4x4 Trail Info
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Rating Systems:

4x4TrailInfo
Arizona
Arizona Land Rover Rally
ASA4WDC
AZ Rockcrawler.com
AZVJC
BadAss
Black Hills 4 Wheelers
Black Hills Jeeps
C.O.R.E.
CA Parks
Californiajeeper.com
Colorado
DVO
Expeditions West
Extreme4x4
GLFWDA
Jeep Jamboree
JonFund
Massey/Wilson
Moab
Nevada
Northern4x4
ORN
Sedona
SITR
Tellico
TTORA - NorCal
USFS
Vermont
Wells
Yuma

Wells
Trail Rating System

This is the rating system used by Charles A. Wells in his Guide to *** Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails books.

Easy1-3Gravel, dirt, clay, sand, or mildly rocky road.  Gentle grades.  Water levels low except during periods of heavy runoff.  Full-width single lane or wider with adequate room to pass most of the time.  Where shelf conditions exist, road is wide and well-maintained with minor sideways tilt.  Four-wheel drive recommended on most trails but some are suitable for two-wheel drive under dry conditions.  Some clay surfaces may be impassable when wet.
Moderate4-6Rutted dirt or rocky road suitable for most sport utility vehicles. Some obstacles will require careful tire placement. Four-wheel drive, low range, and high clearance required.  Standard factory skid plates and tow hooks recommended on many trails. Undercarriage may scrape occasionally. Some grades fairly steep but manageable if dry.  Soft sand possible.  Sections of sideways tilt will require caution. Narrow shelf roads possible.  Backing may be necessary to pass. Water depths passable for stock high clearance vehicles except during periods of heavy runoff.  Mud holes may be present especially in the spring.  Brush may touch vehicle.
Difficult7-10Some trails suitable for more aggressive stock vehicles but most trails require vehicle modification. Lifts, differential lockers, aggressive articulation, and/or winches recommended in many cases. Skid plates and tow hooks required. Body damage possible. Grades can be steep with severe ground undulation. Sideways tilt can be extreme. Deep water crossings possible. Shelf roads extremely narrow; use caution in full-size vehicle. Read trail description carefully. Passing may be difficult with backing required for long distances. Brush may scratch sides of vehicle.

Note: Trail ratings are highly subjective. A trail that is easy for an experienced driver with a highly modified vehicle may be impassable for a novice driver in a stock vehicle. Weather conditions may also significantly affect the difficulty of a trail. Also, the difficulty of a trail may change over time, as trail use, weather, and maintenance modify the trail. Always check with the managing organization and/or recent users before planning a trip on a trail and scout ahead on foot if you are not sure of current conditions.