You don’t need a serious off-road rig to start exploring the Western Slope.
One of the biggest misconceptions about living in Grand Junction is that you need a serious off-road adventure vehicle to enjoy it. You don’t.
You don’t need a lifted Jeep, 35-inch tires, a winch hanging off the front, or thousands of dollars in aftermarket equipment. You certainly can have all those things (and you’ll see plenty of them around here) but you don’t need them to start exploring the Western Slope.
So, what do you really need to access adventures in and around Grand Junction?
Honestly… a regular car will get you to a tremendous number of scenic destinations and sightseeing opportunities. A stock four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle simply gives you more confidence when the pavement ends and the roads get a little rougher. Or when it snows in the mountains!
The key is to understand that the need for more capability, and the confidence to use it, doesn’t happen overnight.
Start With What You Have
Shortly after we moved to Grand Junction, we bought our stock Toyota Tacoma SR.
We had originally leased it for our daughter while she was in college at Colorado Mesa University. When the lease ended, the buyout was thousands of dollars below the current retail price. So, what the heck… why not drive a 4-wheel drive truck for free for a few years? Starting with that Tacoma turned out to be one of the best things we could have done after moving to Grand Junction.
My wife and I weren’t off roaders in Minnesota. We owned several four-wheel-drive SUVs and a half-ton truck over the years, but 4-wheel drive mostly meant one of three things:
- Trying to plow through the three-foot snowbank at the end of the driveway after the snowplows came through
- Driving in dicey Minnesota winter conditions
- Racing across frozen lakes through a foot of snow looking for a great ice-fishing spot
Colorado changed that.
Why the Tacoma Was Perfect
Yankee Girl Mine on Red Mountain Mining Area 4×4 trail near Ouray
The first thing we learned was that vehicle size matters.
We didn’t realize how important having a relatively narrow vehicle would be for accessing some of the narrow trails and shelf roads we’ve ventured on. We’ve accidentally gotten onto a few roads we probably shouldn’t have been on, but thankfully, we made it through. We affectionately call several of them “pucker pass.” The Tacoma was also the perfect “nothing too fancy” vehicle for getting our feet wet in the off-roading world. We could learn without worrying about every scratch, bump or little ding. And we learned a lot.
The Moab Lesson
Sand dune in Moab, UT
I remember the first time we went to Moab with our daughter and son-in-law. Thankfully, he knew what he was doing. He’s a Colorado native. We aired down the tires, grabbed the recovery boards and headed out onto some trails and spun around in a sand dune.
At first, I was thinking, “This isn’t so bad.”
Then we approached the first two-foot ledge. Suddenly, we needed to stack rocks, have a spotter outside the truck, and slowly walk the vehicle down the ledge. All I could think was, “Do you have any idea how much a new vehicle costs, and we are doing WHAT to it?!” Oh my.
I seriously would have turned the vehicle around if it had been anything nicer or more expensive. I was convinced you didn’t treat a truck like this and expect it to last. In hindsight, that day taught me something important. I learned what a vehicle was actually capable of. More importantly, I learned that sometimes the vehicle doesn’t need to change. Your confidence does.
If you purchase a new Ford Bronco, ask the dealership about the Bronco Off-Roadeo in Moab. We had friends from Minnesota do that experience and stay with us a few days to explore the Grand Valley. She learned how to use the special features and capabilities her vehicle offers, like the seven G.O.A.T. Modes™. Learn more about the Moab Bronco Off-Roadeo. https://broncooffroadeo.com/locations/moab
You Don’t Have to Be an Overlander
You also don’t have to become an “overlander” to enjoy the outdoors around Grand Junction.
Maybe your idea of adventure is driving up to the Grand Mesa, exploring a back road, finding a trailhead, watching the sunset, taking the dog somewhere new or simply discovering a road you’ve driven past a hundred times. That’s adventure too. And that’s one of the things we love about living here.
You can start small, learn what you enjoy and gradually discover what you’re comfortable doing. There’s no prize for taking the hardest trail on your first weekend.
Read our Leaf Peeping from Grand Junction post about roads you can travel to see the beautiful fall colors.
What Kind of Adventure Vehicle Do You Need?
Top of Serpents Trail in the Colorado National Monument
Your Grand Junction adventure vehicle can evolve with you.
A regular car:
Great for scenic drives, paved roads, sightseeing and countless destinations around Western Colorado.
AWD or stock 4WD:
Adds confidence for many dirt roads, trailheads and less-developed roads. Also, important if you plan to drive I-70 towards Denver in the winter months as chains are required without AWD or 4 WD.
A stock truck or SUV:
Gives you additional clearance, capability, and flexibility as you explore more challenging terrain.
A modified 4×4:
Makes sense for people who have developed the skills, experience, and desire to tackle more difficult trails.
The trick isn’t buying the vehicle first and figuring out what to do with it later.
It’s discovering what you enjoy first and letting the vehicle evolve with you.
Our Next Step
Over the last three years, we’ve taken a lot of pictures with our adventure Tacoma and driven numerous clients around the Grand Valley. In 2026, we decided it was time for an upgrade.
We knew exactly what we wanted. Something that would give us more capability and confidence for many of the backroads and trails on our bucket list, while also providing the comfort we wanted when driving clients around Grand Junction. (More leg room in the back seat!)
