Your First Time at Three Ridges Events: What to Expect and How to Have a Great Day on the Trails

A beginner's guide to off-roading etiquette, trail preparation, and getting the most out of your visit to Three Ridges Events in Hinsdale, NH.

If you have been thinking about trying off-roading but are not sure where to start, you are not alone. Every experienced wheeling enthusiast was a first-timer once, and the off-road community is one of the most welcoming you will find anywhere. Three Ridges Events in Hinsdale, New Hampshire was built with exactly that in mind — a place where new and experienced off-roaders can challenge themselves, learn, and connect with a great group of people.

This guide is designed to help first-time visitors understand what to expect, how to prepare, and how to be a good trail neighbor from day one.

 

 

What Three Ridges Events Is (and Isn't)

Before your first visit, please note that Three Ridges Events is an off-road Park open every weekend from spring through late fall and an occasional winter event. Three Ridges is not a leisurely drive on a Class 6 road. While the park does include trails with more moderate terrain, the majority of the trail system involves steep ups and downs — often on narrow, single-lane trails cutting through varied terrain. We do have trails that are suitable for beginners but our terrain reaches far beyond those limits.That is exactly what makes it exciting, and preparation for this adventure can be very helpful.

Three Ridges features over 6 miles of trails across 120 acres with more being cleared on a regular basis. Our trails are designed for Jeeps, and similar off-road vehicles. Please be aware that ATVs, UTVs, side-by-sides, and dirt bikes are not part of our standard operations but may be included in a dedicated event if the demand is there in the future. If you are showing up in a capable rig and you are ready to have fun, our off-road park is the right place for you.

 

Before You Arrive: The Essential Pre-Trip Checklist

Complete Your Reservation and Online Waiver in Advance

Before you arrive, make sure your reservation is confirmed and your online waiver has been completed. We require reservations at Three Ridges Events - walk-ins are not a guaranteed entry due to our limits for vehicles on the trails to ensure a healthy flow. Taking care of this necessary step ahead of your arrival helps keep check-in smooth for everyone and guarantees your spot.

Know Your Vehicle's Capabilities

Three Ridges Events has minimum vehicle standards that exist for your safety and the safety of other guests:

• 4-wheel drive required. 2WD vehicles are not allowed on the trail system.
  
• Off-road rated tires required. Highway tires do not provide adequate traction on rocky, rooted, or muddy trails and create a safety risk for you and other drivers. All-terrain (AT) or mud-terrain (MT) tires are the park standard for safe and capable trail performance.
  
• Lockers enable access to the park’s more challenging trails but are not required. Vehicles equipped with front and/or rear locking differentials can access a wider and more challenging range of trails. If your rig does not have lockers (yet), there is still plenty to explore and enjoy.
  
  

Understand the Trail Rating System

Three Ridges Events uses a color-coded trail rating system (Green/Blue/Black/Red) that range from easy to just plain wild!. Be sure to choose routes that match your vehicle and skill level. If you want to try something new, don’t be afraid to ask for some advice. Before heading out onto the trails, take a moment and review the full rating breakdown in the following link:

 https://shop.threeridgesevents.com/pages/trail-ratings

Choosing trails that match your current skill level is one of the most responsible things a new off-roader can do. There is no shame in clinging to “green” trails until you are feeling a bit more adventurous. The park was designed to be enjoyed at every stage of experience.

Bring a GMRS or FRS Radio

Cell service on the trails is limited or nonexistent. Therefore, a GMRS or FRS two-way radio is one of the most useful tools you can bring. It allows you to communicate with your group across  the trail system, coordinate around obstacles with your spotter, and reach park staff if you need assistance. We strongly recommend one for every visit - most experienced guests at Three Ridges will already have radios installed or included in their rigs.

Bring a Friend - Two Vehicle Minimum Requirement

For safety reasons, Three Ridges Events requires a minimum of two vehicles per group. Solo 4-wheelers should connect with other guests ahead of time, if possible, to join a group before hitting the trails.

The easiest place to connect is the Three Ridges Events – Off-Road Connections Facebook Group. It is our park's community hub, where guests share their planned visits, riding times,  and openings for adding vehicles to their group as well as other useful information and chat. If you are new and looking to connect with experienced 4-wheelers, this platform is a great place to start.

 

 

On the Trail: Etiquette Every New Off-Roader Should Know

Off-roading comes with its own set of written and unwritten rules that keep everyone safe and the experience enjoyable. Most are common sense, but if you have never been on a single-track trail before, it is worth learning them before you go.

Uphill Traffic Has the Right of Way

This is the most important rule on any narrow trail. If you are heading downhill and encounter a vehicle coming up, you need to yield. Pull over as the trail allows and let the other vehicle pass as uphill travel is normally more difficult than down.

