Rubicon Trail
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The Rubicon Trail is a 22-mile-long route, part road and part trail, located in the Sierra Nevada of the western United States, due west of Lake Tahoe and about 80 miles east of Sacramento.
The maintained portion of the route is called the McKinney-Rubicon Springs Road; it begins in Georgetown, California, a hamlet in California's Gold Country. The road continues from its intersection with California State Route 49 towards Wentworth Springs, where the trailhead for the unmaintained portion of the route exists adjacent to Loon Lake. The trail portion of the route is about 12 miles long and passes in part through the El Dorado National Forest.
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[edit] Trail summary
There are entrances to the trail, either at Wentworth Springs or at the Loon Lake spillway. The Wentworth Springs entrance, at Ellis Creek, is the original entrance to the trail, and starts with an obstacle known as Devil's Postpile. The Loon Lake route is longer, first crossing the Granite Bowl, a large open rock valley. (Previously the Loon Lake entrance had an obstacle known as The Gatekeeper, however it was demolished in 2005)
At Ellis Creek, the Wentworth Springs entrance to the trail unites with the trail from Loon Lake. After driving through the relatively mild section of Ellis Creek, the Walker Hill obstacle is encountered. It includes a rocky climb followed by a notch that can either be straddled or side-hilled.
A short ways past Walker Hill is the Soup Bowl. The Soup Bowl is a short climb with a series of ledges that is difficult to climb, with high clearance and a long wheelbase a help in this obstacle. After passing the Soup Bowl, the Little Sluice is close.
The Little Sluice is also known as the Sluice Box or simply as "The Box", leading to Spider Lake. It is the most difficult section of the trail, and as such can be bypassed in two ways, for vehicles that can not ascend the main trail. The most common bypass route to the left of the obstacle, an off-camber trail that leans the driver over the Little Sluice. The second way to bypass the Little Sluice is to drive up Toyota Rock. Toyota Rock is to the right towards Spider Lake (so named because it resembles a spider from above) just before the large rocks in the Little Sluice, and leads to the slabs that surround Little Sluice.
After passing the Little Sluice, the next obstacle is Thousand Dollar hill (also sometimes called Million Dollar hill). It is a rock ledge followed by a steep grade, facind downhill if driving the trail towards Lake Tahoe. This obstacle can be bypassed.
The trail splits again after this point, either continuing on the granite slabs or through the Old Sluice. Both routes lead to Buck Island Lake. The granite slabs are off camber but an easier route to take.
After passing Buck Island Lake, the trail continues downhill towards Big Sluice. This section contains a switchback with a rock drop-off and an off camber rocky section, leading to a bridge and then into Rubicon Springs.
Rubicon Springs is on private property, and must be respected as such. An old cabin and some camp spots are available, as well as a helipad for emergencies and for large events to fly in supplies. Most large events will set up base camp in the Springs because it is large enough for hundreds of people to camp.
After Rubicon Springs is Cadillac Hill. Cadallac Hill is a series of switchbacks up to Observation Point, starting with a rutted out section with many exposed tree roots. After turning a hairpin, the trail becomes very off camber and contains a series of boulders to maneuver around or over. After that is a steep waterfall to climb. At the top of the hill is Observation Point, a good place to see where you have just driven and to take a short break before the long dirt road to Lake Tahoe. There are a few small sections of rocks after this but no significant obstacles
[edit] Trail damage
The trail can easily by damaged by uncareful drivers, and is often cited when discussing closing the trail. Garbage, human waste, and camping remains are also contant problems. To help keep the area pristine, and prevent closure of the trail, the Rubicon Trail Foundation gives a number of suggestions to visitors:
- Stay within 25’ of the middle of the trail.
- Do not drive over vegetation.
- Stay on the established trail.
- Do not create new bypasses.
- Buckle your seatbelt always.
- Be courteous to others.
- Go low and slow.
- Camp away from water.
- Carry a portable toilet.
- Pack out your trash and waste.
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Be responsible for yourself.
[edit] Usage
Part of the trail is used as a testing ground by DaimlerChrysler for their Jeep models. The Rubicon variant of the Jeep Wrangler is named for this trail.
Many large events take place on the trail, ranging from Jeep-only events to family trips to special events organized just for SUVs and stock 4x4s that could not otherwise complete the trail.
[edit] Gallery
 A Bronco II driving through the now demolished Gatekeeper obstacle |
 Looking across the Granite Bowl |
 A Jeep climbing up the first part of Walker Hill |
 A Bronco II driving down the top of Walker Hill |
 The Little Sluice Obstacle |
 A stock Ford Ranger descending Big Sluice |
[edit] External links
- Rubicon Trail, from the official El Dorado County, California website
- Friends of the Rubicon is a group fighting to keep the Rubicon trail open for future generations to enjoy.
- Rubicon Trail Patrol, A group of volunteers who educate users on the trail.
- Rubicon Trail Review, The Off Road Report reviews the Rubicon Trail.
