4X4Explore.com Purpose

4X4Explore.com - Purpose

4X4Explore.com is a web site about Exploring Adventure Roads®,traveling the old roads through the Colorado landscape in search of adventure, scenery, and history.

I have designed 4X4Explore.com as an online map book with the goal of covering all of the 4WD roads in Colorado. This does not include County roads maintained for highway vehicles, but may include unmaintained County roads. Roads to private property, campgrounds, picnic areas and trailheads that are highway vehicle accessable are also not included. The 4WD roads that will be described are mainly used for motorized recreation, or to access an area for other recreation pursuits. Administratively closed roads, abandonded roads, and roads recently closed by ownership changes will also be listed to keep you informed about changes in access on 4WD roads.

My intent is to create a database of information that will allow someone to purchase, print, and create a map book of the 4WD roads based on their interest. Besides the description, a map books most important attribute is it's maps. I will be using USGS topographical maps at the 7.5' detail, where feasable, overlaying information related to how the surrounding land is managed by the agencies that manage it, and indicating where private property exists. There will be historic infromation, management direction information, adoptive 4WD club information, difficulty information, and present land management proposals for the 4WD road and surrounding area that may impact your public access.

Cost:

Because web site hosting, domain name ownership, and credit card processing cost money, I will have to work by mail order initially to support this site. Future plans are to supply map information electronically in real time.

Design:

The 4X4Explore website is designed to allow you to search for a 4WD road by any descriptive means. The design of 4X4Explore allows you to find specific information about 4WD roads based on your interest. The data that is retrievable is not just 4WD based. If you have an SUV and an interest in fishing, mountain biking, or even hiking, you will find 4X4Explore useful. The drill down design allows you to search based on your interests, your knowledge of an area, or your destination.

At this point in time not all of the following descriptions are active. They are presented as examples of how 4X4Explore.com will work.

If you know the name of the 4WD road you are interested in....
From 4X4Explore home page click on "Colorado 4WD Road Alphabetical List", then select the letter that starts the 4WD road name of interest, then scroll down to find the road. Next click on the 4WD road name which will take you to a summary page that lists information about the road and has a map that shows the general location of the road. If this is the correct 4WD road you can then select the 4WD road description as either an HTML format, or an Adobe PDF format. You can also select different maps, or gps waypoint lists from the summary.

If you are interested in Easy 4WD roads....
From the 4X4Explore home page click on the "Difficulty" button, then select the "Easy" icon or image. You will be presented with a table of all the Easy 4WD roads in Colorado. The table will list the 4WD road number, difficulty, length, and status. Next click on the 4WD road name which will take you to a summary page that lists information about the road and has a map that shows the general location of the road. If this is the correct 4WD road you can then select the 4WD road description as either an HTML format, or an Adobe PDF format. You can also select different maps, or gps waypoint lists from the summary.

If you will be near a particular Town....
From the 4X4Explore home page click on the "Town" button, then select the town you will be visiting from the map, or the text list. You will be presented with a table of all the 4WD roads within 10 to 20 miles of that town. The table will list the 4WD road number, difficulty, length, and status. Next click on the 4WD road name which will take you to a summary page that lists information about the road and has a map that shows the general location of the road. If this is the correct 4WD road you can then select the 4WD road description as either an HTML format, or an Adobe PDF format. You can also select different maps, or gps waypoint lists from the summary.

If you want to view Aspens in the Fall....
From the 4X4Explore home page click on the "Destination" button, then select "Fall Colors". You will be presented with a table of all the 4WD roads that have "Good" or better fall colors. The table will list the 4WD road number, difficulty, length, and status. Next click on the 4WD road name which will take you to a summary page that lists information about the road and has a map that shows the general location of the road. If this is the correct 4WD road you can then select the 4WD road description as either an HTML format, or an Adobe PDF format. You can also select different maps, or gps waypoint lists from the summary.

Tools:

One of the many tools that I will be including on 4X4Explore.com is the Colorado 4WD Road Cross Reference. I have collected all of the books I know of that describe 4WD roads in Colorado and created a table listing 4WD roads and the 4WD Books they are in. I have also produced an Alphabetical list of the Colorado 4WD roads and I have started a 4WD Glossary of Terms to describe the terminology used by 4WD enthusiasts. I hope you will find it useful as I continue to add to this site.

Thanks you for visiting and please return in the future. Updates will be posted on the 4X4Explore.com main page for your convenience.