Trail Overview
BLM Trail 129 picks up right where River Bluff (BLM 118) leaves off and starts with the toughest section right away. At the beginning, you’ll hit a mud hole followed by a short but steep, rocky climb that’s fairly technical compared to the rest of the trail. It’s really the main obstacle—if you make it through that first 100 yards, the rest of the trail is much more manageable.
From there, the trail stays one vehicle wide and settles into a mix of moderately steep climbs and descents with some rocky sections, though most rocks are under 8 inches tall. Around 0.3 miles in, you’ll come to a fork—stay right to remain on Trail 129. You’ll also run into a few rutted areas (generally under 6 inches deep) and some short off-camber sections along the hillsides, but nothing too extreme.
In wet conditions, parts of the trail can get a bit sloppy, so keep that in mind. Full-width vehicles may brush up against sagebrush in a few tighter sections as well. Overall, once you’re past the initial climb, it’s a fairly straightforward trail with a bit of variety to keep things interesting.
Difficulty
This trail is rated at its difficulty due to the steep, rocky, and somewhat technical climb right at the beginning, which can be challenging for less capable vehicles. Beyond that, the trail includes moderate climbs and descents, loose rocks, shallow ruts, and a few off-camber sections that require careful driving. While the remainder of the trail is fairly manageable, those combined features—especially in wet conditions—add enough challenge to justify the rating.
