Reading a trail rating before you book
Green, blue, black: what park ratings really mean for your rig, your tires, and your nerves.
Wheel It Team
Trail ratings are not universal. A blue at one park is a black at another. Here is how to read them like a local.
What ratings measure
Ratings blend obstacle size, off-camber exposure, and what happens when it rains. They assume a capable driver in a stock-plus rig with recovery points.
The honest questions
- Ground clearance: can you clear a 12-inch ledge without sliders?
- Tires: all-terrains handle most greens and blues. Mud terrains earn their keep on black.
- Lockers: not required until the trail says so. When it says so, believe it.
When in doubt
Book the easier ride day and walk the hard line. Guides at every Wheel It park will point out the bypass, and nobody has ever been laughed at for taking it. Rigs that go home on trailers took the hard line on the first visit.
Every trail page on this site shows its terrain and difficulty, straight from the operator.
