Have you ventured to your local Nissan dealer to get a better look at the all-new 2022 Frontier? Enjoying its first major update in nearly two decades, the 2022 Frontier expertly blends rugged capability with affordability and innovation. It’s the right-sized pickup truck for all your needs, especially when it’s time to venture off the pavement and down the trail.
The 2022 Frontier‘s best-in-class standard 310-horsepower V6 engine and shift-on-the-fly 4WD inspired us to explore some of the best off-road venues across the country. From Death Valley and Moab to Bald Eagle State Forest and beyond, these sites are the ultimate playground for the newly redesigned Frontier. So let’s take a closer look at where and how you can answer the call of the wild and blaze a new Frontier in Nissan’s best-selling truck!
#1 – Death Valley National Park, California
California’s Death Valley National Park is one of the most popular off-road venues in America. Stretching across 3.4 million acres, the park is a hotspot of recreation, adventure, and exploration. It’s home to nearly 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads that are ideal for all skill levels and wind around beautiful vistas and reveal hidden canyons that the average visitor will never see. A few favorites include Lookout City, the legendary Modoc mine, and the infamous Manson Ranch, where Charlie Manson hid from law enforcement decades ago.
As its name implies, Death Valley National Park can be brutal during the summer. After all, it’s the hottest and driest national location in America. Its hot temperatures and extreme terrain make off-roading during the summer months especially challenging. As a result, many veteran adventurers recommend visiting the park in the spring or early winter for the best experience.
#2 – Moab, Utah
In the off-road realm, no experience is complete without a trip to Moab, Utah. Praised as the most off-road friendly location in America, Moab is entirely surrounded by off-road trails that make it the apex of adventure. It’s renowned for its old mining roads and slick rocks that challenge the most experienced adventurers. Throughout these trails, you’ll find plenty to see and experience, such as the petroglyphs along the Poison Spider Mesa or the stunning vista from the heights of Paiute.
Because Moab is incredibly diverse and stretches across 1.8 million acres of public land, expert off-roaders encourage visitors to plan their routes ahead of their trip and travel with a group. By planning ahead, you limit the number of surprises on the trail, especially those that require technical maneuvers that might be beyond your current skill level. This is also why experts encourage off-roaders to travel in groups since anything can happen on the trail, and cell service is often scarce. Adventures are also much more fun with friends, so it’s not a difficult ask.
# 3 – Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho
The state known for its potatoes is also renowned for hidden gems like the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Stretching across 756,000 acres, Idaho’s beloved park offers some of the best off-road trails imaginable. These trails run over hundreds of miles, traversing through valleys and 40 peaks that rise over 10,000 feet in elevation. From the peaks, you’ll find some of the most breathtaking views that are only bettered by the tranquility of the Baumgartner area at the base of the South Fork Boise River, where you can even enjoy a swimming hole and natural hot spring. What a great way to end a day on the trail!
While enjoying the trail and everything the area offers, you’ll also encounter plenty of wildlife since it’s home to over 300 species from black bears and beavers. If you’re looking to take a break from off-roading, there’s plenty to do beyond the driver’s seat. You can spend your evenings fishing in the river, go whitewater rafting with friends, rent a canoe for a slow float, or get up close and personal with a nature hike.
#4 – Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a haven for off-roaders and outdoor enthusiasts. With hundreds of miles of trails, you can navigate to the serene landscape of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron or head toward the breathtaking Tahquamenon Falls, the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. You’ll find plenty to see along the way, from abandoned railroad tracks and deserted beaches to the legendary Drummond Island Trail.
Known for its treacherous terrain, Drummond Island Trail is a must for experienced off-roaders. It stretches across 40 miles of steep, narrow terrain that seamlessly takes you from the dense forest to open meadows and expansive vistas. Beyond challenging your trail-driving skills, Drummond Island also entices your sense of adventure with beautiful landmarks like the Steps at Marble Head that give you a peek into Canada’s vast landscape.
#5 – Hidden Falls Adventure Park, Texas
The Lone Star State has plenty to offer off-roaders, proving that its landscape includes more than the west Texas desert. The Hidden Falls Adventure Park is located about 60 miles outside of Austin and is home to over 200 miles of off-road trails designed for off-road rigs like the Frontier. Throughout the park, you can test your skills on different types of terrain, enjoy stunning waterfalls and iconic Texas scenery, and even take a dip in one of the many natural springs.
Off-roaders especially love Hidden Falls Adventure Park because of its many amenities and its proximity to the bustling city of Austin. If you’re planning to stay in the park, you have plenty of options and can rent a cabin or bunkhouse, set up camp, or park your RV. You can even rent dirt bikes and ATVs for an adventure beyond the confines of your Frontier.
#6 – Ocala National Forest, Florida
Traveling further south, you’ll find plenty of off-road adventures in Florida, which is home to Ocala National Forest. Stretching across 600 square miles, Ocala is the state’s second-largest and most visited national forest. What makes it so popular?
Ocala is home to the latest concentration of sand pine in the world, one of the largest scrub habitats in the state, and over 500 natural lakes and ponds. Its terrain is a mixture of dirt, sand, and rock, making it diverse enough for off-roaders of all skill levels. For many, Ocala is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets because it allows off-roaders to slow down, hone their skills, and take in the scenery. The only caveat is that the humid Florida heat can be brutal, making the 81-mile stretch known as The Four Wheel Drive Way a real challenge for those new to Florida’s scorching temperatures.
A New Frontier
The 2022 Nissan Frontier is the ultimate adventurer, using its smaller size to its advantage by making it easy to maneuver in town and on the trail. It’s the right-sized pickup for all your needs, especially when it’s time to answer the call of the wild. Nissan guarantees as much by equipping the truck with everything you need both on and off the trail, including advanced safety features, upgraded suspension, a four-wheel limited-slip system for optimal traction, and exclusive off-road components like Bilstein off-road shock absorbers and skid plates in the PRO-4X trim.
What’s even more enticing about the Frontier is that it offers endless options for customization. It’s easy to outfit the truck to your needs, whether you’re towing an ATV to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan or heading further south to Florida’s Ocala National Forest. Wherever you’re headed, the Frontier will match your sense of adventure mile for mile and trail for trail.
