In 1994, Charles Wells began exploring the Colorado backcountry in his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Dissatisfied with the available 4×4 guidebooks, he decided to create his own. After two years of hard work, he completed his first book and founded FunTreks. Initially printing 4,000 copies, he was surprised at how quickly they sold out. He was able to quit his day job and focus on FunTreks full-time, a decision made possible by the unwavering support of his wife, Bev.
Today, FunTreks, an off-road guidebook company, has been a leader and a highly respected source of accurate trail information for over 25 years. What sets them apart from other trail info? From the start, they have only published trails driven by the two authors, Charles Wells and Matt Peterson. No third-party or crowd-sourced trail info is published; it is only first-hand experience. With each new edition of the guidebooks, trails are driven again for difficulty and route changes, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of trail miles and experience acquired by only two people over a quarter century.
The guidebooks are popular in the overland community. Customers will combine 3-4 trails to create a multi-day trip, focusing on enjoyable trails with great views and ignoring dull roads that are no fun. FunTreks only publishes the most enjoyable trails they find. The guidebooks provide peace of mind with custom-designed, turn-by-turn maps. They highlight trouble spots and offer high-quality details on every aspect of the trails, so your only concern is how much fun you can fit into a single day.
READ MORE: My First Overland Expo: 6 Reasons Why I Can’t Wait To Do It Again
There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. FunTreks will equip you with all the necessary information – difficulty levels, detailed directions, high-quality photos, and guidebooks to get you off-road and out of the daily grind. After all, your free time should be spent just like that – free.
