Windmill Loop

Very fun not to many difficult obstacles was difficult for the truck in our group but was fine and easy for the jeeps

Trail is pretty clear. Some challenging parts, but most have an alternate route. I didn’t anticipate how long it would take. I came in from the eastern end. I would recommend bigger than 33s or serious skid plates.

Everything is doable with the right rig. Not too bad, but my family was bitter that it was so rough (not me, I loved it). The only complaint is the time on the trail app says an hour. Took us 2 hours to make it to the river from third flats, that’s not quite halfway through the loop. It was almost 5 hours total to make it to bangs canyon trailhead. We did stop briefly, but only a motorcycle could potentially make it through the whole loop in an hour.

didn’t do the whole trail mostly because we were looking for campsites, but the trail is open, and looked very fun. (Everything i saw said no camping) It seems like it’s very well maintained (it has a fence around the routes) and seems to be like a good area to meet great people and do some great off-roading. I’d recommend, despite only having an impression.

The “navigate” function in OnX starts you at Bangs Canyon which means you’ve got to start with The Tabequache Trail. We decided to start at Third Flats Trail Head and drive to the river. That stretch is 5.9 miles and took us about 2.5 hours round trip. The obstacles are quite doable save one that scraped the underside because of the high peak of rock and the steep entrance and exit. I was in a Bronco Badlands with Sasquatch (35’s).

This trail is longer than the 1 hour Onx suggests. About 2 hours one way. When you get to the windmill you will have to turn around and go back. Otherwise the only way back is through The Tabeqache trail which is not recommended for any stock vehicle. Windmill loop a stock jeep will scrape in a few places. 33s recommended at minimum. Most of the trail is forest road but a few shelf climbs about 2-3ft high and some large rocks a little smaller than axle height. Round trip the trail will take you about 3.5 hours

We brought extended family on this trail, some for their first off-roading experience. At the obstacle at the top of the shelf road the Rubicon scraped a little. That combined with the shelf road, we voted to have lunch there at the turnaround and then return the way we came to the Third Flats Trailhead. Coming back out was more of a challenge for my stock suburban. We definitely want to return for Horse Mesa and finish the Windmill Loop.