
Trips & Trails: Russell Gulch, Colorado
If you like your backcountry trips easy-but-adventurous, and full of history, you won’t want to miss Russell Gulch, a largely abandoned mining town in Colorado.
Overland Expo Mountain West is headed to Brighton, Colorado for 2027, with a new home at Riverdale Regional Park. Located just northeast of Denver, Brighton offers quick access to the airport, the greater Front Range, and a wide range of pre- and post-event Colorado adventures.
AUGUST 20-22, 2027
RIVERDALE REGIONAL PARK // BRIGHTON, CO, USA
FRI 9-5 | SAT 9-5 | SUN 9-3
Overland Expo Mountain West has a new Colorado home for 2027: Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. With easier access to the Denver area and a venue built for large outdoor events, the new location gives attendees a practical, adventure-ready base for the weekend.
You land. You drive. You’re at the grounds before your coffee goes cold.
Brighton sits just northeast of Denver along Interstate 76 and Highway 85, with easy connections to Interstate 25 and Interstate 70. Getting in is simple whether you’re flying, towing or riding.
Riverdale Regional Park combines wide-open event space with major recent infrastructure upgrades, including improved roads, parking, pedestrian access, lighting, utilities, and a redesigned midway built for large public gatherings
The result is a venue built for movement, access, and all-day exploration—whether you’re arriving for classes, walking the exhibitor areas, meeting fellow overlanders, or settling in for a full weekend on site.
Riverdale Regional Park is a natural fit for Overland Expo Mountain West:
Riverdale Regional Park
9755 Henderson Rd
Brighton, CO 80601
Your Overland Expo Mountain West adventure kicks off the moment you hit the road. With Hipcamp, explore unique camping spots that make every step of the journey memorable.
BY ROAD:
Riverdale Regional Park is well-positioned for attendees coming from:
BY AIR:
For attendees flying in, Brighton benefits from close access to the Denver metro region and its major airport connections, making it easier to pair overland expo attendance with vehicle rentals, meetups, or added travel days before and after the event
Brighton is practical, accessible, and well-placed for travelers who want to build a longer itinerary around the expo.

If you like your backcountry trips easy-but-adventurous, and full of history, you won’t want to miss Russell Gulch, a largely abandoned mining town in Colorado.

A group of Overland Expo ambassadors and exhibitors wind their way to Overland Expo Mountain West 2022 through Colorado’s Alpine Loop.

