Cruiserdrew
On the way there
We just got back from DV and I can offer a bit of info.
First, the camp I discussed with Brent near Rhyolite is great. Only room for 4-5 trucks at the rock wall corral though. Strozzi Ranch Camp has more room and is 200 yards further up the main canyon. I camped under the rock overhang and it was warm, still, and we had a great fire in the fire ring that warmed the whole carved out area.
The scary bridge in south park is indeed still closed to "full sized vehicles". We drove down to the bridge from above and it's signed on both ends with very unambiguous signs. So if you attempt it and get reported, you will be cited. It's too bad. There had been reports floating around that the bridge was back opened, but it isn't. Camping up in South Park itself was great. We were the only people in the entire Middle Park/South Park system. It will be cold and windy there for sure. We came in through Pleasant Canyon/Rogers Pass, then the Ridge route along the east side to South Park. It's steep in spots!
The Pleasant Canyon trail now has 2 ways to access it. The new way is the better way-up the road from Ballarat, slight left, up and over a range of hills, descend on shelf road back into Pleasant Canyon. Easy. The original route is CLOGGED with willows where the spring is. It's nasty and we did it, but it's terrible. Trust me.
Warm Springs canyon to Butte valley was reported to have big wash outs. This is basically just a rumor. It's rougher than usual, not washed out badly, and the usual bad wash out spot was clear. There are some deep truck flipping ruts in Butte Valley. Keep the trailers out of those, otherwise no problem. The road up to Mengel Pass is reasonably difficult. I don't know the skill level of your group, but it's OK, just a couple of big boulders on the trail and 1 significant off-camber spot. Once over the Pass, there are several wash outs, and then some trail rerouting in the canyon below Barker Ranch. One is narrow and off camber-careful with trailers there, but no real problem. The lower canyon steps are filled in and it's basically a highway this year. That spot ranges from nothing to 10 foot waterfall steps. Right now, it's great.
Saline Valley road is really washed out in places. From the south it's OK until the top of South Pass. As you descend Grape Vine Canyon, it gets nasty. Almost impassable. There are very deep washouts and I'm not sure you could get trailers down. Set up trucks is not a problem, but the deep short wash outs will be interesting.
We did not attempt Hunter-the beginning looked about like normal. It was snowing there 2 days ago, and I suspect it's closed at this point.
We came out of Saline Valley through Steel Pass. From the springs to the top, route finding is harder than I've ever seen it. Lots of wash outs, but still faint traces of trail here and there. Someone marked a lot of it with red ribbon tape that was generally on the best route. Steel Pass itself and Dedeckera Canyon are about like normal.
We didn't have time for Lippencott, however, we met 2 guys that went down it in a Subaru, so I assume it's about like it usually is.
In park service language, "closed" means you can try it, "impassable" means don't go there.
Good luck with your trip.
First, the camp I discussed with Brent near Rhyolite is great. Only room for 4-5 trucks at the rock wall corral though. Strozzi Ranch Camp has more room and is 200 yards further up the main canyon. I camped under the rock overhang and it was warm, still, and we had a great fire in the fire ring that warmed the whole carved out area.
The scary bridge in south park is indeed still closed to "full sized vehicles". We drove down to the bridge from above and it's signed on both ends with very unambiguous signs. So if you attempt it and get reported, you will be cited. It's too bad. There had been reports floating around that the bridge was back opened, but it isn't. Camping up in South Park itself was great. We were the only people in the entire Middle Park/South Park system. It will be cold and windy there for sure. We came in through Pleasant Canyon/Rogers Pass, then the Ridge route along the east side to South Park. It's steep in spots!
The Pleasant Canyon trail now has 2 ways to access it. The new way is the better way-up the road from Ballarat, slight left, up and over a range of hills, descend on shelf road back into Pleasant Canyon. Easy. The original route is CLOGGED with willows where the spring is. It's nasty and we did it, but it's terrible. Trust me.
Warm Springs canyon to Butte valley was reported to have big wash outs. This is basically just a rumor. It's rougher than usual, not washed out badly, and the usual bad wash out spot was clear. There are some deep truck flipping ruts in Butte Valley. Keep the trailers out of those, otherwise no problem. The road up to Mengel Pass is reasonably difficult. I don't know the skill level of your group, but it's OK, just a couple of big boulders on the trail and 1 significant off-camber spot. Once over the Pass, there are several wash outs, and then some trail rerouting in the canyon below Barker Ranch. One is narrow and off camber-careful with trailers there, but no real problem. The lower canyon steps are filled in and it's basically a highway this year. That spot ranges from nothing to 10 foot waterfall steps. Right now, it's great.
Saline Valley road is really washed out in places. From the south it's OK until the top of South Pass. As you descend Grape Vine Canyon, it gets nasty. Almost impassable. There are very deep washouts and I'm not sure you could get trailers down. Set up trucks is not a problem, but the deep short wash outs will be interesting.
We did not attempt Hunter-the beginning looked about like normal. It was snowing there 2 days ago, and I suspect it's closed at this point.
We came out of Saline Valley through Steel Pass. From the springs to the top, route finding is harder than I've ever seen it. Lots of wash outs, but still faint traces of trail here and there. Someone marked a lot of it with red ribbon tape that was generally on the best route. Steel Pass itself and Dedeckera Canyon are about like normal.
We didn't have time for Lippencott, however, we met 2 guys that went down it in a Subaru, so I assume it's about like it usually is.
In park service language, "closed" means you can try it, "impassable" means don't go there.
Good luck with your trip.
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