Traversing Vermejo

11:00 AM: Group Meet Up | Raton Ford Dealership, Raton, New Mexico

Participants will gather at the local Ford dealership in Raton, New Mexico where the Ford Off Road team will welcome the group and conduct a trip briefing. During this time the team will review the itinerary, perform vehicle and gear checks, and ensure everyone is prepared for the journey ahead. This small private group will travel together throughout the experience with the Ford team leading the convoy and supporting the group during the entire expedition.

12:00 PM - Departure Toward Vermejo

Following the briefing, the group will depart as a convoy and begin the scenic drive toward Vermejo. This remarkable private property spans more than 550,000 acres of protected wilderness, making it one of the largest privately owned conservation landscapes in North America. As the group enters the property, the scale of the land becomes immediately apparent with expansive valleys, forests, and wide-open high country stretching in every direction.

Late Afternoon – Trail Lunch Stop

Along the journey into the property, the group will pause for a relaxed lunch stop surrounded by Vermejo’s extraordinary landscape. With 19 fishable lakes and more than 30 miles of pristine streams, the property is renowned for its abundant wildlife and pristine waters. After lunch the convoy will continue deeper into the ranch traveling along scenic backcountry roads while the Ford Off Road team keeps the group together and shares insight into the land and its history.

4:00 PM – Arrival at Camp

By late afternoon the group will arrive at camp where participants will set up their tents and settle into their base for the evening. Staff will provide a short camp orientation and overview of the next day’s adventure.

6:00 PM – Dinner at Camp

Dinner will be served at camp where the group will enjoy a hearty meal after a full day of travel and exploration. As the sun sets across the landscape, participants will have time to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of this remarkable property.  The evening concludes around the campfire where guests can unwind beneath the wide New Mexico sky. With minimal light pollution across the ranch, the stars appear incredibly vivid while the sounds of elk, deer, and other wildlife echo across the landscape.

7:00 – 8:30 AM – Cowboy Breakfast at Camp

The day begins with a traditional cowboy breakfast served at camp as the sun rises across the surrounding mountains and valleys. The group will prepare for a full day of exploration across one of the most diverse landscapes in the American West.

9:00 AM – Departure for a Full Day on the Trails

Following breakfast, the Ford Off Road team will lead the group out from camp to explore the immense Vermejo property. Throughout the day participants will travel across this extraordinary landscape experiencing the remarkable diversity of terrain that defines the ranch.
The route will take the group through four distinct climate zones ranging from alpine forests to expansive grasslands and rugged canyon country. Spanning nearly 920 square miles, Vermejo offers a rare opportunity to explore terrain that few people ever have access to. Along the way the group may encounter elk herds, bison, wild turkey, and other wildlife that thrive within this carefully protected ecosystem.

9:00 AM

Depart camp for another full day of activities and off-roading. The day will include more advanced experiences now that everyone has some experience and an increased confidence with their Ford vehicles and its capabilities. Stewardship will be the focus of the day, with examples of responsible off-roading highlighted throughout the route and during activities. Lunch will again be held on the trail, offering an opportunity for continued sharing of ideas and experiences between owners and guides. Depart camp to continue across the Nevada Outback, on a route where history comes alive in places like Double Hot Springs, Hardin City, and Murder Rock. We will eventually make camp at Soldier Meadows, where again there will be an opportunity to dip into natural hot springs right at camp.

Midday – Trailside Lunch During the Day’s Exploration

Lunch will be enjoyed out on the trail at a scenic location selected by the guide team. This relaxed midday stop offers time to enjoy the views, take photos, and soak in the incredible surroundings before continuing the journey.

5:00 PM – Dinner at Vermejo Lodge

In the late afternoon the group will arrive at the historic Vermejo Lodge where dinner will be served in a spectacular setting overlooking the surrounding mountains and valleys.
After dinner participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the sunset from the lodge veranda before traveling back to camp for their final evening together. The night concludes around the campfire where the group can share stories from the day’s adventure beneath a brilliant night sky.

7:00 – 8:00 AM – Camp Pack Up and Departure from Camp

The final morning begins with packing up camp and preparing vehicles for the journey ahead. Once camp is packed and vehicles are ready, the Ford Off Road team will lead the group to breakfast.

7:00 AM

Camp break-down, repack and prepare for the trail.

8:30 AM – Breakfast at a Unique Backcountry Location

Following departure from camp, the group will travel to a special breakfast location on the property that offers a new setting and perspective of the Vermejo landscape. Here the group will enjoy a relaxed breakfast together in a scenic location that many visitors never have the opportunity to experience.

Morning – Final Exploration Drive

Following departure from camp, the group will travel to a special breakfast location on the property that offers a new setting and perspective of the Vermejo landscape. Here the group will enjoy a relaxed breakfast together in a scenic location that many visitors never have the opportunity to experience.

Morning – Final Exploration Drive

After breakfast the Ford team will guide the group on one final exploration drive across the ranch. This final stretch of trail provides additional opportunities to experience the vast terrain, wildlife, and unique ecosystems that make Vermejo such a remarkable destination.

12:30 PM – Farewell Lunch at Vermejo Lodge

The group will arrive at the Vermejo Lodge where a farewell lunch will be shared together. This final gathering allows participants to reflect on their time exploring one of the most extraordinary private landscapes in the United States.  Before departing, guests will have the opportunity to stop by the Vermejo gift store and pick up a few souvenirs from their time on the ranch. Following lunch and a final round of goodbyes, the group will depart Vermejo and begin their journeys home after an unforgettable three-day adventure exploring this vast and carefully protected landscape alongside the Ford Off Road team.