Originally published June 9, 2016. This trip report documents trail conditions and vehicle setups from Memorial Day weekend in 2016. For an evergreen overview and current trip-planning information, visit our Rubicon Trail ride guide.
By Jon Crowley
After several years of drought in Northern California, the wet winter of 2015–2016 brought an above-average Sierra Nevada snowpack. We had been patiently waiting for enough of that snow to melt so we could return to one of our favorite local four-wheel-drive routes: the Rubicon Trail.
For this Memorial Day family ride, we brought two very different Polaris machines: our proven RZR XP 1000 FOX Edition and a relatively new Polaris GENERAL that we had begun preparing for serious trail use. The outing gave us an opportunity to enjoy the Rubicon’s scenery while seeing how the GENERAL handled its rugged granite terrain.
Rubicon Trail Day Trip Video
Starting From Loon Lake
The Rubicon Trail is located in California’s Sierra Nevada, west of Lake Tahoe and approximately 35 miles east of Placerville. The complete historic route stretches approximately 22 miles between the Georgetown side of the mountains and the Lake Tahoe area near Tahoma.
The western end of the trail can be accessed from Wentworth Springs or Loon Lake. Those routes converge near Ellis Creek, but Loon Lake is the more commonly used starting point. We normally park at Loon Lake and begin our rides there, although the Wentworth Springs approach is also enjoyable.
From Loon Lake, the Rubicon crosses large granite slabs before winding through forested, rocky terrain. Elevations along the route range from approximately 5,400 feet to more than 7,000 feet. Because access rules, seasonal conditions and vehicle requirements can change, riders planning a current trip should consult our Rubicon Trail ride guide and verify conditions with the appropriate land-management agencies before leaving.
Polaris GENERAL and RZR XP 1000 FOX Edition
We brought our trusted Polaris RZR XP 1000 FOX Edition build and our newer Polaris GENERAL build. My son David and niece Brittany drove the RZR, while my daughter Katelyn and her boyfriend Dan drove the GENERAL.
By this point, we had owned the FOX Edition XP 1000 for more than a year. It had already proven itself rock crawling on the Rubicon and around Moab. Its 32-inch MRT X-ROX tires made a significant difference in the rocks, giving the RZR additional ground clearance and traction.
The GENERAL was still relatively new to us. We had equipped it with Factory UTV UHMW skid plates, a Racer Tech lift kit, 30-inch Sedona Rock-a-Billy tires and FOX 2.5 RC2 shocks valved by Shock Therapy. This was an ideal opportunity to see whether the GENERAL’s more utility-oriented platform could keep pace on a demanding rock-crawling trail.
A Relaxed Memorial Day Ride
Because it was Memorial Day weekend, we expected the trail to be busy with groups of four-wheel-drive vehicles. We did not plan to travel particularly far into the trail. UTVs can be nimble and relatively quick through the rocks, but many sections of the Rubicon offer few safe opportunities to pass other groups.
Instead of concentrating on mileage, we took our time, enjoyed the scenery and stopped frequently. That approach also gave us plenty of time to watch the two vehicles work through the granite obstacles.
My son brought his DJI Phantom 4 so we could capture aerial footage around the granite slabs. I walked much of the route while filming with a DJI Osmo, which provided a different perspective from the footage recorded inside the vehicles.
One of the best parts of the day was watching the kids drive. Navigating rocks, ledges and changing terrain teaches drivers to look ahead, select a line and understand how a vehicle reacts. I have always believed that experience driving off-road can help make someone a more attentive driver on pavement as well.
How Did the Polaris GENERAL Perform?
The GENERAL’s combination of skid protection, additional clearance, larger tires and properly valved shocks made it far more capable in the rocks than a stock machine. Its longer, utility-focused body required some additional attention when selecting lines, but it handled our day on the Rubicon impressively well.
For a closer evaluation of the machine and its setup, read our complete Polaris GENERAL rock-crawling review.
Rubicon Trail Photo Gallery
