Nice video Geoff! I like that trail. Good camera angles and notes of turns. I do remember we had to protect ourselves from mosquitoes up at the lake the time of year I went.
Thanks John! The skeeters can be fierce up there for sure! We need to hit a trail soon. I’ve got an elk hunt week after next so I’m getting ready for that, but after that we need to get out!
I love that trail. It is amazing to see how much it changes even throughout one single season. We did it in mid June, and the water crossings were much different than your run (some bigger, some smaller). It also looks like they filled in those ruts a little bit at the start of the trail. In June those were pretty deep, or maybe I'm imagining things. Great video!
I think you are right! It seems like every time we run it that the trail is a little different. Those ruts or whoop de whoos are sometimes super deep but sometimes it looks like they grade the trail. We usually hit it every year. It’s a great little trail. Thanks for watching buddy. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 that’s perfect! Are there any technical obstacles on this trail? I did Wheeler Lake last week and I have friend coming out next week who wants to go on his first off road trip. I’d like to get his feet wet without having to have spotters and worrying about breaking my Jeep lol. But if there’s something to climb over I’m sure he would enjoy that.
No obstacles at all. Wheeler is way harder than Bill Moore Lake. Bill Moore is easy. You should hit Red Cone instead! th-cam.com/video/gR1sT0d38vA/w-d-xo.html
Ran this today in my 2019 cherokee TH. It's toughish for moderate clearance stock crossover but no significant challenges either. Was spotted in a couple places but got right through. Used the locker a couple times and rock mode for the whole trail in 4 low. Put a tire 2+ft in the air a couple times being fully independent, but that's fun!
It is a great beginner trail. There really are no obstacles (or what I call obstacles) that you have to navigate. I doubt it is open yet as there is usually a couple of large snow drifts just before the lake. The trail drops down into the basin where the lake is and it is in the trees and has some shade so those drifts probably won't melt out for another couple of weeks. There is always someone that goes up there and busts through them and that helps for sure. We've been pretty busy with other stuff lately and haven't done much wheeling yet this summer but I would say you can roll with us but we won't be wheeling for a little while longer. It is a pretty busy trail especially on the weekends. You can always head out to the trailhead and see if you can tag along with another group. The wheeling community really is a great bunch of folks and most people will say "sure!" especially if they're experienced wheelers and not arrogant or think they're the best off-roader since sliced bread LOL. We have never turned anyone down from rolling with us and probably convinced more people than anything that were turning around on a trail and we got them through it. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 sounds great. I'm not in a rush to go immediately but I definitely want to go with someone that's more familiar with it. I would be happy to join you on any easy to mid level trails! I also feel like my jeep is a bit more tricky since it's manual.
You will do fine with a manual. My buddy John (Outlaw 923 on TH-cam) has a manual, it is the dark army green JKU Rubicon. Coy also has a manual, its the silver JKU Rubicon. Check them out: th-cam.com/video/e2hli_Z9dPA/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/QnxZW4BR6sk/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/G0gC6QKwJRY/w-d-xo.html
I love the Charles Wells books and I always recommend them! His team has done an amazing job. Trails change and he usually rates the trail “difficult or red” based on one spot or the hardest spot. It’s all relative, but I rate Bill Moore Lake as moderate. Or easy-moderate. It’s a fun trail just watch out for mosquitos! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 yeah reading further into the description, it was all about the top portion being rocky. I’m learning the same thing about his books. I’ll have to try this trail soon.
It’s a great little trail. There are some rocky climbs but nothing that I would call an obstacle. I think careful driving on any stock 4x4 rig would be fine. We usually hit it every year. Just check the forums or Facebook about when it is fully open because there is one snow drift close to the top that usually doesn’t melt until July but this year will probably be earlier. - Geoff
It’s a cool place for sure. Yes, there is some good dispersed camping here and there. There aren’t any designated spots but there are spots in the trees and then it looks like there are some good spots at or above tree line. (39.7944747, -105.7037937) and (39.7975806, -105.6971414)
Man I don’t know. 2WD makes it to where you might not make it. But, if you travel with someone else they might be able to give you a tug when you get stuck
Where do you put your GoPro for your main spot? Windshield? I'm headed to stay in Ouray in 2 weeks. Can't wait to get back to Colorado! Love your trail vids
Thanks Adam! I have a sticky mount right in the middle at the top of the windshield. Just make sure the windshield wipers don’t hit it! Ask me how I know 🤣 Should be some great fall wheeling here! Enjoy and let me know how it goes! - Geoff
You bet! I’ve been trying to get more camera angles but man it just takes so much more time to get out and move the camera around. Check out my latest Red Cone video! I made a camera boom that I mounted to my ski rack and it stuck out a couple feet to get a different camera angle. I need to pick up a couple more GoPros for next season
Hey idk if you'll see this as the video was posted a while ago, I'm looking at this trail as a possible weekend trip or maybe even day trip. OnX is saying its a 7/10, just curious on what rig you're using and how difficult you'd rate it
This trail is definitely a day trip. What are you driving? Trail ratings are extremely subjective and I would not agree at all with that OnX rating, but my 10/10 trails in my mind would be Pritchett Canyon and Sand Hollow stuff. With that said, any high clearance 4WD rig can run this trail with some good driving skills. I’ve seen a lot of stock Tacomas up there and rigs like that. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive a 4Runner or something like that up here. Keep in mind that this trial opens late usually. The last stretch to the lake doesn’t usually melt until July, but we will see what happens this year. We haven’t been getting much snow. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 I have a 2001 Jeep XJ on 31s no lift. Ive done Red Cone in it on bald 29s (with lots of help from veteran 4x4ers) so i feel somewhat confident in my driving skill. Im looking at more summer time for a trip and by that time ill have my lift. Thanks for the reply!
