Rubicon Trail — Georgetown to Loon Lake via Rubicon Springs and Buck Island Lake (Classic West-to-East Full Traverse)
California's hardest trail. No exceptions.
The Rubicon Trail is the benchmark by which American rock crawlers measure everything else. Running east from Georgetown to Loon Lake through the El Dorado National Forest, this 22-mile route crosses Rubicon Springs — a historic hot spring camp that’s been a gathering spot for wheelers since the 1950s — and forces you through boulder fields, ledge climbs, and tight granite chutes with names like Big Sluice and Soup Bowl. Buck Island Lake offers a genuine alpine reward mid-route, sitting at around 6,300 feet with cold clear water and dispersed camping on solid rock. The Kelly Jeep Trail section east of the springs is where most rigs earn their damage for the season.
This trail is Expert-level and demands a purpose-built or heavily modified rig: lockers front and rear, proper skid protection, a winch with a full recovery kit, and a spotter you trust with your life. Stock trucks don’t finish — they wait for extraction. The trail is open July through October, though snow can persist into late June at the upper elevations. No permit is required for day use, but dispersed camping requires a California campfire permit. Fuel up in Georgetown or Tahoe City; carry extra. Cell service is essentially zero throughout. What you get is the closest thing the Lower 48 has to a true expedition trail — just compressed into two very brutal days.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 22 mi / 35.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6500 ft |
| Best season | July-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with lockers and skid plates |
| Nearest town | Georgetown, CA |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Eldorado National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Rubicon Trail page Eldorado NF trail info |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner run the Rubicon without modifications?
No. Stock rigs get destroyed here. At minimum you need lockers front and rear, high-clearance suspension (3–4" lift minimum), skid plates, and 35" tires. The Soup Bowl and other granite sections will bend stock control arms and rip out differentials on unmodified vehicles.
When does the Rubicon Trail open and close each year?
Typically accessible July through October, depending on snowpack. Snow can linger into late June at elevation, and early October storms can shut it down fast. Check with Eldorado National Forest before you go — don't assume July 1st means it's clear.
Do you need a permit to drive the Rubicon Trail?
No permit is currently required to drive the trail itself. Dispersed camping is allowed under standard Eldorado National Forest rules — no fee, 14-day stay limit, 300-foot setback from water. A valid California Campfire Permit is required if you're having a fire.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The Soup Bowl near the middle of the trail is the most notorious — large, loose granite boulders with almost no line that avoids full-axle articulation. Expect body damage even on well-built rigs, possible rollovers if you're off your line, and a crowd of people watching you make your worst decisions. Budget extra time here.
Is there any gas or resupply between Georgetown and Loon Lake, and what's the fuel range I need?
Zero resupply on trail — nothing between the Georgetown trailhead and Loon Lake. Fill up in Georgetown before you drop in. Most rigs running low gears and 4WD the whole way burn significantly more fuel than highway; plan for at least 1.5x your normal consumption and carry a rotopax if your tank is under 20 gallons.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
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