Well over 100 Jeeps came for the Tillamook event. Some came from as far away as Florida, but most were from west coast states.

If you drove on Highway 6 out to the Oregon coast this past weekend, you probably noticed that there were many more Jeeps than are usually on the road. That’s because Jeep Jamboree USA was in town, bringing hundreds of off-roading enthusiasts to the area to experience the spectacular driving trails in the Tillamook State Forest over two days of responsible off-road driving.

Jeep Jamboree USA is very likely the oldest Jeep enthusiast organization anywhere. The very first Jamboree was organized by Mark A. Smith in 1953, when he took a small group of Jeepers (as they were known) on the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains. When he organized the second Jeepers Jamboree in 1954, Jeep manufacturer Willys Motors got involved as a sponsor.

Both the Jamboree and Jeep corporate affiliation have been going ever since, and this year Jeep Jamboree offers 41 events from Oregon to Maine. Jamboree events take place each year from March to November. Most Jamboree events fill up quickly, and at press time, only five of this year’s events have available spaces. “We have more than 5,000 Jeeps participate in our events every year,” said Jake Horne, director of registration for Jeep Jamboree USA.

The requirements to participate in a Jeep Jamboree are simple. You need a road-legal Jeep with a dual-range 4X4 system and rollover protection, plus some basic safety and recovery gear like tow points and a GMRS radio for communications. All modern Jeeps have rollover protection from the factory. It costs between $350 and $500 to register for a Jamboree event, but for what you get, that’s a bargain.

Drivers in the Tillamook event were able to choose from about a dozen trail options on each of two days in the woods. Each trail option was rated by its difficulty level, and there was something for everyone. Participants returned to Tillamook each night to a catered dinner and campfire at the fairgrounds. Some participants camped out, but most took advantage of a hot shower and a bed at nearby motels.

The real value of the Jamboree is in the support drivers receive. Many participants at each Jamboree are first-timers with limited off-road experience. Even those with a moderate amount of trail time benefit from the very experienced guides leading the group. Expert off-roaders are available to spot participants through the tough sections, and to help recover a vehicle if it runs into trouble. That and simply traveling with a group gives newer Jeep drivers the confidence to tackle the kind of off-road driving that would be foolish to attempt alone.

All Jeep Jamboree events are designed to tread lightly on the trails they use, including provisions to pick up trash that others may have left on the trail, and events stick to legitimate maintained trails created for the purpose of outdoor adventure. According to Horne, Jeep Jamboree will “absolutely” be coming back to Tillamook next year, so interested Jeep owners can start planning now.

Find out more by visiting jeepjamboreeusa.com.