On the “What Did You Do in Your 5th Gen Today?” topic, some discussion of the feasibility of the Big Pine to Coyote Flats 4x4 trail came up. Instead of hijacking the thread, I am creating this thread with photos here to link. The trail runs between Big Pine, California and Sanger Meadow, adjacent to the popular Coyote Flat area southwest of nearby Bishop and west of Big Pine.



The worst part of the trail and one that will likely stop all in a 4Runner, except those with modified and considerably narrower early generations. This is the upper part of the 1,800 foot long shelf trail, which drops down into the Onion Creek drainage, and which progressively gets worse as one progresses westward toward Sanger Meadow.



As one drops closer to Onion Creek, boulders start to be encountered. The trail narrows due to boulders and mountain mahogany and the slope the trail crosses steepens.



A view westward. Onion Creek is within the willows and aspens in the background; the trail also improves a bit down there. But it then begins to climb steeply and there is generally a lot of ground water making for muddy conditions.



Bikes and quads will have no problems in the worst of this short section.



The bad section on the trail can be done, as shown. The owner of this highly modified XJ series Jeep Cherokee proved it. He sent this photo to me to use on my old website, which had a page on the trail.



Before reaching Onion Creek, the slope becomes the steepest. In a vehicle this large, there is no room for error. Indeed, there was a vehicle stuck on the trail here for several years back in the 1990s. And I heard other horror stories of those who miscalculated the capabilities of themselves and their vehicles and their serious recovery efforts.



Getting to Onion Creek, the route is easier, but also can be muddy. It also gets pretty steep as it climbs the last hurdle to top out on the summit between Sugarloaf and Round Mountain Ridge. The view is south to Palisade Glacier, the southernmost glacier in the US.





Even if you don’t make it all the way, the views are still incredible. These views are along the Sierra front and down along the Owens Valley.