Trail Overview
Branching directly off the popular Crown Point Road, Dadd Gulch is a highly rewarding intermediate trail tucked into the Roosevelt National Forest. It is a fantastic destination if you are hunting for top-tier dispersed camping, as the route features several large, scenic clearings equipped with established stone fire rings that can easily accommodate multi-vehicle group setups.
The drive itself is engaging without being overwhelmingly technical. You will spend most of your time navigating a bumpy, rock-embedded dirt track, but the trail demands your attention with a few distinct obstacles. Drivers will encounter somewhat steep, deeply rutted sections and a handful of off-camber washouts that will definitely flex your suspension and test your articulation. It is a great, slightly challenging spur that rewards a bit of technical driving with some of the best group campsites in the immediate area. This immediate area was spared from the Cameron Peak fire, so it still has tree cover at the campsites.
Difficulty
This trail is an easy 4. While much of the route consists of standard bumpy, rock-strewn dirt, the difficulty temporarily spikes at a few somewhat steep, rutted climbs and awkward off-camber washouts. These specific tricky spots require line choice and proper ground clearance to navigate cleanly. A stock, true 4x4 like a Tacoma, Wrangler, or Bronco will handle this trail perfectly well. However, if you are driving a Subaru or a similar low-clearance AWD, you will very likely scrape your undercarriage, drag your bumpers in the deeper ruts, and struggle for traction. Four-wheel drive is highly recommended for smoothly navigating the washed-out sections without spinning tires or tearing up the trail.
