The trails in this area don't see that much year-round use, and in some cases are the remnants of old logging paths 50 to 60 years old. This leaves an abundance of low-lying and overhanging obstacles to negotiate. At some points, the trails narrow down so tightly that there is hardly room for a Jeep to squeeze through the trees.
The forests in this area are spectacular, with groves of Douglas fir, Pacific Madrone, and alder trees. In most areas, the forest floor is carpeted with lush vegetation of ferns and clovers. These woodlands are so thick that in some areas you can't walk more than a foot in any direction before you run into a tree.
The rugged coastline of Oregon is dotted with quaint coastal towns and fishing ports and literally hundreds of historical points of interest. In between Florence and Coos Bay is a sea of sand dunes called Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. We've never thought of Jeeps as sand cars, but running them through the dunes this year was well worth it. Our Jeeps performed exceptionally well on the sand, but that performance may have been due in part to the damp, firmly packed consistency of the sand - visiting Oregon during the end of the rainy season was definitely the right thing to do. Blasting the Jeeps through sandy bowls and steep dunes was tremendous fun.
Oregon is a fascinating place to visit and explore by four-wheel drive. Excellent hunting, fishing, and camping are just a few more of the many outdoor activities to be enjoyed here. The state abounds with Old West history as well. In the 1840s, traffic on the Oregon Trail really started to flow and emigrants marched west to seek their fortune and a better life. The trail was really the only practical route to the West because it bypassed the hotter southern deserts. Numerous trails from that era can still be explored by four-wheel drive.
Most of you, our readers, use your 4x4s as a means to an end to get out and relax and to enjoy the company of friends while doing something adventurous. Most of the people who participate in the Trail Tour are hard-working business owners and industry professionals. Even though we live, breathe, and work four-wheel drive, it's not often we get to take a break to hit the trails for any extended period of time. This is still a difficult concept to deal with for those who started as enthusiasts and wound up aftermarket four-wheel-drive parts manufacturers. Thanks to Scott Fray of Eaton/Detroit Locker, week-long adventures like this one are now possible for us at least once a year. We would like to thank Scott and our Oregon guides, especially Randy Rubin, for guiding us on another great Trail Tour.