From beginning to end this trail lies in open cattle range and multiple times our whole train was stopped for cows in the trail. But it certainly also comes with its problems. After coming around the far side of the reservoir we came to the Colorado and Utah border, which marked our last stretch of road before we would be exiting the trail at Two Mile Road. } Trail Update! We had to move a few trees that were still across the trail but no big deal. Although the tale isnt confirmed, these mountains were named by Spanish missionary and explorer Silvestre Valez de Escalante during his 1776 expedition. I was concerned that with the late and heavy snow Colorado had been hit with, the creek would be at peak water levels later than normal and would not be passable. Rimrocker Trail Overland Route (Video) Bound For Nowhere We read this from people who were traveling in Jeeps, which are much narrower than we are. Staying with in-laws Friday night. This is a little more challenging with a couple good switchbacks and heavy brush in some areas with lots of pin-striping. Veer left. As one would expect, the desert mesas below give way to mountains covered with conifers and aspen groves. Incredible views. Be sure to check out the hanging flume along the way, another relic of the area's rich mining history. RimRocker Trail | Guide, Maps, GPX files - Overland TrailGuides I'd expect it to be impassable soon if it isn't already. Where to Stay : There are no sleeper carriages on the Rocky Mountaineer. An interesting side trip would be to instead go straight and then take the Geyser Pass Road up to a saddle between Haystack Mountain and Mount Mellenthin. I would say pretty much any stock 4x4 could handle this trail. } Otherwise, head northeast from the parking lot on a trail which runs parallel and next to Highway 191. Adventure Badge: Get your RimRocker adventure badge at our online store. So, if you are going to book out to the Western Slope Friday night or get up early Saturday to make it to Montrose by 10, post it up here. Rimrocker Trail - Overlanding Montrose, Colorado to Moab, Utah } Going just a bit further south on Highway 141, we reached our furthest point of interest, the former town of Uravan. Fun and an absolute must over-landing route. Trail Maps and GPS | Rimrocker Trail We found the old refrigerator, oven, countless tin can meals, and even pieces of old dinner plates among the wreckage. This certainly is subject to change, but at the time that we drove the Rimrocker, certain sections seem to only be included to connect two more notable trails. .runner { Fascinatingly, the valley was created from water flowing beneath an ancient salt dome. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by Overland Trail Guides, the route accuracy and current conditions of roads and trails cannot be guaranteed. See what products we use in our DIY renovation of this 1970 Avion C11 truck camper. In typical Wanderlost fashion, we do the Rimrocker from Moab to Montrose. Veer right then left. .entry-header { /* Content Template: Loop item in REPORTS Runners - end */ Rim Rocker - FunTreks /* center the page selector horizonatally */ The Hell that was Paradox, by Howard Greager makes for interesting reading about this area. Paradox Valley was strikingly beautiful and got its name from the Dolores River which paradoxically runs across the valley instead of with it. Here are some thoughts on Rimrocker: Bring more gasoline than you think you need. V19 Road is now well maintained like the road has been so far. A rimrocker was a person who worked in the mines, and with the many historic mines throughout the region, this name is fitting. display:table; 3 - It looks like the Paradox Trail diverges from the Rimrocker in the vicinity of Nucla & heads off to the NW to link up to the Kokopelli. margin-top:8px; On a clear day these views would be spectacular, and one would be able to see a very long way. Uncompahgre Field Office In the morning, we rolled back down and took the hwy around to Naturita and caught the trail again there. My first REAL overlanding trip and it was quite successful. No cars drove by, no lights shown in the smattering of ramshackle farm homes, no streetlights lit the way. Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route. The only real obstacles are the open range cattle. Veer right. Turn left here to continue the Rimrocker. The first stop was to the roadside coke oven. The coke from this oven was likely used by blacksmiths who forged iron for the construction of the Hanging Flume. To remain on the Rimrocker, turn right. Turn right. The rest of the Rimrocker Trail, from the state line to Moab, is covered in Part 4. Completed over three days and two nights. Being that the two rivers are different colors, it was interesting to see the two converge and swirl together as they travel downstream as one. After the final creek crossing, you will ascend back up onto the ridge. } Took 2 days to complete in two full size trucks. The devil is in the details but we can logically break this trail into three sections and drill into the distinctive terrain and challenges that come with each step. The creek is only a few inches deep. On sandy beach, under stars. This is