MOAB, Utah (March 29, 2013) — Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich Tires brand, in collaboration with Tread Lightly! and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), has named the winners of the 2013 Outstanding Trails program.
Nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following, the trails selected for this year's program are the Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, N.C.; Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kan.; and Truckhaven in Salton Sea, Calif.
During the course of the year, BFGoodrich Tires will attend club events associated with each of the winning trails to highlight the uniqueness of the locations, educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of the trails and present a $4,000 grant to each club to assist in the preservation of trail access.
Since its inception in 2006, the Outstanding Trails program has been dedicated to the responsible use and preservation of off-road trails. In the last eight years, Outstanding Trails has recognized more than 30 off-road trails across the U.S. and has awarded more than $115,000 in grants in support of trail conservation efforts.
"The legacy of the Outstanding Trails program is a great source of pride for BFGoodrich," said Duane Thomas, brand communications manager for BFGoodrich Tires. "We're grateful for the efforts of the many four-wheel drive clubs and their volunteers for working with us in our quest to help maintain some of North America's most beautiful trails."
Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest is a 2.1-mile trail maintained by the Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club, a family oriented club formed in 1971.
Kansas Rocks Recreation Park is a not-for-profit park open to the public, featuring trails for both beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. The park is maintained by the Brush Beater Jeep Club and is open to all makes of four-wheel drive vehicles, BFGoodrich said.
Truckhaven, the host of the annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari, offers trails that consist of sandy washes, rocky canyons, hill climbs and deep gorges with near perpendicular walls. Tierra Del Sol has a history with the area going back more than 50 years and is involved with constant renovations and improvements at the site, according to BFGoodrich.