@@TannerWilliams-ci4dd you are golden my brother. I love XJs. If you did Red Cone then this trail is no matter for you. Red Elephant Hill has gotten harder the last couple of years so I wouldn’t go up that way. Send it! - Geoff
Yea you should be fine. Just stay right where I went left in the video. It’s a little more rocky on the left side. Have fun and bring mosquito spray! - Geoff
I think my other comment got deleted for saying the word "China" and "man" together. Anyways, good video as always. We are heading to that trail on Sunday, join us if you have time!
Oh my word! 🤣🤣🤣 I saw it come in but then it was gone! I appreciate the invite and would go but I’m getting ready for my elk hunt the week after! Got to put wheeling on hold for a little bit
Nice video Geoff! I like that trail. Good camera angles and notes of turns. I do remember we had to protect ourselves from mosquitoes up at the lake the time of year I went.
Thanks John! The skeeters can be fierce up there for sure! We need to hit a trail soon. I’ve got an elk hunt week after next so I’m getting ready for that, but after that we need to get out!
awesome video. I would absolutely consider this moderate rather than easy
Thanks!
Thanks! Great ride.
Thanks for watching Steve!
Nice views. Looks like you may have some smoky skies there like we do here.
Thanks for watching! Yea the smoke has been bad! It’s starting to get better though!
I love that trail. It is amazing to see how much it changes even throughout one single season. We did it in mid June, and the water crossings were much different than your run (some bigger, some smaller). It also looks like they filled in those ruts a little bit at the start of the trail. In June those were pretty deep, or maybe I'm imagining things. Great video!
I think you are right! It seems like every time we run it that the trail is a little different. Those ruts or whoop de whoos are sometimes super deep but sometimes it looks like they grade the trail. We usually hit it every year. It’s a great little trail. Thanks for watching buddy. - Geoff
loos like a good time wish we were there,
Where do you live Jeff? Have you wheeled out here before?
Love this! Seems like a nice easy trail to spend a Sunday afternoon on! Can’t wait to go try it.
Thanks! It’s a cool little trail. The leafs are turning right now so the next couple of weeks should be great! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 that’s perfect! Are there any technical obstacles on this trail? I did Wheeler Lake last week and I have friend coming out next week who wants to go on his first off road trip. I’d like to get his feet wet without having to have spotters and worrying about breaking my Jeep lol. But if there’s something to climb over I’m sure he would enjoy that.
No obstacles at all. Wheeler is way harder than Bill Moore Lake. Bill Moore is easy. You should hit Red Cone instead! th-cam.com/video/gR1sT0d38vA/w-d-xo.html
That’s so funny I just watched your Wheeler Lake video and we met Brandon on Red Cone this year! Saw him in your video!
@@Colorado4x4 Haha that’s so awesome, small world! That Lexus was quite impressive
Ran this today in my 2019 cherokee TH. It's toughish for moderate clearance stock crossover but no significant challenges either. Was spotted in a couple places but got right through. Used the locker a couple times and rock mode for the whole trail in 4 low. Put a tire 2+ft in the air a couple times being fully independent, but that's fun!
Nice! Good deal!
I did that trail a couple of years ago. The mosquitos were out of this world.
Holy cow they can be insane up there! My kids call this trail “Mosquito Mountain”. 😜
Would love to try this trail. As I'm new here I'm not sure I'm comfortable doing it alone
It is a great beginner trail. There really are no obstacles (or what I call obstacles) that you have to navigate. I doubt it is open yet as there is usually a couple of large snow drifts just before the lake. The trail drops down into the basin where the lake is and it is in the trees and has some shade so those drifts probably won't melt out for another couple of weeks. There is always someone that goes up there and busts through them and that helps for sure. We've been pretty busy with other stuff lately and haven't done much wheeling yet this summer but I would say you can roll with us but we won't be wheeling for a little while longer. It is a pretty busy trail especially on the weekends. You can always head out to the trailhead and see if you can tag along with another group. The wheeling community really is a great bunch of folks and most people will say "sure!" especially if they're experienced wheelers and not arrogant or think they're the best off-roader since sliced bread LOL. We have never turned anyone down from rolling with us and probably convinced more people than anything that were turning around on a trail and we got them through it. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 sounds great. I'm not in a rush to go immediately but I definitely want to go with someone that's more familiar with it. I would be happy to join you on any easy to mid level trails! I also feel like my jeep is a bit more tricky since it's manual.
