One of the newest entries into the overlanding market is the Ford Bronco, which came on-scene in 2021. So as the aftermarket catches up, we are seeing more and more Broncos hitting the trails in search of adventure.
Ford has been instrumental in training this next-generation of explorer by offering the Off-Rodeo program to its customers, helping them to get familiar and helping customers to find their own comfort level with the vehicle as it relates to their confidence off-road.
While these experiences have been an extraordinary resource for those just getting into Broncos or off-roading, there has been a desire from Bronco owners for something more.
For those owners, Ford is launching the Bronco Off-Road Adventures experience, with curated and hosted multi-day trips that are designed to be once-in-a-lifetime, curated and exclusive, experiences.
Ford invited us on one of the three signature trips for 2024 and handed us the keys to a brand-new Bronco Raptor for the duration, allowing us to both experience the experience, and get some much-needed long-distance seat time in the company’s go-fast SUV.
While we have had the Bronco Raptor in more of a racing environment through the Raptor Off-Rodeo, we were curious if this was a one-trick pony, or if its aggressive demeanor could be dialed back for long-distance trail work.
Moab Rocky Mountain
For 2024, Ford offered three curated experiences, which included the Moab Rocky Mountain adventure we attended for this story.
For this trip, we departed our Southern California headquarters in our borrowed Bronco Raptor and drove 750 miles to the beautiful town of Moab, Utah where we met up with the Bronco Overlanding Adventure team and group Bronco owners in their personal rigs.
This four-day, three-night experience included an elevated camping experience with inspired meals, and even portable restroom and shower facilities, to make participants more comfortable than a standard campout.
For the next few days, we would be able to experience, along with Ford’s customers, the backside of the famous Hell’s Revenge trail, scenic Castle Valley and the La Sal Mountains, and wonderful Telluride in the San Juan Mountains. Trip extra would include short seminars on things like vehicle recovery techniques and the whole group would use GMRS radios to keep in touch.
The G.O.A.T.
We began our journey on a privately owned area known as Raven’s Rim, a special and rarely accessed overlook of Moab. As we arrived at the meeting spot, just below the ridge, we were greeted by our hosts and quickly formed up and headed out on the trail.
The quick jaunt took us up some rocky and loose trails that had us paying attention to the added width of the Bronco Raptor. In the loose soil, we were immediately impressed with the outstanding traction control offered by Ford’s G.O.A.T. drive modes, which made easy work of the two-track – no locker needed.
The long travel suspension of the Raptor, effortlessly soaked up imperfections on the trail and was a precursor to how our overall experience would be in Ford’s most capable SUV.
The short trail took us to our campsite for the evening, where we were met with a hospitality tent, campfire setup, portable showers and restrooms, and a delicious meal that we enjoyed as we took in Moab’s unrivaled scenery and got to know one another.
Red Rocks
The start of Day Two took us from Raven’s Rim to the famous Hell’s Revenge slick rock trail, where our group accessed it through a private back entrance.
Our group of Bronco owners got a chance to experience slick rock, some for the first time, immersing themselves in the quintessential landscape only the red rocks of Moab could offer. Meanwhile our Bronco Raptor continued to impress with its slow speed prowess over the undulating rocks, while the 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires had no problem gripping the sand-paper-like terrain.
After getting a taste of what Moab has to offer, our group headed east through the Sand Flats Recreation area via Sand Flats Road on our way to the La Sal Mountains and Geyser Pass. Just short of the Utah-Colorado border, we pulled into the private Wolf Springs Ranch for the night, once again our Ford team was all set up, welcoming the group with open arms and a full setup, continuing the upscale experience promised by the trip description.
The backcountry roads we traversed were relatively smooth and the Bronco Raptor’s live valve Fox shocks kept the ride in check, both on dirt and on pavement. The non-technical backroads portion of the trip allowed us to play with the Broncos in different settings and modes, getting a feel for how each of them affected the Bronco Raptor’s performance. It’s great to see how much customization the Bronco Raptor offers, allowing it to be as involved in the experience as the driver wants it to be.
We ended the day with another enjoyable catered meal, followed by an evening around the campfire as the Ford owners enjoyed each other’s company along with some s’mores mixed in with tales of Bronco adventuring.
San Juan Mountains
After refueling on another great meal, we broke down camp and continued our journey on Day Three by pointing our convoy toward historic Telluride, a mountain town at the base of the legendary Black Bear Pass in Colorado. Telluride, a former mining camp, is now the county seat for San Miguel County. Founded in a box canyon in 1878, Bridal Veil Falls sits majestically at the canyon’s head and over 2,500 people now call this historic town home.
The event’s original itinerary had us traversing the stunning Imogene Pass, but due to an unseasonable road closure, the group pivoted to nearby Ophir Pass, another one of the great trails of Colorado’s Alpine Loop. This road, which dates back to early Navajo hunting trips, was originally known as Howard Pass after a local prospector.
It eventually fell out of favor by locals traversing it by foot and wagons after it became a toll road in 1881. Ophir Pass, named after a region noted in the Old Testament for being rich in gold, offers Alpine views, color changing trees, and narrow shelf roads. The difficulty of this trail lies in the vigilance and attentiveness of the driver fighting against amazing views, more than the terrain itself.
As we climbed up to the 11,789 -foot pass, we negotiated some of those infamous shelf roads that lead to the summit, taking in the vast scenery and colorful landscape. As we crested the summit, we met a large Jeep group from the opposite direction. They refused to wave, but we didn’t hold it against them.
While being immersed in some of the most amazing scenery that Colorado has to offer, we completed Ophir Pass, ending up on the Million Dollar Highway, a treacherous paved highway that was originally constructed as a wagon road to transport and supply miners between the area’s towns and rich mines.
After a brief stint, we exited the Million Dollar Highway at a special property that encompasses the storied Red Mountain, so called because of its red rocks and notable treeless summit. Long a landmark for travelers, it is a special property that isn’t accessible to the general public. Thanks to special permission negotiated with the land owner, the Bronco Off-Road Adventures team again delivered another unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Red mountain, which is 12,877 feet in elevation at the peak, has narrow, rocky shelf roads with sharp switchbacks, that allowed us to use the Bronco Raptor’s Trail Turn Assist feature. This gave us the ability to navigate the tight corners without making any three-point turns that typically require disengaging the transmission while shifting between Drive and Reverse, making the climb to the summit safer.
Once at the top, the 360-degree view of the San Juan Mountains was unforgettable, and thanks to perfect weather, it was as if we were immersed in a painting.
Asked & Answered
Our final night of camping was spent at the base of Red Mountain underneath a canopy of trees where the group once again broke bread together with an exceptional final meal.
In the morning, we pointed our Bronco Raptor back toward home, giving us time to reflect on our week in the SUV and answering our original questions. Is the Bronco Raptor a one-trick pony? The answer to that is no. With 37-inch tires and long travel adaptive suspension from the factory, the Bronco Raptor has the ground clearance and angles It needs to tackle just about any terrain.
Front and rear lockers, sway bar disconnect, and plenty of power (especially at altitude) thanks to the turbocharged 3.0L V-6, made the Bronco Raptor capable, no matter the speed. While the width could be a liability on tighter trails, we see no reason why you couldn’t, or shouldn’t, start with a Bronco Raptor as the foundation for your overlanding rig.
If you are interested in participating in one of these once-in-a-lifetime bespoke adventures, be sure to stay tuned for the 2025 schedule on the Bronco Off-Road Adventures website.
Source
Bronco Off-Road Adventures
overlandadventures.ford.com
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