First Overland Adventure: Snowflakes and Bouncing Babies
Bill Dragoo recounts his first overland adventure. In the fall of 1980, Bill bullheadedly dragged his young family up Pearl Pass, the wrong direction, in a Jeep CJ-7 in a blizzard.
GUIDE TOLOVELAND, CO
Overland Expo MOUNTAIN WEST is located in Loveland, Colorado near the Rocky Mountains, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Denver, CO.
AUGUST 23-25, 2024
THE RANCH // LOVELAND, CO, USA
FRI 8-5 | SAT 8-5 | SUN 9-3
ABOUT THE VENUE
THE RANCH
Since 2003, The Ranch Events Complex has been earning the reputation as one of the premier event and entertainment complexes in the region. With the ability to host anything from a board meeting to tens of thousands of music festival fans, the multi-purpose venues on the campus of The Ranch are not only known locally as a place for entertainment but is also a nationally recognized event destination.
DRIVING TIMES TO THE RANCH:
- Denver, CO via I-25: 1 hr
- Cheyenne, WY via I-25: 1 hr
- Salt Lake City, UT via I-80 to I-25: 7 hrs
- Amarillo, TX via US 287 to I-70: 7 hrs
- Albuquerque, NM via I-25: 7 hrs
OVERLAND ROUTES & RESOURCES
Tales from the Trail: Colorado’s Alpine Loop
A group of Overland Expo ambassadors and exhibitors wind their way to Overland Expo Mountain West 2022 through Colorado’s Alpine Loop.
Trips & Trails: Moody Hill Road – FSR #513
If you are looking for a quick, scenic trail on the way into or the way
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.
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?
ACCOMODATIONS
HOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS
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.
NEARBY RV PARKS
We do not allow motorhomes / RVs to camp on-site. It’s best to book a real RV park near Loveland.
RV PARKS IN THE LOVELAND AREA:
Check out reviews of various RV Parks and Campgrounds in the area.
CAMPING
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.
FOOD & DRINK
THE COFFEE TREE
Where good things grow! The Coffee Tree is dedicated to serving the best coffee. Their coffees are freshly-roasted and expertly prepared in the artisan fashion, with an emphasis on quality, presentation and efficient friendly service.
BENT FORK THE GRILL
A locally-owned independent restaurant, Bent Fork the Grill serves a diverse offering of traditional dishes that are inventive, fresh, and flavorful in a distinctive environment of casual sophistication.
NORDY’S BAR-B-QUE & GRILL
For over 25 years, the Nordhagen family has been working on and serving up hungry people in Northern Colorado. Out from their hickory pit smoker comes the most mouth-watering, slow-cooked ribs, brisket, sausage, and pork that you have ever tasted.
THE DONUT HAUS
Come for donuts, leave with love! The story of The Donut Haus began more than 3 decades ago in Estes Park, Colorado where German baker, Dieter D’Alquen, started making donuts in an old gas station. Today, you find Lois and Mary Ann at their “haus” in Orchards Shopping Center where they serve fresh handmade donuts, bagels, pies, cakes, brownies, breakfast burritos, and more.
ARTE PIZZERIA
Arte Pizzeria has been proudly serving the best pizza, calzones and salads in Loveland, Colorado for over a decade. We are a family owned business, and our artisan recipes are crafted with Italian traditions, a focus on quality and excellent customer service. We shred our own whole milk mozzarella cheese, grind our own pizza sauce, and only use the freshest ingredients.
THINGS TO DO
Not sure what you want to do, but want to know what is available in the area? Visit Loveland has suggestions for the art lover, foodie, adventurer and more. The Ranch can also help you Plan Your Visit to Loveland and make the most of your time in Northern Colorado. Colorado is full of adventure. Looking to travel before or after the show? Colorado Tourism can help you plan your travels.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARKS
No trip to Colorado is complete without a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. Only one hour from The Ranch, let this park take your breath away with beautiful vistas, wildlife around every corner, and starry dark sky nights. These 10 hikes will get you and enjoying the best of Rocky Mountain National Park.
HIKING
Get lost in the beautiful pine forests of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest with a great hike! Limitless options are available at Hiking Project.
Southern Colorado is home to the Colorado Trail, 485 miles of recreational trail that crosses Colorado from Denver to Durango.
Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail is right outside of Loveland, perfect for a morning or evening trek.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Colorado is home to 4 of the 5 best mountain biking destinations in the country. View the list on Singletracks.com. Bicycle rentals and guides available. Use Velolet to find a shop wherever you find yourself in Colorado.
MTB Project or Singletracks also have maps and suggestions for great trails in Colorado.
FISHING
The City of Loveland is surrounded by a number of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. You don’t have to venture very far to find a great place to fish.
