Behind the Ride:
Build for Off Road Adventure Ride Updates
Twice the Adventure in 2026: Plans Begin for Next Year’s Adventure Rides
We’re just a few weeks away from the MotorTrendTV premiere of the 2025 Adventure Ride, as man and machine combine to tackle America’s toughest trails in a special, three-part season finale of Build for Off Road. But even as the Adventure Ride rolls out onto TV screens across the nation, plans have begun for next year’s events.
That’s right; events, plural. Building on the early success of this year’s ride, Build for Off Road will tackle not one, but two Adventure Rides in 2026!
With host Ian Johnson’s affinity for “hard trails only”, you can expect the 2026 events to deliver tough conditions, iconic locations, and stunning views, as custom-built rigs and offroad brands are put to the ultimate test on some of America’s most challenging off-road trails.
Here’s a sneak peek at the locations Ian is currently eyeing for next year’s Adventure Rides:
The Road to Moab – Overland Trail Ride
Starting in Montrose, Colorado, Ian leads a convoy across the legendary Rimrocker Trail—a 160-mile stretch of rugged terrain connecting Colorado to Moab, Utah.
Curving through red rock canyons, rivers, and remote forests, the Rimrocker Trail is ideal for an overlanding adventure as it winds its way to Moab, often considered one of the best off-roading destinations in the world. Moab’s trails provide a wide range of difficulty levels (but we’re pretty sure we know which level Ian will choose).
Tennessee Off-Road Tour – Off-Roading Meets Southern Tradition
Ian leads a multi-stop trail ride through some of the Southeast’s best wheeling destinations, from wooded hill climbs to slick rock waterfalls, wrapping up at the Jack Daniel’s BBQ Invitational in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Presenting a marked contrast to the canyons and deserts of the West Coast, this ride through the Southeast will navigate through woodlands and long, loose hill climbs. All it takes is a simple rain shower to dramatically change the terrain from dirt to mud, so these trails are sure to offer a bit of the unknown—all depending on the weather.
The unique visuals and demanding scenarios of each Adventure Ride event, from the slick rock of Tennessee to the high-altitude trails of Colorado, will also allow participating brands to capture high-quality, “proof of concept” content of their products in action – a benefit that has already proved valuable for sponsors of the 2025 Adventure Ride.
New to the US market, Australian-based winch brand Carbon Offroad seized the opportunity to show exactly who they are by tackling demanding trails in Johnson Valley, CA and Kingman, AZ on the 2025 Adventure Ride.
“The great thing about this trip was, we actually got to do some really technical, hard off-roading that requires winching at times,” said Carbon Offroad owner Dan Kozaris. “So as a winch company, this was a perfect match, because it was an opportunity to get solid proof that our product actually does what we say it does.”
By featuring trails in a wider range of geographic locations, the 2026 Adventure Rides will offer even more opportunities to put products directly in the hands of influential drivers to try them out for themselves.
Want to learn more about plans for the expanded 2026 Adventure Ride series?
And make sure to subscribe below for the latest updates!
Want to learn more about plans for the expanded 2026 Adventure Ride series?
And make sure to subscribe below for the latest updates!
Ready to Join the Adventure?
We’ve got exciting plans for more Adventure Rides throughout the year in 2026, which means more opportunities for overlanding and off-road brands to come along for the ride.
Watch the video below to learn more about putting your brand in the middle of the action!
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