Union Springs

We did pretty well until we got to the first steep switchback and unfortunately there was too much ice for me to make it up so we had to turn around, but it was very beautiful.

Great trail run yesterday. The steps seemed to be more washed out than I remembered.

My wife and I had a blast on this trail. Like the reports say the bottom sections is easy, but as you climb it becomes more technical. It rained the night before, so we had many deep puddles, but all had rocky bottoms, so they are not hard to get though. Definitely a fun trail that took us a couple hours to complete.

Lower part of trail is a gravel road. Upper part is pretty serious and you’ll want either skill, or a vehicle with upgrades (likely both). Nice mud pit area at the top. Rocky ledges that required some spotting but nothing the GX460 couldn’t handle.

Ran this trail again today, always a fun time. It rained all day the day before but the trail was mostly dry by afternoon today. This really should be broken into 2 trails in my opinion. There is a significant difference between the main Forest Service Road #225 Union Springs and Forest Service Road #225B Stone Gap or Stone Camp. If entering from the East, the main road #225 rates a 2. Most vehicles should be ok getting all the way to the end of this road. At the north western end of #225 is where #225B starts. There is a trail marker that says "Stone Gap" but the forest service maps call it "Stone Camp". Regardless, this trail is much more difficult. Most stock vehicles will struggle on this trail. It earns every bit of its 4 rating, and some optional obstacles and lines are probably a 5. Some obstacles have bypasses, but some do not. Meadowknob is a nice place to stop and have lunch, but you cannot get there easily from either direction.

Pretty dry. Most water crossings were bone dry but some of the mud pits were still full. Over grown so pinstripes will happen.

Beautiful day to ride today. Ran it from bottom to top and had no issues in my Xj on 33’s. Moved over for one small group coming down the trail but other than them it was only us on the trail. Always a fun day trip to make up there and have lunch at Meadow Knob.

Very accurate rating of 4/10. Overgrown in the summer but not bad enough for serious pinstriping. Optional obstacles were fun. Loose rocks and steep climbs were good. Most "hard" obstacles have bypasses except 1, even then, 4lo and some decent ground clearance will be fine, people stack rocks for aid. We had 2 lifted Tacomas on 33's A/T, a first gen tundra on 33's A/T, a bone stock 2 door wrangler sport on all seaons, and even an Adv bike. No lockers on any of the vehicles, had no issues at all. The view from Meadow lookout was great, traversed down Flagpole trail to exit, way easier.

Good fun trail. As another comment said it doesent get “difficult” till the 225 B section which is the stone camp road about the last 1/3 of the trail. Dry mostly till the end further sections we encountered some mud. As shown in last pic it was very muddy and then the rock ledge at the top was too high for the 4Runner to get over. Backed out till we could turn around.

The majority of this recorded trail toward the east is fairly easy. The difficult section, the western third, is not actually "Union Springs" but rather forest rd 225B "Stone Gap". Stone Gap earns its 4 rating, with ruts, rock ledges, mud holes, steep inclines, etc. The trail can be run in either direction. We ran this trail from East to West, up to flagpole trail. This is the more difficult direction due to having to take most of the obstacles going uphill. The trail can be tight in some places, but full size vehicles can make it through, expect some pinstriping. There are occasional pull offs, but if you run into traffic someone may have to back up a good ways to get by. We ran into 2 small groups traveling east. 1 other Jeep and some dirt bikes were also traveling west. There are a few campsites along this trail and one in particular has a really great view.

Heck of a trail.. loved it. Knew what I was heading into with all the YouTube Videos.. Did it with a Bronco Big Bend non-Sasquatch on 33s and did perfectly fine. Will Hit it again very soon