Rubicon Trail information

The rules have changed again!

You can no longer leave the trail with your vehicle and drive to a camp site of your choice. By court order you have to park your vehicle within 50 ft. from the center line of the trail. Bad part is - you are responsible to know where the trail is. "Sorry, Ranger, I did not know." does not keep you from getting a ticket. If you are not a regular on the trail, you will have a very hard time to determine where the trail runs. Markings have become better, but they are still not always clear. The map available from the ranger station is a joke.

So, from now on if your vehicle is found more than 25 ft. left or right from the center of the trail you will get a stiff citation ($275 minimum). Rangers are out every day and in full force. Here is an easy overview of what you can and can not do: Using Motorized Vehicles

What's really bad is that only some, but not all, "illegal routes" have signs indicating that you are off the trail. It is your responsibility to know where the trail is.

Now here is the good news: You are still allowed to camp anywhere you want. Just drag all your camping stuff there and leave you car unattended right next to the trail. Can't lock your doors? Too bad! Still have stuff in your car others might find useful? Too bad!

Most useful map at this point is "A Guide to the Desolation Wilderness" published by the US Forest Service (ISBN 1-59351-406-9). However, the Granite Slab, the bypass most use for the old Big Sluice, is not on this map - as are the Little Sluice bypasses missing.

To provide accurate trail information I am working on a new Rubicon Trail Guide-Book (available late 2008). A companion CD with GPS tracks will provide you with all legal trail portions downloadable to your personal GPS. To make sure your rig will not suffer unnecessary damage, Rubicon relevant driving tips will make this book more valuable. In case you wonder about the optimum Rubicon modifications for your TJ, JK or Rubicon - I'll include them as well.

Here are the new Wheeled Motor Vehicle Restrictions

Future of the Rubicon Trail

Rubicon discussion on Pirate.com