Barney Riley Trail Markleeville, CA

[rich]

Hello All,

I have been off the forum for a while. I just wanted to know if anyone has done the Barney Riley Jeep Trail down to the East Fork of the Carson River hot springs and if it is a tough trail or if my stock 96 Toyota T-100 with 200k miles could make it. Any info would be great.

Thanks,

Rich

 

[craig333]

Been meaning to do that for a long time. From what I"ve read its an easy trail, but lots of small rocks. Kinda bouncy like a washboard road if understand it right. Been meaning to camp down the road (nice campground down where highway 4 comes in) and do it in the Jeep. Probably still could, hasn't been much snow yet.

 

[rich]

Thanks Craig

Yeah, it looked easy to me but then I saw pictures of a rock crawler jeep in a sluice between the trees going over coffee table sized boulders and I know my t-100 won't make that. I have read a little bit about people needing to be winched out of there too so I got a little leary of going. I haven't bought a another fj40 as a toy yet so I only have my stock daily driver and no winch. Any one out there been on this thing? That can give Craig and I some first hand advice.

Thanks,

Rich

 

[pvstoy]

Hi Rich,

I have never been there but I did Google search and here is the search and a link from California Jeeper. Click on some of the other link pages for more info and pictures. Might have two rigs just in case......

http://californiajeeper.com/barney/review.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Barney+Riley+Jeep+Trail+

 

[craig333]

Yeah, thats one link I remember. Looking at that one spot, I wouldnt take my truck through that. For the Jeep it looks pretty easy but you never know what mother nature might do from one season to the next.

 

[rich]

Those Pics are why I didn't go last weekend

Hi PVS Toy,

I did that same search and found the same pages and those pictures of the jeep in the rocks are what convinced me not to try the trail last weekend. That is a lifted jeep with 33's or 35's on it and a fair bit of travel in the front suspension and those are big rocks. There is no way my stock T-100 could get through that spot. I still haven't been able to find someone that's actually done it to find out if that guy in the jeep was just having fun in there and there's an easy way around or if you have to go through that section and more importantly, is that the worst that trail has to offer. I did find this post and pic on the Tundra sollutions forum:

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/35709

The first truck looks like a stock taco. If that truck could make it then mine can. I posted a comment on that forum also to try to get some info but I haven't heard anything yet.

 

[rich]

More Pics - looks rough!

I found this series of 80+ pictures of the Barney Riley Trail and for the most part it looks doable but there are a few stretches that look like they would put the hurt on a stock truck for sure. Alas, I think I need to buy another FJ40 or beef up my T-100 to go down this trail.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/551729056fdxFnC?start=0

 

[erod]

rich, those are some great pics! thanks for posting!