with Four Wheel Camper.  We'll touch on some of the pros, and the cons of going to a full size rig.  

If you're considering upsizing to a full sized truck, you'll definitely want to give this show a listen!

About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides, or simply OTG, features North America's most extensive directory of curated overland routes (90+ routes and growing).  You'll get recommendations on appropriate vehicle, technical ratings, best time to visit, places to see and camp, and more.  

www.overlandtrailguides.com

The Plumas Backcountry Discovery trail is but one of the routes that comprise the greater network of California Backcountry Discovery Trails.  The Plumas BDT is based in the heart of Gold Country in the northern Sierra Nevada.  This region of the Sierra may not see as many visitors as other places like Lake Tahoe and the eastern Sierra, but don't let that fool you!  Lusher and more heavily forested than the mountains to the south, the Plumas BDT is full of hidden secrets, great campsites, and fantastic views.  

Overland Family Man Plumas BDT Video Guide

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including the Plumas Backcountry Discovery Trail.  

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.  

The infamy of the Burning Man festival has brought infamy to the Black Rock Desert.  But beyond Burning Man, Black Rock is filled with geological wonders and a wealth of Native American and Pioneer History.  The Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conversation Area (if that ain't a mouthful!) covers 800,000+ acres of protected dry lake beds, mountains, and volcanic canyonlands in Northern Nevada.  The Black Rock Desert features the largest salt flat in the lower 48, a number of hot springs, rugged trails, 3 historical emigrant trails, and some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States.  

For this episode, we chat with Joey Grimmer who experienced the Black Rock Desert Adventure Route earlier this summer with the OTG Crew.  

The Black Rock Desert Adventure Route
The Route is 200+ miles that hits some of the higlights within the NCA like the Black Rock Playa, Soldier Meadows Hot Springs, High Rock Canyon, the microplayas and more.  To learn more about this route and dozens of other routes, be sure to check out www.overlandtrailguides.com

At over 900,000 acres, the Mendocino National Forest sits about 3 hours north of San Francisco.  Despite its proximity to the Bay Area and Sacramento, many outdoor enthusiasts have never visited the forest.  "The Mendocino" as it's called is filled over 1,000 miles of dirt roads and trails, and is the perfect place for a weekend get away, or a weeklong adventure exploring the backroads.  Dylan Pankow aka Bluebeard Adventures has established himself as the go to person on Youtube for all things related to the Mendocino National Forest.  We sit down and chat with Dylan about the forest, and save of his favorite places to explore and camp.

Dylan Pankow's Youtube channel
 

Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated routes, including:

• Mendocino Backcountry Discovery Trail (167 miles)
• Mendocino Grand Circuit (301 miles)

Want to Support OTG?
You can support us by buying one of our subscriptions at Overlandtrailguides.com or by supporting us on Patreon.