What’s the difference between a backroad and a byway. For the most part byways are routes that a passenger vehicle or street motorcycle can easily travel. Backroads are more rugged and usually require a high clearance vehicle, four-wheel drive or a dualsport motorcyle (or dirt bike where legal) to safely travel the route.

There are exceptions to this rule. The byways are usually listed in books and web sites as byways. The backroads are listed as such in books and web sites on back country travel.

Some backroads are referred to as Type II byways: A Type II byway is a byway that requires high-clearance vehicles. The road is not paved, although its dirt and gravel surface is routinely graded by the county. Grades, curves, and road surface can be negotiated with a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle without undue difficulty. During rain and snow seasons the road is likely to be impassable.

Early Garmin Units

Until very recently, Garmin would not let you store track logs to a saved track file. All track log data was store as the active log. (Applies to units before the GPS V and other newer units). So track logs on the older units will have to be loaded up as an active track file and saved. Otherwise, you will run out of room in your active log for all the track log data that you might want to save.

Up through Treknow Release 2.1, all of the track logs were reduced to 250 points or less to match the Garmin requirements of early units. With TrekNow Release 3.0 track logs are supplied as active (maximum resolution), 700 point, 500 point and 250 point saved track logs.

Trail Technical Ratings:

1 - Graded dirt road. Dry, or less than 3" water crossing depth. Gentle grades. 2WD under all conditions except snow. No width problems, two vehicles wide.

2 - Dirt road. Dry, or less than 3" water crossing depth. Some ruts. Slight grades, up to 10 degrees. 2WD under most conditions. Rain or snow may make 4WD necessary. Usually one and a half to two vehicles wide.

3 - Dirt road. Rutted, washes, or gulches. Water crossings up to 6" depth. Passable mud. Grades up to 10 degrees. Small rocks or holes. 4WD recommended but 2WD possible under good conditions and with adequate ground clearance and skill. No width problems for any normal vehicle. Vehicle passing spots frequently available if less than two vehicles wide.

4 - Rutted and/or rocky road. No shelves but rocks to 9". Water crossings usually less than hub deep. Passable mud. Grades moderate, up to 15 degrees. Side hill moderate up to 15 degrees. 4WD under most conditions. No width problems, vehicle passing spots frequently available if less than two vehicles wide.

5 - Rutted and/or rocky road. No shelves. Rocks up to 12" and water crossings up to 12" with possible currents. Passable mud. Moderate grades to 15 degrees. 6" holes. Side hill to 20 degrees. 4WD required. No width problems.

6 - Quite rocky or deep ruts. Rocks to 12" and frequent. Water crossings may exceed hub depth with strong currents. Shelves to 6". Mud may require checking before proceeding. Moderate grades to 20 degrees. Sidehill may approach 30 degrees. 4WD necessary and second attempts may be required with stock vehicles. Caution may be required with wider vehicles.

7 - Rocks frequent and large, 12" and may exceed hub height. Holes frequent or deep (12"). Shelves to 9". Mud 8" deep and may be present on uphill sections. Grades to 25 degrees and sidehill to 30 degrees. Water crossings to 18" and may have strong currents. 1-1/2 vehicles wide. 4WD required. Driver experience helpful.

8 - Heavy rock and/or severe ruts. Rocks exceeding hub height frequent. Shelves to 12". Deep mud or uphill mud sections. Steep grades to 25 degrees and can be loose or rocky. Water crossings may exceed 30" in depth. Side hill to 30 degrees. One vehicle wide. Body damage possible. Experience needed. Vehicle Modifications helpful.

9 - Severe rock over 15". Frequent deep holes over 15". Shelves over 15". Mud bog conditions (long, deep, no form bottom). Over 30" water crossings with strong currents. Steep grades over 30 degrees. Sidehill over 30 degrees. May not be passable by stock vehicles. Experience essential. Body damage, mechanical breakdown, rollover probable. Extreme caution required.

10 - Severe conditions. Extreme caution recommended. Impassable by stock vehicles. Winching required. Trail building necessary. May be impassable. Impassable under anything but ideal conditions. Vehicle damage probable. Personal injury possible. Extreme caution necessary.