Everyone has to start somewhere, and for aspiring off-roaders that somewhere should be on some of the beginner Jeep trails found throughout Oklahoma. There are plenty of exciting options near Tulsa in 2025, with a mix of scenic routes, light technical challenges and welcoming trail communities. We’ve put together a list of five of the best options you should consider as a beginner, but anyone can visit! Check them out and let us know if you end up visiting any of them, we love to hear great off-roading stories here at LiftedJeeps.com!
Tsalagi Trail East
Location: Cherokee Nation, east of Tulsa
Length: ~58 miles
Best Time to Visit: Spring through Fall
At nearly 60 miles long, Tsalagi Trail East is a great introduction to long-distance trail driving. This route winds through a scenic section of the Cherokee Nation and offers a mix of gravel and dirt roads with minimal obstacles. It’s ideal for stock or lightly modified Jeeps and gives you a taste of Oklahoma’s rural beauty without pushing your limits.
Mountain Road
Location: Near Disney, OK
Length: 0.5 miles
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, but avoid after heavy rain
Barely even a trail, Mountain Road connects five more involved trails together — including Ridge Runner and Off the Beatin Path. It’s mostly straightforward, making it perfect for practicing basic off-road techniques, but it can get muddy in wet conditions so be careful. Perhaps this is the perfect time to test your traction and recovery gear?
Stage Coach Trail
Location: Off-road park near Owasso, OK
Length: 0.8 miles
Best Time to Visit: Year-round
Another connector trail, Stage Coach is often treated as a warm-up or cool-down loop for the more advanced routes it brings together. It’s short and sweet, so would also make a great spot for beginners, especially considering there are also plenty of places to park and watch more experienced drivers tackle the tougher terrain of nearby trails.
Beer Drinker Trail
Location: Forested area near Tulsa
Length: 1.5 miles
Best Time to Visit: Spring through Fall
A little bit longer than some of the connector trails we’ve already covered, Beer Drinker also introduces some stretches of rocks when you’re ready to tackle something a little bit tougher. Outside of the rocks, it represents a great place to practice your throttle control and simply enjoy the incredible scenery of Oklahoma.
Winfield Lake Track
Location: Winfield, KS
Length: 7 miles
Best Time to Visit: Spring through Fall
If you’re comfortable crossing state lines, you could head a couple hours northwest of Tulsa into Kansas to find an excellent beginner trail. It has a very low technical rating, the lowest of any of the trails we’ve covered in fact, though it does require a $5 fee to use the trail for the day.
Tips for First-Time Off-Roaders
Now that we’ve covered some of the best beginner trails, we thought we’d leave you with some tips for first-time off-roaders.
- Check your tire pressure! Did you know that lowering your PSI can actually improve traction in off-road settings? Check out our best tire pressure guide to learn more.
- Don’t forget to bring recovery gear, because things can go wrong even on the easiest of trails — especially if you’re new to this! A tow strap, shovel and traction boards can come in clutch.
- Even the most experienced off-road enthusiasts typically travel in groups, so be sure to bring a buddy with you. It’s much safer that way, and you’ll probably have even more fun.
- Finally, know your limits. If a trail looks sketchy or more difficult than you can handle, there’s absolutely no shame in turning around. You’ll gain confidence with experience!