Boulder Colorado Offroading

[keylay31]

Hey guys, there are about 5 of us thinking about heading up Left Hand Canyon Sunday afternoon. It will be my first offroading trip! Anyone interested?

We will have a very experienced 3rd Gen, My 4th Gen, a FJ Cruiser, a Rubicon, and a Wrangler Sport.

Also, does anyone have any first timer tips?

 

[Koz]

This book is a MUST HAVE for backroads and 4WD trails in Colorado.

The name of the book is;

Guide To Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells.

This book lists 65 trails that are classified in difficulty (easy, moderate, and difficult) with maps, directions, & photos. The trail details include location, features, time & distance, directions, trail description, services, other activities, and maps.

This book is by far the best off-road reference book I've used!

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

I think this is the 2nd edition of the same book I used with my stock Jeep when I was in college in Boulder 17 years ago. The first edition was fantastic, outlining trails, even sections of trails, with difficulties and the ability for stock vehicles to tackle the trails. Even lists for most trails whether you can expect some trail damage. Very good book to have, and much cheaper than repairs.

 

[Koz]

I think there my be a newer edition that even includes GPS locations (longitude and latitudes).

Koz

 

[PaulSula]

This book is a MUST HAVE for backroads and 4WD trails in Colorado.

The name of the book is;

Guide To Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells.

This book lists 65 trails that are classified in difficulty (easy, moderate, and difficult) with maps, directions, & photos. The trail details include location, features, time & distance, directions, trail description, services, other activities, and maps.

This book is by far the best off-road reference book I've used!

Koz

I assume you have this book. Before I head to the book store to check it out. (Gas prices and all) Does it have Bill Moore Lake or Chinns Lake trails in it?
Thanks

 

[keylay31]

So as you can tell, offroading was a success today. Left Hand Canyon was awesome, I highly recommend it. It has pretty much every level of difficulty. We went up fireman's hill, which was pretty ridiculous and required a lot of spotting and guys hanging out of windows. The older gen 4runner performed well, the driver cared the least for his, so he just went at it (plus a 4 inch body lift and big tires help). My 4th Gen performed very well, I didn't push it though, its my baby =) What I was very surprised about was the FJ. It handled everything anyone else handled but better. And it was fully stock. Super impressive.

The 2/1 CF performed fantastically, and as you can see from the last picture, I got some good flex.

 

[boston_kevin]

Left hand was a lot of fun when I was there last. I can only imagine it has improved with the years of rain/snow to increase those ruts. I'm not surprise the Fj did better, as the smaller wheel base and slightly better suspension would give it an edge. Jeeps (CJ's and YJ's) used to have no problem, and remarkably one of the best was a suzuki samari which was slightly lifted. Nices pics, glad you had fun, even happier you returned home with no damage!

 

[jlaud]

That looks like fun. I was contemplating joining you guys, good thing I didnt cuz my 05 4runner is stock and I'm a newbie at wheelin. I'd probably have left with some damage. Next time though....!

 

[keylay31]

That looks like fun. I was contemplating joining you guys, good thing I didnt cuz my 05 4runner is stock and I'm a newbie at wheelin. I'd probably have left with some damage. Next time though....!

ah bummer! Mine is stock except for a body lift and it was my first time!

 

[CO_FlyFisher]

Looks like it was fun. I'm surprised it was so dry up there. I figured that at the top there would still be a little snow.

I wanted to go, but it was my anniversary saturday and I went to the gun show in the a.m., so I figured I'd better not press my luck!

Great pics!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Here's a good site for trails especially for Colorado.


http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php

 

[jlaud]

I'm surprised to see so many Coloradoans on this forum, many of them from my own town. We need to have a Colorado T4R.org get-together.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Well,we are in the higher end of 4wd 4Runners per capita and Subarus too.

 

[CO_FlyFisher]

Ya, but have you noticed how many 4runners are on the road here? I drive on Wadsworth daily between Ken Karyl and Hampden. I almost always see at LEAST 5 3rd gen and 5 4th gen runners each way. It always makes me laugh, especially when I think I'm not going to see any more, and then I do at the last possible second.

In the three blocks I have to go through in my neighborhood to get to my house, I pass 2 2nd gens, 4 3rd gens, and 6 4th gens!!!

edit: RonMaiden beat me to the post.

 

[jlaud]

Ya, but have you noticed how many 4runners are on the road here? I drive on Wadsworth daily between Ken Karyl and Hampden. I almost always see at LEAST 5 3rd gen and 5 4th gen runners each way. It always makes me laugh, especially when I think I'm not going to see any more, and then I do at the last possible second.

In the three blocks I have to go through in my neighborhood to get to my house, I pass 2 2nd gens, 4 3rd gens, and 6 4th gens!!!

edit: RonMaiden beat me to the post.

My commute is almost identical to yours, shorter though because I live near Belleview and Wadsworth and my office is at the corner of Wadsworth and Hampden.

You do see a lot of 4Runner's around; just goes to show how good they are. I've had mine for two weeks and have only been able to drive it a couple of days in those two weeks because I was on business travel, but I'm loving every minute of it.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I live right in the Kipling/C470 area and just around here there's alot of Toyota trucks and a lot of times you can see every gen of Runner represented at a stoplight.

 

[keylay31]

I live right in the Kipling/C470 area and just around here there's alot of Toyota trucks and a lot of times you can see every gen of Runner represented at a stoplight.

I know I love it. Soooo many 4runners.

 

[ljp3]

I'm surprised it was so dry up there. I figured that at the top there would still be a little snow.

Great pics!

I was thinking the same thing. How was the temperature?

 

[keylay31]

I was thinking the same thing. How was the temperature?

It's a nice mid 60's right now. =)

I liked left hand, but we went up fireman's hill which was super rocky with a lot of erosion. I had to park mine and ride with the older 4runner (with the 4 inch lift and bigger tires *he still had to air down*) and the FJ. It is my baby after all!

I guess I'll be offroading more in snow, mud, water, etc. I have no problem with inclines or what have you, but I don't want to F* up my car!

 

[ljp3]

It's a nice mid 60's right now. =)

I liked left hand, but we went up fireman's hill which was super rocky with a lot of erosion. I had to park mine and ride with the older 4runner (with the 4 inch lift and bigger tires *he still had to air down*) and the FJ. It is my baby after all!

I guess I'll be offroading more in snow, mud, water, etc. I have no problem with inclines or what have you, but I don't want to F* up my car!

I went up left hand once, do not know what the trail was, we were more into fishing that day, it wasn't to bad so I assume it was not the same trail you took.

Have you done Bill Moore yet? That is a pretty good one, I am pretty cautious with mine as well but it was still fun and no real danger of hurting my girl.