California
The Rubicon Trail
About this off-road route
The Rubicon is the benchmark every other hard trail in the country gets measured against. Twenty-two miles of granite slab, boulder gardens and off-camber ledge between Loon Lake and Lake Tahoe, on a county road that has never been graded into anything easier. Most groups take two or three days and camp at Rubicon Springs. Body damage is normal, not exceptional, and recovery gear is not optional. Little Sluice and the Big Sluice are the sections that decide whether your build is ready.
The legendary 4x4 crawl from Loon Lake over Rubicon Springs to the west shore of Lake Tahoe.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Granite slab crawling that exists almost nowhere else at this scale
- Rubicon Springs, the midpoint camp, is a destination in its own right
- Finishes on the west shore of Lake Tahoe
- A genuine multi-day trail rather than an afternoon loop
Stops
- 1
Loon Lake OHV Trailhead
Western staging area, with the Gatekeeper obstacle waiting a mile in.
- 2
Rubicon Springs
The traditional midpoint camp, on the Rubicon River.
- 3
Lake Tahoe (Eagle Rock)
The eastern exit onto pavement above the lake.
When to go
Best time to go
July through October, once the snowpack clears. Water levels at the Springs drop through the season.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 1h 18m
Before you go
Know before you go
- Lockers, 35 inch tires and skid protection are the practical minimum. This is not a stock-vehicle trail.
- Travel with at least one other vehicle and full recovery gear. Self-recovery is expected.
- Pack out everything including human waste. Portable toilets are required by the managing counties.
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