Big Johnson
Total Miles
1.0
Elevation
1,729.10 ft
Duration
3 Hours
Technical Rating
Best Time
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Trail Overview
There's a gatekeeper right at the southern entrance to Big Johnson that is a tall vertical wall about 6+ feet tall, approached through a narrow slot in the rock formation. If the gatekeeper is at your limit of difficulty, you shouldn't proceed. After the first obstacle, going east is the main extreme obstacle, which involves having to work your way up to the top of the next mesa, 20 feet above you. It goes up a very off-camber slickrock slope, and up a blunt 5-foot rock shelf, all with pretty extreme exposure. Or you can take the bypass around to the west. The bypass is easy. At the top of the mesa, there are wooden signposts to mark the rest of the trail, but it doesn't look very trafficked because the trail is still full of bushes, and no tracks. It looks like they want you to dip back into the rocks a few more times to follow the signs, but it's almost like the trail hasn't been fully developed yet probably because the start of the trail is so hard it deters all but the most seasoned of rock crawlers who dare to venture up there. You can keep following it around the rim of the mesa though on an easy dirt track with a few more ramped slickrock slopes that are easier. It ends on an oil well road.
Photos of Big Johnson
Difficulty
This trail is rated a 9 by the BLM, but the extreme vertical climb up the main obstacle, combined with the exposure, makes it more of a 10 per the OnX trail rating system. It's for highly modified vehicles only. A minimum of 39"+ tires and front and rear lockers are required, and you can expect body damage and rollovers. Proper body protection and trail recovery gear are required. This trail requires extreme caution and experience. SXS's need to use extreme caution or shouldn't attempt.
Status Reports
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