Species: Trout, walleye, bass, perch, bluegill, catfish, and more
Take a guided trip with Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters LLC. Let them show you the best well-kept secrets in Northern Colorado.
Fly & Ride
Where to rent motorcycles?
Although motorcycle rentals are not available locally in Loveland, 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.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW #OVERLANDEXPO
Testing the 2023 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro 🛞
Rick Stowe shares his overlanding experience with the full-size SUV. Is the TRD Pro Sequoia a one-rig solution for overlanders?
Tap the link in our bio to read his review and to learn more about the vehicle’s off-road capabilities on The Compass🧭🔗
@rick_stowe @toyotausa #overlandexpo #toyotasequoiatrdpro #toyotasequoia #overlanding #carreview
One Grill, three fuel sources, unlimited potential. Cook right over a live campfire, with propane, or with charcoal as a grill or smoker.🔥
The ultra-portable @grillgame G1 gets further off the beaten path to enjoy the best BBQ ever cooked up out in the middle of nowhere. Fire restrictions or burn ban in place? No Problem. Choose which of four configurations best suits the circumstances and set up is complete in under a minute. After grilling, the G1 quickly breaks down and packs up to fit within its lid, saving valuable space in the rig while delivering the most options to grill and smoke.
Unmatched versatility and portability, the G1 is the ultimate outdoor grilling multi-tool. Link in our bio to learn more.🔗
#overlandexpo #grillgame #grillgameg1 #g1 #overlanding
The @overlandexpofoundation is wrapping up a busy year of working on projects nationwide that aim to improve access to backcountry areas for overland travelers🏕️
Special thanks to @wildernessvolunteers, @treadlightlyteam, @teamoverland, & @twowolffoundation for the incredible collaborative projects with the foundation in 2023.👏
Tap the link in our bio to read the latest on these projects and to learn more about the Overland Expo Foundation and partners.🔗
📸 @whosjohnallen
#overlandexpo #overlandexpofoundation #treadlightly #teamoverland #twowolffoundation #wildernessvolunteers
Is a refrigerator really necessary for your overland journeys?
While the overland market and social media bombard us with ads promoting the need for a 12V fridge/freezer, it’s not always essentials. Sure, fridges can be a game changer for off-grid travel or hot climates. However, depending on your adventure frequency, a fridge might be too much.
In our latest blog article, the staff presents you with alternatives that allow you to reallocate your travel funds towards upgrading suspension or fueling up for more miles of adventure!
Tap the link in our bio to read more.🔗
📸 @canyoncoolers / @touratechusa / @mytickettoride
#overlandexpo #overlandcooler #overlandfridge #canyoncoolers #campgear
Choosing tires for your adventure motorcycle is a complex topic🏍️🤔
In the latest episode of Overland Essentials, @evarupert discusses factors to consider when choosing the right tire, and what to look for when buying your motorcycle tires for your preferred terrain when exploring.
Making the best choice will help you maintain grip, traction, and control on your adventure motorcycle so you can focus on riding and less time worrying about the tires’ capabilities.
Tap the link in our bio or head over to our YouTube channel to watch the full episode!🔗
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#overlandessentials #advmotorcycle #adventuremotorcycle #motorcycletires #adventuremoto #overlandexpo
We are excited to present our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide!🎉
Looking for the perfect gift for the overlander in your life? Look no further! We’ve got over 40 items that will excite even the most well-outfitted explorers! Don’t forget, this gift guide also makes for some amazing self-shopping.😉
Browse this year’s collection by clicking the link in our bio and make this holiday season the most adventurous one yet!🔗🛒
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Photo by: Devos Outdoor
#holidaygiftguide #holidaygiftguide2023 #overlandexpo #overlandgear #overlandgifts
Ready for the adVANture of a lifetime?😉 Check out the all-new @vandoitco MOOV van, designed for the daring duo in search of travel, ultimate flexibility, and freedom!
In a cooperative effort with @ford, the purpose-built two-seater interior coupled with its off-road capabilities makes this van a game-changer for the overlanding community.🙌
Curious to learn more? Tap the link in our bio to read about all the details.🔗
#vandoit #moov #moovplatform #moovvan #vandoitco #overlandexpo #thecompass
We’re so proud of our long-time Overland Expo team members, @mytickettoride & @evarupert, for their incredible performance at the Rebelle Rally!🏁
They scored an impressive 35 out of 65 total teams and 9th out of 26 rookie teams!👏
Head over to our website to read our exclusive interview with these amazing competitors!🔗
📸 Regine Trias @reginetrias
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#rebellerally #rebelle #offroadrally #overlandexpo
THE WORLD IS OUT THERE GO SEE IT!
Join attendees from all over the world at this year’s Overland Expo MTN in Loveland, CO.
Photo by @TheAdventurePortal