We rolled off I-70 and almost instantly it felt like we were somewhere we weren’t supposed to be—cars flying by at 80 mph on pavement, and us dropping into a completely different world in the dirt. This trip was all about getting into the San Rafael Swell the “more interesting” way. Instead of Cottonwood Wash like last time, I pointed the Colorado ZR2 down Buckmaster Trail, and Buckmaster does not ease you into it. It’s soft sand, the road disappearing in spots, and washouts big enough to ruin your day if you’re not paying attention—one of those “point your truck where you want to go” trails that’s super fun as long as you stay sharp. Along the way we hit Buckmaster Reservoir (a totally unexpected little pond in the middle of the desert) and dealt with constant route choices around deep holes—honestly it felt like a Pick-Your-Own-Adventure book. After that, we jumped over to Four Corners Mine Road and the pace changed: open desert roads, mining history everywhere, and a good reminder to keep your distance because a lot of the old sites are uranium mines. Our destination was Smith’s Cabin, a 1933 homestead story that hits different when you’re standing out there. Wayne and Betty Smith tried to ranch off a natural spring, but once that water source disappeared, so did the dream. What’s left is fading, weathered, and still telling the story—plus we even found some water still in the spring when we showed up.