High-Thrill, Transcontinental Journey Across Various landscapes Aboard a Subaru Crosstrek
The TransAmerica Trail (TAT) presents an exciting adventure for those seeking to traverse the vast and diverse landscapes of the United States. For one seasoned off-roader, the journey was undertaken in a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, a compact crossover that proved to be a worthy platform for the challenge.
Challenges
The TAT spans over 7,100 miles, with about 3,100 miles on unpaved roads, mountain trails, and desert byways. This rugged terrain can be demanding for a small crossover like the Crosstrek Wilderness. Careful driving, slow speeds, and smart line choices are essential, especially in rocky areas of California and Utah.
The vehicle's limitations also presented challenges. Although capable, the Crosstrek Wilderness lacks low-range gearing and might struggle with power and oxygen deprivation at very high altitudes. Minor lifts and slightly larger tires were added to improve off-road capability, but there are inherent limits due to the vehicle size and powertrain (CVT).
To handle the trail safely, the vehicle required modifications such as upgraded skid plates, all-terrain tires, recovery gear, lighting upgrades, additional power solutions, and roof-top storage/camping gear. Without at least some of these upgrades, vehicle underbody damage and performance risks increase significantly. Moreover, being a compact crossover, space for camping gear, spare fuel, and recovery equipment is limited, demanding careful packing and organization to maintain comfort while traveling long distances.
Rewards
Despite these challenges, the Crosstrek Wilderness handled the entire overland journey with zero mechanical issues, showing strong durability and surprising off-pavement capability when carefully driven. On paved sections, the vehicle remained comfortable and fun to drive, with effective air conditioning that proved valuable during hot conditions encountered en route.
Traveling the TransAmerica Trail offers exposure to varied scenery — from coastal vistas to mountains, deserts, prairies, and rural towns — providing a rich adventure experience that few routes offer within the U.S. With the proper modifications, the Crosstrek Wilderness can be a surprisingly good platform for overland adventure, allowing travelers to camp comfortably and venture off the beaten path without requiring a large, specialized 4x4 vehicle.
The journey was not without its obstacles. There were 39 total deviations due to various obstacles such as downed trees, closed roads, washed-out bridges, flooding, wildfires, and a sinkhole on the last leg in Oregon. However, the Crosstrek Wilderness proved adaptable, navigating these challenges with the help of tools and apps such as paper maps, a Garmin Tread Overland Edition, onX to check dispersed camping, wildfires, and trail conditions, and Quad Lock mounts to secure phones while scrolling through critical information.
In summary, crossing the U.S. on the TransAmerica Trail with a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is challenging due to rugged terrain and required vehicle prep/modifications but rewarding owing to the car's reliability, nimbleness, and the thrilling exposure to America's backcountry and freedom of adventure travel. The Ecoflow DELTA 3 Plus and 800W Alternator Charger were impressive for off-grid power, allowing the car to start every morning and the ARB fridge/freezer to keep food and drinks at the right temperatures.
While the TAT was originally intended for adventure motorcycles, four-wheel drive adventure vehicles, such as trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs, have also taken on the route. The official TAT route runs east to west, starting on the Atlantic Ocean Spur in Nags Head, N.C., and ending on the Pacific Ocean Spur in Port Orford, Ore., with a total length of approximately 7,100 miles. Sam Correro, a Mississippi pharmacist and adventure motorcycle enthusiast, created the TAT in the mid-1980s. Today, he sells TAT maps on the TransAmerica Trail website, which are available as paper sheets, turn-by-turn paper roll charts, and digital GPX files.
