National Parks will Cite AWD Cars for Driving on 4WD-Only Trails

[wayoflife]

I realize this is old news but it's new to me and thought I'd share it here, just in case it's new to you as well. Just came across an article regarding AWD cars driving on "4WD ONLY Trails" and how the National Park Service will cite drivers of them now.

Apparently, how this became a story is that a Subaru Crosstrek owner received a warning letter from the NPS "after driving on Canyonlands National Park's Colorado River Overlook Road" and as you may or may not know, it is marked for 4WD vehicles only. Of course, the problem is that unlike a true 4WD vehicle that has at bare minimum, a transfer case with Low Range, an AWD car does not and that can and has lead to people getting stuck and requiring rescue from the NPS. As I understand, violators can be fined up to $5,000 and can even face jail time.

You can read about it here:

National Park Service Will Cite Drivers Of AWD Cars For Driving On 4WD-Only Trails - Jalopnik

As one Subaru Crosstrek owner recently learned the hard way, it bears repeating that all-wheel drive is not the same as four-wheel drive. A Subie owner posted a warning letter they received a month after driving on Colorado River Overlook Road in Canyonlands National Park to the r/NationalPark...

www.jalopnik.com

 

[GP NOIR]

We get people moving to Utah to go skiing, hang gliding, canyoneering and other outdoor sports, thinking an AWD will get them anywhere they want to go. They’re surprised to find out just how inadequate AWD is when they wander off county roads maintained for the tourist trade and get well and truly stuck. I guess they believe the commercials that make AWD SUVs look mighty

 

[DirtHeadDavis]

Good! Lol

 

[cloudpump]

Is this a big issue out west? Being in NYS, there arent many places to go that actually require 4wd. Which sucks.

 

[RESURECTIONJK]

Yeah I’m all for this. Last trip to Moab we had to help a young couple in a RAV4 who had gotten bound up on the first set of switch backs on poison spider and it was ugly. We were happy to help but were more than adamant they turn back and not continue on.

Aside from it being dangerous for the people in said AWD vehicle, they often stack rocks or flat out break their own trail t get around sections they can’t get through and that, is how trails get closed. Not to mention the resources it can sometimes tie up.

 

[RESURECTIONJK]

Is this a big issue out west? Being in NYS, there arent many places to go that actually require 4wd. Which sucks.

Unfortunately… it’s a constant issue out here

 

[jeeeep]

I realize this is old news but it's new to me and thought I'd share it here, just in case it's new to you as well. Just came across an article regarding AWD cars driving on "4WD ONLY Trails" and how the National Park Service will cite drivers of them now.

Apparently, how this became a story is that a Subaru Crosstrek owner received a warning letter from the NPS "after driving on Canyonlands National Park's Colorado River Overlook Road" and as you may or may not know, it is marked for 4WD vehicles only. Of course, the problem is that unlike a true 4WD vehicle that has at bare minimum, a transfer case with Low Range, an AWD car does not and that can and has lead to people getting stuck and requiring rescue from the NPS. As I understand, violators can be fined up to $5,000 and can even face jail time.

You can read about it here:

National Park Service Will Cite Drivers Of AWD Cars For Driving On 4WD-Only Trails - Jalopnik

As one Subaru Crosstrek owner recently learned the hard way, it bears repeating that all-wheel drive is not the same as four-wheel drive. A Subie owner posted a warning letter they received a month after driving on Colorado River Overlook Road in Canyonlands National Park to the r/NationalPark...

www.jalopnik.com

when I passed through Moab on Friday there were a small group of protesters outside the visitor center protesting the National Park Service, I wonder if this was the cause because their signs made no sense.
as I think back, there wasn't a single Jeep parked anywhere near them.

 

[wayoflife]

Is this a big issue out west? Being in NYS, there arent many places to go that actually require 4wd. Which sucks.

Yes, it is. There are lots of places out west where people can get into a lot of trouble and in some cases, die like this.

https://ktla.com/news/california/camper-found-dead-wife-hospitalized-after-note-led-authorities-to-missing-couple-in-death-valley-national-park/

 

[Ddays]

Yes, it is. There are lots of places out west where people can get into a lot of trouble and in some cases, die like this.

It's not too overdramatic to say that until you get out West and experience what it's all about it's way too easy to underestimate the truly life-threatening dangers involved. Very easy to FAFO if you're not prepared. My awakening was driving through a blizzard on I-80 in Wyoming.

 

[Trail Bud]

We found a Mercedes with a dad and 2 girls coming off a trail. He was stuck in basically sand and was using a hiking pole to try and get unstuck. His reasoning was he was on this trail 10 years ago and could drive on it.
He refused help at first, then gave in after we told he’s going to spend the night there if we didn’t help.
No common since.

 

[jeeeep]

It's not too overdramatic to say that until you get out West and experience what it's all about it's way too easy to underestimate the truly life-threatening dangers involved. Very easy to FAFO if you're not prepared. My awakening was driving through a blizzard on I-80 in Wyoming.

Driving across Wyoming in a snow blizzard with those massive snow drifts is a hell of an adventure.