where Q13 Road and S10 Road rejoin from the previous waypoint. Gaia GPS (NatGeo trails illustrated, NPS Visitor, base map layer), Grand Mesa Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forest. There is abundant wildlife throughout the trail. The USFS. If you drive a Tacoma, I suggest this product https://www.goat-truckarmor.com/default.asp. While the we have a right of way to drive through on the trail, you cannot legally camp along these stretches. } To the right, USFS 545 heads north. I recommend having the trail pulled up on your tablet or phone as there are some spots that are lacking signage. My schedule is open on the 28th through the 5th. We did not air down until we got back on the dirt after Nucla. At the bottom of the hill, the road will come to a "T" intersection. /* ----------------------------------------- */. Extra thanks to Todd for marking the "Epic" camp site. Email pr@montrosecounty.net GO GPX Trouble downloading the GPX file? With a history of wheeling in Northern Colorado or Southern Wyoming, Tim loves being in the mountains and the backcountry. margin-top:4px; Check in with the Rim Rocker society and send them a few pic to use on their website and they might send you a Rim Rocker sticker for your rig also. At approximately 14.5 miles FSR 402 (aka Divide Road) joins from the left continue straight on FSR 540/402. We double checked that it was open to 4x4 traffic and wasn't an ATV trail it was so tight, and I had to use the axe to clear the trail at points lest we take body damage. There are some awesome campsites before you hit that spot that look over the valley. Continue to the parking area next to Highway 191. But there certainly are stretches that I look forward to tracing in the future. Turn left. From Nucla City Park head west out of Nucla, at which point the road changes to CC Road. Wheelchair friendly : Yes. Day 2 we pulled our overlanding Trailers all the way to Montrose. Is it possible to do it backwards? The Rimrocker Trail is a newly minted 160-mile dirt 44 trail that leaves from Montrose, Colorado and goes to Moab, Utah. Had to 3 point a few turns due to my length. There are opportunities to veer off the beaten path and get into some more intense trails, but make sure you always have a backup plan. Loved every dusty mile of it. This section is suitable for most vehicles. Then again, if you go to the pavement, turn right onto Highway 191 and it becomes the main drag through Moab. It should also be noted that although you are still on 90 Road it is now signed as Forest Service Road (FSR) 540. At this point we hopped out to the highway to return to Western Colorado so that we could avoid the camping bans currently being enforced in Grand County, Utah. His name for them was the Sierra La Sal, or Salt Mountains, being certain that their white tops couldnt possibly be snow in late summer. Note: if you will be continuing on beyond Highway 141, this is your last chance for gas. } You must take the alternate route of the Delta/Nucla Road, also called 25 Mesa) from Delta to Nucla instead of 90 Road. Height, Looking for something to grill this spring? This long but scenic 4x4 route has some steep but gradual climbs but offers some great mountain and alpine meadow views. It is just a special trail - it is hard to put into words. Tim will spend the summer going topless and enjoying the value of the great outdoors. I suppose if the creek crossings were high or the mud deeper it would then be a solid 3. .entry-content h1 { color:#666; Continuing on FSR 0378 (aka Q13 Road) past Buckeye Reservoir to an intersection, turn right and head northwest on FSR 0208 (aka U5 Road). .category-reports .post-info .author, .post-info .date { Turn left. Plus the Moab end is bone jarring rocky and there are probably 100 more interesting trails in Moab. The map is very helpful and that is all we had when we made the trip, but there were a few spots where we did get confused. In this Rimrocker Trail review we talk about camping along the trail, where to get up to date information on trail conditions, how long does it take to do the Rimrocker Trail, and muc Show more. text-transform:uppercase; Even a capable 2WD would probably do just fine. The trail is named after the miners called "Rimrockers", who used to work the many mines in Montrose County. All in all its a great trail and as previously stated, Fall is the perfect time to do the trail due to all of the fall colors. The trail parallels Hwy 195, before meeting its terminus in Moab. Also, I really appreciate the detailed areas which can be bypassed. PDF Legend - Rimrocker Trail A turn to the left will take you to CO Highway 141. We thought the site itself was really unique but didn't realize how epic it was till the next morning (rolled in at sunset) the overlook of the valley was amazing and caused a later start than planned as we enjoyed the sunrise and coffee. Continue straight. At 19.4 miles from Highway 141 (GPS N38 27.33 W109 03.60) you will cross into Utah. margin-top: 10px; It is sort of a mini moab and rocky for sure but great views and an added hour or so to the trip. The Rimrocker ends in town on the south side of Moab, Utah. I do believe that this section could be bypassed, however.