Meet the Mapper
Feat. onX Trail Guide Lisa Scott

You’ve seen the trails highlighted in blue on your onX Offroad map–those are our Guided Trails, and they’re exceptionally cool because each one was diligently mapped by one of our Trail Guides. Tapping on one opens an expertly crafted guide full of descriptions, photos, and ratings, kudos to our intrepid mappers. The Trail Guides help elevate our experience in the App, and they collect a ton of epic stories along the way. Our Meet the Mapper series explores who the people behind the trails are, what they drive, and what it’s like chasing off-road adventures.

Author: Lisa Scott + onX Offroad

Get to Know Lisa

Lisa grew up immersed in the outdoors and was always compelled to take her explorations farther. After working as a critical care nurse, she got her truck, packed up her best canine pal and dirtbike, and took to the road. She’s racked up over 3,000 miles through the American Southwest and mapped many trails for onX along the way. When she’s not out running new routes, you’ll find Lisa cooking with her pup at camp, learning Native American history, identifying local flora, and working towards a Wilderness First Responder certification.

white Chevy off-road vehicle with a female driver

Tell us a bit about how and why you got into off-roading.

I got into off-roading because being outside in nature is my happy place.

I enjoy meeting new people, hearing their experiences, checking out their rigs, and making new friends. From a young age, I spent all my time riding dirt bikes, camping with my family, boating, you name it. When I had a stable job and extra money, I bought my ZR2, and the rest is history. 🙂 Every year, I go on a big trip and recently finished a long road trip through California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.

How about your rig?

My truck is a ‘18 diesel ZR2 Colorado.

The ZR2 stock is pretty well equipped for off-roading, but I’ve made some minor upgrades–most of which I did myself–including bigger tires (plus fender trimming), Method Wheels, and Baja lights. I have a camper shell with an RTT, and my passenger princess is my 14 year old puppers.

a white off-road vehicle in a field with a brown dog in the foreground

What’s your favorite trail you mapped for onX?

I mapped Zaca Ridge Road on a beautiful, cool Spring day.

The clouds were crazy low but the sun peaked out just a bit. I found a huge gopher snake warming up on the trail, and I carefully moved him off the trail out of harm’s way. It was one of those perfect days when you can feel the seasons shifting, there were wildflowers blooming everywhere.

Zaca Ridge Road

Tell us about a cool experience you’ve had as a Trail Guide.

For the trail submission I am working on now, I was in awe half the time from the scenery, but on one section, there were very few places to turn around, and you were screwed if there was someone coming the opposite direction.

My buddy has a Tacoma with only had rear lockers, and I had to winch himself up a steep, soft, muddy section. I had no problem going up (front and back lockers). I’ll never forget it because it was the first real challenging trail I did.

What’s your favorite thing to cook or eat on the trail?

So many! I love to cook, and cooking outdoors can be a fun challenge.

My favorite meals to cook while camping are spaghetti, pizza, or fajitas. Good tip: left over fajitas make a mean breakfast burrito the next day. On the go, I usually have Trader Joe’s trail mix.

a brown and white dog running along a dirt road with an off-road vehicle

You are given enough money and time to go off-roading anywhere in the world. Where do you go?

It would be awesome to do North America, starting in Alaska and through South America.

We’re grateful for Trail Guides like Lisa, and we love hearing the stories, tips, and tricks they’ve earned on the road.

Follow her adventures on Instagram at @Zena _zr2

Stay tuned to meet more of our mappers

and follow the link below to learn about the onX Offroad Trail Guide program or apply to join.

Apply to Join

Christopher Cordes

Born and raised amidst the flatlands of North Texas, Chris didn’t receive a real taste of the outdoors until moving to Prescott Arizona to attend college. It was there that he fell in love with maps, four-wheel drives, and the places the two could take him. He was hooked. After graduation, Chris dropped his ambitions for becoming a commercial pilot to pursue a career in off-roading and a life on the road, a path that would eventually lead him to become an Editor for Overland Journal and Expedition Portal, an Airstream Ambassador, and a hopeless lover of good street tacos. These days Chris is working for onX Offroad as their Trail Guide Manager, finding even more ways to combine his love of four-wheel drives, maps, and the off-road community. You can follow his adventures on Instagram at @4x4_Touring.