You will do fine with a manual. My buddy John (Outlaw 923 on TH-cam) has a manual, it is the dark army green JKU Rubicon. Coy also has a manual, its the silver JKU Rubicon. Check them out: th-cam.com/video/e2hli_Z9dPA/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/QnxZW4BR6sk/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/G0gC6QKwJRY/w-d-xo.html
This is John's channel: th-cam.com/channels/r03AEA2WM8r8LXJjkI_oYw.html
Interesting, the Funtreks guide refers to this trail as Difficult (red)
I love the Charles Wells books and I always recommend them! His team has done an amazing job. Trails change and he usually rates the trail “difficult or red” based on one spot or the hardest spot. It’s all relative, but I rate Bill Moore Lake as moderate. Or easy-moderate. It’s a fun trail just watch out for mosquitos! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 yeah reading further into the description, it was all about the top portion being rocky. I’m learning the same thing about his books. I’ll have to try this trail soon.
It’s a great little trail. There are some rocky climbs but nothing that I would call an obstacle. I think careful driving on any stock 4x4 rig would be fine. We usually hit it every year. Just check the forums or Facebook about when it is fully open because there is one snow drift close to the top that usually doesn’t melt until July but this year will probably be earlier. - Geoff
Beautiful out there! Any spots to camp?
It’s a cool place for sure. Yes, there is some good dispersed camping here and there. There aren’t any designated spots but there are spots in the trees and then it looks like there are some good spots at or above tree line. (39.7944747, -105.7037937) and (39.7975806, -105.6971414)
@@Colorado4x4 you da man, thanks!
You’re welcome!
@@Colorado4x4 Nice! Thanks for sharing!
👍🏻
think a 2wd stock xj jeep with offroad tires would make it?
Man I don’t know. 2WD makes it to where you might not make it. But, if you travel with someone else they might be able to give you a tug when you get stuck
Where do you put your GoPro for your main spot? Windshield? I'm headed to stay in Ouray in 2 weeks. Can't wait to get back to Colorado! Love your trail vids
Thanks Adam! I have a sticky mount right in the middle at the top of the windshield. Just make sure the windshield wipers don’t hit it! Ask me how I know 🤣 Should be some great fall wheeling here! Enjoy and let me know how it goes! - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 Thanks for the tip!
You bet! I’ve been trying to get more camera angles but man it just takes so much more time to get out and move the camera around. Check out my latest Red Cone video! I made a camera boom that I mounted to my ski rack and it stuck out a couple feet to get a different camera angle. I need to pick up a couple more GoPros for next season
Hey idk if you'll see this as the video was posted a while ago, I'm looking at this trail as a possible weekend trip or maybe even day trip. OnX is saying its a 7/10, just curious on what rig you're using and how difficult you'd rate it
This trail is definitely a day trip. What are you driving? Trail ratings are extremely subjective and I would not agree at all with that OnX rating, but my 10/10 trails in my mind would be Pritchett Canyon and Sand Hollow stuff. With that said, any high clearance 4WD rig can run this trail with some good driving skills. I’ve seen a lot of stock Tacomas up there and rigs like that. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive a 4Runner or something like that up here. Keep in mind that this trial opens late usually. The last stretch to the lake doesn’t usually melt until July, but we will see what happens this year. We haven’t been getting much snow. - Geoff
@@Colorado4x4 I have a 2001 Jeep XJ on 31s no lift. Ive done Red Cone in it on bald 29s (with lots of help from veteran 4x4ers) so i feel somewhat confident in my driving skill. Im looking at more summer time for a trip and by that time ill have my lift. Thanks for the reply!
@@TannerWilliams-ci4dd you are golden my brother. I love XJs. If you did Red Cone then this trail is no matter for you. Red Elephant Hill has gotten harder the last couple of years so I wouldn’t go up that way. Send it! - Geoff
I have a 98 xj with a 3 in lift and 30s I should be fine right to run this trail with the wife and kid just getting into 4x4 any advice would be sweet
Yea you should be fine. Just stay right where I went left in the video. It’s a little more rocky on the left side. Have fun and bring mosquito spray! - Geoff
Can a jeep grand Cherokee do this?
Yes I think so
Plenty of stock rigs on this trail like Tacomas and similar
@@Colorado4x4 thanks for the advice. I'm certainly a rookie, got any advice on tyre pressure? Does it make a difference?
@@dionjones3706 what is your tire size?
I think my other comment got deleted for saying the word "China" and "man" together. Anyways, good video as always. We are heading to that trail on Sunday, join us if you have time!
Oh my word! 🤣🤣🤣 I saw it come in but then it was gone! I appreciate the invite and would go but I’m getting ready for my elk hunt the week after! Got to put wheeling on hold for a little bit
@@Colorado4x4 big brother is watching...lol!
Have fun hunting and have a good holiday weekend brother!
Oh for sure big brother is watching!!! Thanks for the invite! Wish I could go!
You need some comments along the way, with your videos.
Thanks for the tip