That led us to a Toyota 4Runner Off-Road Premium.
The camera screen in our Toyota 4Runner
The 4Runner fits our lifestyle perfectly as we continue to Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction and bring you along on our adventures through social media and this blog. Many people around here prefer Jeeps. Others love their Toyotas. Subarus are everywhere for good reasons. There are plenty of ways to explore the Western Slope.
One of our favorite features in the new 4Runner are the multiple cameras. Especially the one that looks forward. When we used to climb a steep trail in our Tacoma all we could see was the sky in front of us. Now, we can actually see the trail and the rocks or potholes ahead of us. Plus, views of the sides so we don’t hit any bushes or rock walls.
Michelle’s favorite is the view that shows us the % of grade we are going up or down and our camber to see how “tipped” we are from side to side as we drive the trail. The camera came in handy on our last trip near the Red Mountain mining area between Ouray and Silverton. You can read about the first section of this 4-wheel drive only mining trail we drove in the Tacoma.
Driving the Tacoma on a shelf road near the stunning Emerald Lake by Crested Butte – ask me about Washington Gulch!
Know Your Limits
If you’re not already an experienced overlander, my advice is pretty straightforward. Start simple. Find your comfort level. Learn what your vehicle can do. Learn what you can do. And never attempt a trail that your vehicle (or your nerves) may not be capable of finishing.
There are several trails on our bucket list that we still want to tackle, but we’ll be renting an ATV for some of them because we know our limits. There’s nothing wrong with knowing when to leave your vehicle parked. In fact, knowing when to turn around is part of becoming a better adventurer, but unfortunately many trails are so narrow there is no turning back.
Start Where You Are
Regardless of your vehicle, your age, or your experience, there are so many beginner-friendly roads, scenic drives, and outdoor destinations around Grand Junction that there is no reason to wait. You don’t have to wait until you have the perfect vehicle. You don’t need the perfect gear. And you certainly don’t need years of experience.
Start where you are.
- Take the road you’ve never driven.
- Find the trailhead.
- Explore the back road.
- Turn around when you’re uncomfortable.
- Learn something.
- Try again.
Because one of the best parts about living in Grand Junction isn’t having an adventure vehicle. It’s having an adventure outside your front door. And maybe that’s one of the reasons you moved here in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a 4×4 vehicle to enjoy Grand Junction?
No. Many scenic destinations and sightseeing opportunities can be reached in a regular passenger car. AWD or 4WD simply expands your options and can provide additional confidence on dirt and rougher roads.
Can you explore Western Colorado in a regular car?
Absolutely. Start with paved scenic drives and well-maintained dirt roads and always check current road conditions before heading out.
What type of vehicle is best for exploring the Western Slope?
There isn’t one right answer. A regular car, Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, or truck can all be the right vehicle depending on what you want to explore and your experience level.
Do I need an off-road vehicle to go overlanding?
Expedition Rig – go big if you want to!
No. Overlanding is less about having the most modified vehicle and more about traveling independently and exploring places beyond the typical tourist route. Start with trips appropriate for your vehicle and experience. If you are interested in buying a more capable vehicle, I recommend reading our post about the Overlanding Expo Mountain West.
What should beginners know before driving Colorado back roads?
Know your vehicle’s capabilities, check weather and road conditions, carry appropriate recovery and emergency equipment, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back “in civilization”, and never be afraid to turn around. Download Google maps while you have cell service because you won’t get a signal in the mountains and your maps won’t work unless you’ve downloaded them in advance.
Are there beginner-friendly trails and roads near Grand Junction?
Yes. The Grand Junction area offers a wide range of scenic roads, dirt roads, trailheads and outdoor destinations. The important thing is to choose routes that match your vehicle, experience and comfort level. Driving on Rim Rock Road in the Colorado National Monument is a great place to start.
Michelle reads her book titled Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails to see which trails are ranked easy, moderate or difficult. There is a version for south of I-70, her favorite, and another version for north of 1-70. One day we hope to drive the roads behind the Book Cliffs where the wild horses live. It’s officially called The Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range. It is a 36,000-acre protected area located just northeast of Grand Junction, CO, where more than 100 wild mustangs roam free.
Venture on friends!
Watch short videos of our adventures on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
https://www.facebook.com/LiveYourVacationinGrandJunction
https://www.instagram.com/liveyourvacationingj
https://www.youtube.com/@MoveToGrandJunction
The new 4Runner on I-70 in Palisade near Mt. Garfield
Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!
PAUL ASPELIN, your Grand Junction Relocation and Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Call or Text (612) 306-9558 (locally based)
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Serving Mesa County and the Grand Valley in Colorado.
© 2026 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®. MovetoGrandJunction.com Copyright protected. All rights reserved.
Fruita, CO is the last stop in Colorado on I-70 before entering a long stretch with NO SERVICES on the way west to Moab. So get your drinks and go to the bathroom before you leave the area. There is one pit toilet as you cross the border and a rest stop with just bathrooms and a short hike up a hill if you need a little exercise.
The first ¼ mile is the hardest. I was intimidated when I saw “rock scramble” in the reviews. Yes, we needed our hands, but we did it as novice hikers. We had Emma and Josh with us (daughter and son-in-law), and they were very encouraging and patient while we did our first scramble.
