Yahoo Autos National Park Service Warns Subaru Driver for Taking AWD Car on 4WD Trail
It may be common knowledge amongst car enthusiasts, but the layperson would likely be quite surprised to learn that four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive aren't the same thing. The difference between a transfer case and a simple center differential can be the difference between completing a trail or needing a challenging rescue — and the National Park Service apparently knows it. One Reddit user found this out firsthand, after he was apparently issued a written warning for driving his all-wheel-drive Subaru Crosstrek off-road in an area designated for four-wheel-drive vehicles.
According to the post on the r/NationalPark subreddit, a Subaru owner who goes by the handle of u/Greatbigdog69 completed a trail at Canyonlands National Park in Utah without issue sometime in June 2024, only to receive a warning letter from the National Park Service over their drive down a road where "high clearance four-wheel-drive is required." While the message seems to be little more than a reminder of the rules, it notes that any further violations could lead to "a fine of up to $5000, up to six months imprisonment, and/or other penalties."
That may seem like a harsh threat, considering the Crosstrek successfully completed the trail in question — but the distinction between AWD and 4WD is an important one to consider when determining what vehicles are likely to complete a difficult trail. The mechanical difference between four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive amounts to the former possessing a low-range transfer case, which — to put it succinctly — means true four-wheel drive systems are better at applying traction at low speeds a loose surface.
Setting that aside, there are other considerations — less mechanical and more psychological — that could be behind posting select roads as four-wheel-drive-only. The restriction sets up the expectation that the trail is a challenge, and thus could discourage drivers of basic crossovers from thinking they could handle the route — and, in turn, getting stuck and tying up park resources in a rescue attempt.
(Road & Track has reached out to the National Park Service for further details on the NPS's policy and reasoning; we'll update this story if we hear back from them.)
But, yes, ultimately, the Crosstrek driver in question still says they were able to drive along the road without a problem. The surprisingly effective Crosstrek is notably capable among compact crossovers, but that makes it a rarity among all-wheel-drive cars; and even the Crosstrek Wilderness is not exactly designed with the hardest trails of a national park in mind.
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