Newbish Question

[TsiDrummer]

Hello, I'm very new to the Jeeping world, and just as new to the 4-wheeling world. The only times I have gone are for hunting and whatnot with my dad. I'm wondering what are some good, not *super* easy, but fun trails for a beginner to learn on? Preferrable somewhere kinda close to Denver (I.E. not further south than COSP). I have an '89 XJ with 4" (unknown) lift, and 31" Michelin A/T. Other than that, I don't believe there are any mods done to it.

Thanks for your time and patience with a newb, I'm sure it's the first to many questions!

-Eric

 

[old_man]

Bill Moore Lake is a nice trail. Take your camera.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Slaughterhouse Gulch is a fun loop trail (brings ya back to where you started)just this side of Bailey Co. A Google search should bring it up, but it's off Hwy 285 to state road 24, north on 24 for about 7 miles to Saddle String Rd. Follow that about 1/4 mile south toward the KZ Ranch entrance - you'll see the steel sign marked Slaughterhouse.

Spring Creek is another good one. It's up I-70 to the Dumont exit, then southwest from there, again a Google search should get ya the directions. But I wouldn't call it "easy". It would be best to have a locker and an experienced friend along for that one - but still not too hard a trail.

Or if you're REALLY green and need to break yourself in easy, Lefthand Canyon near Boulder is close by and easy. Just be sure to look for the "hidden" turn to the left near the trail head and turn there for Lefthand, otherwise, you'll be headed up hardcore Carnage Canyon.

 

[TsiDrummer]

Awesome, thanks for the replies, I'm gonna have to check them out within the next few weeks. I'm pretty psyched about it.

Thanks,

-Eric

 

[WB9YZU]

I'm trying to remember who wrote the Colorado 4X4 Trails books. There are two of them and are pretty good with directions to the trail head.

There are many sceneic trails around Bill Moore lake.

There is a "stone house" overlooking the Locke which has a mail box with markers and a visitor registry. I can't remember how we got there though. Lot's of hiking trails too!

 

[JEONLYEP]

I'm trying to remember who wrote the Colorado 4X4 Trails books. There are two of them and are pretty good with directions to the trail head.

GUIDE TO Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails vol 1&2 By Charles A. Wells these are great for easier trails anyway. Vol. 1 in it's second edition has GPS waypoints to the trail and along the trail.

Welcome to .

DAryl

 

[TsiDrummer]

LoL, It's funny you should mention that book, I went out and bought Vol. 2, about 3 hours before you posted that! It seems to have very decent directions. Are the trail ratings in it for the most part accurate? I.E. the difficult, "needing upgraded suspension, lockers reccomended, not possible with less than 35" tire"?

Thanks!

-Eric

 

[WB9YZU]

The series is somewhat dated because Trails have a tendancy of changing due to errosion and trail "improvements", but for the most part, the book gives a reasonably accurate representation of the trails I have been on.

 

[Led]

LoL, It's funny you should mention that book, I went out and bought Vol. 2, about 3 hours before you posted that! It seems to have very decent directions. Are the trail ratings in it for the most part accurate? I.E. the difficult, "needing upgraded suspension, lockers reccomended, not possible with less than 35" tire"?

Thanks!

-Eric

No he definatly over rates the difficulty of the trails

 

[WB9YZU]

No he definatly over rates the difficulty of the trails

Yah, but he usually does include a reason why he rated the trail that high.
A typical remark IIRC is something like 'Most of the trail is Easy except for the nasty obstical at Moose's Butt Gultch which caused me to rate the trail as Moderate'

 

[wall04]

Agree on the trails being slightly over rated in the books. I've driven a couple of the inter mediates in a stocker with inverted leafs, open diffs and 28's. Go slow. Gear down early and place tires VERY carefully. You'd be amazed what a stock XJ can do with proper tire placement.

BTW: RE 4.5" w/AASYEnTWDS & 31's coming soon...