The Hidden Value of a Great Off-Road Guide
“We’ve definitely been down this road before.” It’s a sad statement when you’ve been driving for hours on challenging trails and are looking for home. Even with the best tools and technology; devices fail, rigs fail, and that three hour ride will be the best twelve hours of the trip!
Whether you’re new to off-road or wheeling adventures, or achieving an 11,000 mile milestone on the trail; hiring a guide service in an area you’re new to exploring is a great choice.
Only local guides will know which trails are currently open especially if you’re riding in an actively lumbered forest area. There are seasonal hazards and weather related trail changes along with areas with poor GPS coverage. It’s also very hard to determine the difficulty level of any trail unless you’re in a mapped riding area with ratings. It’s easy to get lost. A guide won’t just show you where to go. They’ll help you avoid the dangerous spots a map can’t warn you about.
Most off-road incidents are due to drivers misjudging terrain, being beyond their skill level with their vehicle, or they’ve ignored the changing conditions around them. A good guide is going to help keep you safe by spotting issues with rigs before it becomes a dangerous situation, coaching on proper driving techniques, and knowing the ways through large obstacles. Not having to navigate the route on your own, helps reduce the overwhelm that can build for new drivers on the trail. You won’t have to worry if your vehicle can make it because the guide will show you the safest line and explain why.
Best of all, a good guide will take you to places you wouldn’t find on the map. Hidden waterfalls, caves, and on our last trip we got to feed some wild horses! The best guides create confidence and a once in a lifetime experience for their guests so you come home with the best stories and camera roll.
When you’re looking for an off-road guide, here are six topics to evaluate your guide and a checklist for your booking conversation below.
#1 Real trail experience is a must. You want to know how long they’ve been guiding, how often do they run this trail, when was the last time they ran the trail and do they guide year round or seasonally.
#2 Vehicle recovery knowledge. Things break. Every. Single. Run. A good guide should be well versed with winch operations, recovery straps, tire repair and field repairs of a variety of off-road vehicles. The best guides are carrying their own traction boards, and tools because when something goes wrong, this expertise will make or break a trip.
#3 Safety Certifications. If you’re booking overnights or multiday trips, be sure to consider if it’s important to you if the guide is CPR trained, carrying a first aid kit and emergency devices to call for recovery if needed where no mobile signals exist.
#4 Communication skills. The best guides will explain obstacles clearly, adapt to the different skill levels in the group, and make everyone feel included. This keeps drivers calm, helps maintain a faster trail pace, and ensures everyone has a good adventure day. We’ve heard horror stories of people being left on the trail. Make sure your guide has a clear plan for keeping everyone together and that every driver understands the trail safety discussed at a drivers meeting.
#5 Group size. Small groups are best, especially for new drivers. They offer more personalized instructions, safer obstacle navigation, and faster trail rides. If the group is larger, the best guide services will provide three guides for the ride. Leader, middle, and rear. This gives the guides of big groups the most flexibility when repairs are needed, or if drivers need a break after challenges.
#6 Reviews. Look for ones that mention safety and recovery plans. Trail rides rarely go to plan so how the guides respond to a difficult situation will tell far more than a bunch of five stars without context.
Before you book, ask these questions.
How many years have you guided off-road tours?
What happens if a vehicle breaks down?
What recovery equipment do you carry?
How many guests are in each group?
Do you start with a driver’s safety meeting?
Are tours adjusted for skill levels?
What communication devices do you carry in remote areas?
An experienced guide can transform your trip from intimidating to an unforgettable experience. Don’t stop your comparison at price or route. Look for the experiences that a great guide can provide.
Happy trail riding!
Jess Jorgensen
