Soil resistances to penetration were probed with a hand-held soil cone penetrometer across ridge-to-depression transects for two contrasting study areas in Alberta, Canada: one in the foothills west of Calgary, and one in the boreal plain north of Peace River. The resulting cone index values (CI) were related to plot-measured values for soil moisture, density, texture, organic matter content, soil depth, elevation, slope, and a cartographic depth-to-water index (DTW) by way of multiple regression analysis. Elevation, slope, DTW, and the associated flow accumulation pattern were all derived from a light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-generated bare ground digital elevation model (DEM), at 1 m (3 ft) resolution. The field-determined CI values conformed to a previous formulation that related CI to soil texture, density, and waterfilled pore space. In terms of topographic position, CI increased with increasing DTW, in parallel with decreasing soil moisture content and increasing soil density. The resulting best-fitted regression between CI, log 10 (DTW), and elevation (or study area) was used to map CI and expected all-terrain recreational vehicle-specific rutting depths across the landscape. The maps so generated were in general agreement with the results of a 40 km (25 mi) long soil disturbance survey along a recreational vehicle trail section within the foothill area.