Our Backyard: Off-Roading Around Vail, Arizona

Vail, Arizona doesn't get the spotlight that Moab or Sedona do, and honestly, we like it that way. Tucked east of Tucson at the base of the Santa Rita and Rincon mountains, this is quiet, rugged high-desert country, and it's home turf for the crew.

If you're new to the area or just passing through, here are a few local trails worth airing down for:

Redington Pass. A local classic. This two-lane route runs along the western slope overlooking Tucson, with plenty of dispersed camping spots along the way. Difficulty swings from mellow to genuinely rough, with deep ruts and washouts depending on the section, so it rewards a rig that's ready for anything.

Box Canyon Road. A scenic climb through the Santa Rita Mountains that takes you out of the desert floor and up into oak country. The views back down the canyon are some of the best in the area, and it's a good pick when you want a drive that's as much about the scenery as the technical trail.

Oak Tree Wash Trail. Narrow, technical, and unforgiving in spots. It opens with a steep, off-camber drop that has caught more than a few stock suspensions off guard. Not a beginner trail, but a favorite for the crew members running built rigs who want a real test.

What makes this area special isn't any single trail, it's the range. You can spend a morning on an easy wash with the family and an afternoon testing your rig's limits on something like Oak Tree, all within a short drive of home.

As always: check current conditions and land access before you go, some routes cross BLM, State Trust, or National Forest land with their own rules, air down responsibly, pack recovery gear, and leave it better than you found it.

See you out there. Adventure awaits, right in our backyard.