There is a good reason behind this rule: A vehicle climbing a hill relies on momentum to reach the top. If it is forced to stop mid-climb, restarting on a steep grade can be difficult and even  dangerous. Backing down a narrow hill is not any easier. The downhill driver usually has more control and more options — so they yield and move aside.

Check that Narrow Sections are Clear Before You Commit

On single-lane trails, especially before tackling a steep climb or descent, take a moment to confirm the path ahead is clear. If visibility is limited by terrain, curves, or dense tree cover - the safest move is to send someone ahead on foot, or use your radio to check for oncoming traffic when possible.  Committing to a climb only to meet another vehicle halfway creates a difficult and avoidable situation for both drivers.

Use Pull-Off Areas

You will notice designated pull-off areas throughout the trail system - use them if you need to stop to check a map, assess an obstacle, handle a mechanical issue, or let faster vehicles pass. Pull completely clear of the trail when possible. Avoid parking in the middle of a trail or anywhere you cannot be seen from a distance. Always exercise caution as another rig may be approaching from a direction you do not expect.

Signal Your Group Size to Oncoming Vehicles

When you are passing another group on the trail, signal the amount of vehicles behind you in your group. The standard practice is for the lead driver to provide hand signals indicating how many vehicles are following. When the last vehicle in your group passes, the driver of that vehicle raises a closed fist to signal the tail end. It is a simple gesture that prevents confusion on narrow trails.

Allow Space for the Vehicle in Front of You

Tailgating in an off-road setting is dangerous. Always leave enough space from the vehicle in front of you to allow for room in case of  traction loss, roll backs, slippery slopes or sudden stops. This is especially important on steep climbs with little to no room to maneuver.

Do Not Pressure Yourself — or Others — Into Obstacles

If you reach an obstacle and are not comfortable attempting it, that is a completely valid call. Take a bypass if one is available or share your situation with others to find a solution. If you have made a few attempts and a line of rigs has formed behind you, offer to pull aside and let others through. This will give your time to regroup, and reassess. There should be no judgment in that — it is considered good trail etiquette.

By the same token,never pressure other drivers into attempting something they are not comfortable with. Sometimes peer pressure on the trail can lead to recovery needs, and can be dangerous.

If Someone Is Stuck, Stop and Help

The off-road community runs on mutual aid. If you come across a vehicle that is stuck or has broken down, stop and offer assistance. The off-road community is one of the friendliest and most helpful groups of people you will ever meet. Looking out for one another on the trails are simply the basics

Stay on Marked Trails

Do not blaze your own path. Driving off-trail damages vegetation, causes erosion, creates ruts that worsen with every rain, and can put you in terrain you are not equipped to handle. Three Ridges Events has a well-developed trail system. Be respectful and stay on the trails.

Pack It In, Pack It Out

Leave nothing behind on the trail. Not a wrapper, not a drink bottle, not a cigarette butt. The park and the surrounding environment deserves the same respect as any natural area. This is a shared space and keeping it clean is everyone's responsibility and goes a long way in ensuring it stays open and enjoyable for everyone.

 

A Few Final Notes for First-Timers

Bring recovery basics. Even if you never need them, having a tow strap, a set of shackles, and basic tools in your rig is good practice. Many experienced off-roaders also carry a portable air compressor and a tire plug kit. There can be a lot to consider for preparation and there is a ton of information about this online.

Wear appropriate footwear. If you step out of your vehicle to spot for another driver or check an obstacle on foot, you want boots or sturdy shoes — not sandals or sneakers.

Manage your expectations for the first visit. Your first day at Three Ridges may not be the most technically ambitious run of your life, and that is fine. Learn the trail system, watch others and learn,  meet people, get a feel for how everything works, and come back for more fun.

Read the full rules before your visit. The complete Three Ridges Events rules can be found in the link below and should be reviewed before you arrive:

https://shop.threeridgesevents.com/pages/rules

 

Ready to Wheel?

Three Ridges Events was developed for people who love the outdoors and want to run the trails they are comfortable with, or push themselves and their rigs. Three Ridges Events and Off-road Park is designed to be a welcoming, community-driven environment. Whether you have been wheeling for years or you are getting your first taste of off-roading fun, the trails here offer something real — not a theme-park version of adventure, but true adventure and challenges should you care to partake.

With a little preparation, the right equipment, and an understanding of how to be a good trail neighbor, your first visit will be the beginning of something amazing.

Make your reservation and complete your waiver at: ThreeRidgesEvents.com
You can also join the conversation in the Three Ridges Events – Off-Road Connections Facebook Group.

We will see you on the trails.

Questions? Contact us at info@ThreeRidgesEvents.com