For this Trips & Trails, Sterling Noren of Noren Films took Overland Expo’s 2021 Ultimate Overland Vehicle, Honda Africa Twin, on Aspen Ridge. The Honda Africa Twin will be a part of other storytelling throughout the year. Follow the 4Runner’s adventures on its official landing page.
Looking for more ways to connect with others? Join one of the many overland groups traveling together before or after the show.
Expedition Portal | American Adventurist | ADVride| Overland Bound
Looking for a scenic route that uses dirt, gravel, and paved roads to wind through remote parts of the region?
Camp on the grounds. This is where overlanders belong. Set up your rooftop tent, meet your neighbors and swap route notes around the fire. On-site camping puts you steps from the first session and the last conversation of the night. No commute. No missing out.
Book a room in Brighton or Denver. Brighton has hotels minutes from the venue. Denver adds hundreds more within a 30-minute drive. Reserve early. Rooms near the grounds fill fast.
Additional Hotel Search Options:
EXPO HOUSING SERVICES
WARNING: This is not a legitimate company. If you are contacted by them, do not use their services.
We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Brighton.
RV PARKS IN THE BRIGHTON AREA:
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
In order to keep our culture of off-the-beaten-path travel alive and well, all on-site camping is restricted to motorcycles, tents, overland vehicles, and small overland trailers ONLY.
CAMPGROUNDS IN THE AREA:
NATIONAL FOREST CAMPGROUNDS
The Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest offers several campgrounds, click HERE for a list of campgrounds.
DISPERSED CAMPING
Dispersed camping is allowed in the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest. More Info.
Land in Denver. Hit the Rockies. Flying in for Mountain West? Brighton’s location near the Denver metro area makes it easier to pair your expo trip with a rental vehicle, local pickup, or a longer Colorado moto itinerary before or after the event.
Although motorcycle rentals are not available locally in Brighton, you can fly to the surrounding areas and rent adventure motorcycles at:
Denver, CO – Eagle Rider
Aurora, CO – Colorado Tour Bikes
Denver, CO – Twisted Roads (motorcycle sharing community)
Enjoy a ride through Rocky Mountain National Park or any of the front range mountains before or after Overland Expo.
Brighton puts you within reach of both urban and outdoor Colorado experiences. Stay close to the venue, head into Denver for an extra day, or use the weekend as the start of a longer Front Range adventure.
Riverdale Regional Park connects to the South Platte River Trail, making it a convenient option for attendees who want to go for a walk, spin out on a bike, or get some fresh air close to camp or the venue.
If you want time outside before or after the event, Barr Lake State Park is a solid nearby stop for scenic drives, birdwatching, walking trails, and stretching your legs away from the showgrounds. The park has 21 miles of trails, a large wildlife area, and mountain-and-plains views that fit the overland mindset.
For a quick, easy outdoor side trip, take the 1.3-mile walk from the Nature Center to the Gazebo Boardwalk at Barr Lake State Park. It’s a good pick for attendees who want a low-effort nature stop, wildlife viewing, and a break from being in the vehicle all day.
Visit Berry Patch Farms, a local favorite for seasonal produce, pick-your-own fruit and flowers, and a relaxed farm setting that feels distinctly Colorado. It’s an easy way to slow down, stock up on something fresh, and enjoy a quieter side of Brighton beyond the event.
Brighton and the greater north metro/Denver corridor give attendees plenty of options for coffee, quick breakfasts, post-show dinners, and stock-up runs before heading back onto the road.
Keep the morning simple and close to the park. Dutch Bros Coffee has Brighton locations at 120 W Bridge St. and 2167 Prairie Center Parkway, both set up for quick pickup and drive-thru convenience.
If you want a more local café feel, Main Street Cafe is one of Brighton’s better-rated breakfast and coffee stops.
When you need something easy, stick with dependable local options. La Estrellita Mexican Restaurant is one of Brighton’s top-rated local restaurants, and Qdoba Mexican Grill is a solid quick-stop lunch option.
This is the stop most attendees will actually need. The most practical resupply run is in Brighton proper and along the Prairie Center Parkway / Bridge Street commercial area, where you’ll find the kind of everyday stops that make it easy to grab fuel, groceries, ice, snacks, and last-minute camp essentials without going far off route.
After a full day outdoors, keep dinner easy but worthwhile. Visit The Grill 165 North Main Street and Copper Rail Bar and Grill for classic sit-down option.
The community is already booking. Rigs are getting prepped. Bikes are getting reserved. The only question left is whether you’ll be on the grounds or hearing about it later.
Don’t ride this one from the sidelines.
Register now. Then plan your route.
Tickets coming soon!
Last Overland Expo of the year. You’ve been meaning to go. Now’s the time. 🔥
Less than 10 Premium Camping passes remain. Moto, General Camping, and Day Passes are still available.
🎟️ Buy tickets using the link in bio.
Overland Expo East
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
📅 October 23-25, 2026
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Home is wherever you park it. 🏕️
Comfort was built in from the start. @Breeo, @Jetboil, @PittmanOutdoors, @Taruca_USA and @TRAVOCA.US round out the 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle with everything you need once you arrive. Smokeless nights around the fire, hot meals after a long day, a mattress built for real rest, an awning and shower enclosure for shade and privacy, and a cooler that keeps food fresh miles from the store.
Rugged truck by day, cozy camp by night.
Come fall, this build crosses the Bring a Trailer auction block—with every dollar going to the @OverlandExpoFoundation.
What`s your must-have for a comfortable camp?
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Built different—because the destination demands it.
@offgridtrailers designs, builds and tests its adventure trailers in North America for the terrain true overlanders explore. Rugged construction, four-season capability and purpose-built off-road systems create a dependable basecamp that can follow the adventure beyond the pavement.
The goal isn’t simply getting a trailer through the trail. It’s giving explorers the confidence to go farther, stay longer and discover what awaits at the other end.
Capability must be earned.
#OffGridTrailers #OverlandExpo #BuiltDifferent #Overlanding #EscapeCivilization
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Some people collect hobbies. Brock collects adventures.
Navy diver. Underwater photographer. Land Rover builder. He`s rebuilding a 1984 Land Rover 110 V8 and a 1971 Santana Series 2A, and he still makes time to dive WWII crash sites with Project Recover.
Oh, and that dive watch he designed? Sold out in 24 hours.
Catch him and his Series 2A at the Zarges USA booth at Overland Expo East. Come talk Rovers, diving and everything in between.
Read his full story on The Compass. Link in bio. 🧭
IG: @deepsea.edc
#OverlandExpo #Overlanding #CommunitySpotlight #TheCompass
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The absolute best way to deploy @Pro_Eagle`s Off-Road Jack Stands 2.0 is directly underneath a lifted rig, securely suspending it high in the air during heavy trail maintenance.
Frankly, trusting a massive overland vehicle to generic car stands is a terrifyingly bad idea. By utilizing these wide-base, six-ton rated steel supports equipped with grip-enhancing Topography Pads, overlanders can safely execute extreme repairs on unpredictable terrain.
This uncompromising security profoundly enhances adventure, ensuring drivers spend zero time worrying about equipment failure and all their energy getting back to exploring the wild.
#ProEagle #OffRoadJackStands #OverlandSafety #TrailMaintenance #HeavyDutyRecovery
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You`ve been there. You reach for your jack in soft sand or deep mud, and it just sinks right when you need it most. Our latest Industry Spotlight features Pro Eagle, the off-road jack built to solve exactly that. 🛻
Every @pro_eagle jack features an integrated skid plate that helps keep it from sinking, plus extensions that reach high-clearance frames up to 35.5 inches. Founders Austin Su and Chuck Foreman couldn`t find a real jack for heavy-duty rigs back in 2011, so they built their own.
Read the full story on The Compass, linked in our bio. 🧭
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Weekend plans: exist. Bigger plans: Overland Expo East. 😎
Come for the gear, stay for the community.
Forest camping is sold out. General and moto camping is still available! Buy tickets using the link in bio.
📍 Oak Ridge Estate, Arrington, Virginia
📅 October 23-25, 2026
#OverlandExpo #East #Overlanding #CampLife #Virginia
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School’s back, and the best lessons don’t happen behind a screen. 📚
At Mountain West, you picked up ideas around trail cooking, navigation, and life on the road from people who know it best. Next stop: Overland Expo East in Arrington, VA, Oct. 23–25 at the Oak Ridge Estate.
🎟️ Buy your tickets through the link in bio. Don`t wait, Forest camping is already sold out.
#OverlandExpo #East #Overlanding #Education #Virginia
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Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo MTN in Loveland, CO.
Photo by @TheAdventurePortal