Official Club Run : Cooke City - Goose Lake - 406 Cruisers Tail ride - Aug 21th - Aug 23th 2026

[geo5]

I’m hoping to make it. I’ve got a few more things to button up in the 80 to make it trail worthy

I saw you driving a couple weeks ago near Kenyon noble- your 80 looks incredible. Can’t wait to see it in action.

 

[MTMarcoux]

I saw you driving a couple weeks ago near Kenyon noble- your 80 looks incredible. Can’t wait to see it in action.

Thanks George, I'm really hoping that I'm able to get it out on a trail soon and not just have it be a pavement princess anymore.

 

[freedomsnake]

WHO WANTS TO HANGOUT
Confirmed:
@ttFJC + one - 80 series
@geo5 80 series
@PIZZZZA - 1G forerunner
@90WT + one (possibly) - FJ40!?
@WreckDiver1321 + one- 200 series
@4gotalot 200 series
@thetoyotaman 4runner?
@ThatOldSixtie 80 series
@Tanaman 200 series
@apollotundra Tundra
@1989FJ tacoma
Lets GO!

HOPEFUL
@MTMarcoux - i really wanna see his JDM 80 out here for pictures!

I’ve never been and it’s been on my bucket lists for the better half of a year now (taco)

 

[N in N]

This is copy paste from last year, but i plan on following a very similar schedule:

Official Club Run : Cooke City - Goose Lake - 406 Cruisers Tail ride - Aug 21th - Aug 23th 2026

PLEASE CHIME IN IF YOU THINK YOU WILL MAKE IT- PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW, THIS IS THE MOST EPIC TRIP ALL SUMMER YOU DONT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE. COME FOR THE WEEKEND, JUST THE DAY, WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOUR SCHEDULE, WE WONT BE HARD TO FIND!

THIS THREAD WILL BE UPDATED AS NESSICARY. VEIWER DISCRESSION IS ADVISED.

I've been telling a lot of friends about this, but i thought id post up online. This is one you want to see.

I will update this thread once the plans are set in stone. Put this one on your calendar now.

Tentative plan (this is how its worked in the past)
Leave Bozeman Friday as soon as [possible. Noon is best, five is more likely, any later then that we risk getting stuck in traffic through the park and making camp late at night.

Friday we drive through Gardiner MT and the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone, just pass Cooke City we head towards Goose lake and find a camp spot. Usually next to what i think its called Star lake.

Saturday we head up to Goose lake and find another place to camp, go through a couple of small obstacles, stop at one of the many lakes and fish, enjoy the crazy views. Saturday we pick a spot to camp. Lots of options available.

Sunday we take the long way home and hit Daisey/Lulu pass and hit sheep mountain which is the highest point you can reach in a 4x4. head back through the park get back to Bozeman hopefully around six-seven, back through the park or some can take the long way and drive down the Beartooth through red lodge. worth the drive if you've never done it but not so much fun in a big fat land cruiser vs a car. (so much fun in the Fiata)

Id like to cap this trip off at ten, ive done more in the past but it makes for a long slow day if there is to much traffic.

The weather is unpredictable, we got snowed and hailed on one year so prepare for that. Ask the guys about 2024, but well worth it.

Its not a particularly hard trail, but have decent tires, the rocks out there are sharp. @thetoyotaman drove a stock 100 out there one year with running boards and a hitch hauler but i wouldn't suggest it. there are bypasses for all the hard spots. In 2025 we took a stock second gen up with decent tires, and good driving. there were a few new scrapes under the runner, but nothing major. Larger vehicles have had trouble getting up in the dark without a spotter. but i wouldnt worry seriously.

LULU and Daisey pass can be driven with a subi. In fact we will likely see a few along the way.

IF we time it right Friday night we drive into the sunset and the views along the lake are 12/10

One year we counted more then 50 shooting stars

Please post up if you are interested in coming along for the ride.
All club rools apply, enter at your own risk. your mileage may vary.

if you cant make the convoy, its pretty easy to find us out there. a large section of the trail is in and out.

tentative schedule(copied from last year) :
FRIDAY:
Main convoy departure:
4 PM -Town and Country East main parking lot. be fueled up and ready to go at 4. this means arrive a bit early.

4:45-5 arrive in Livingston- People in coming from billings or Livingston this would be a good place to meet up, we will be leaving the interstate and headed to Gardiner.

6-6:30 arrive in Gardiner MT. i will top off my gas here and we will enter in to the park.

730 - 800 (dependent on time and traffic) arrive in Cooke city. This is the section that may take the longest. should only take a hour and a half but there's always traffic in the Lamar valley . we will air down at the pull off when were about to head up the road that leads to goose lake.

900-hopefully make camp at star lake or other opportunities we see on the way up. late arrival makes for longer drive to find a good spot for everyone.

If anyone wants to arrive ahead of the convoy and find a good spot to reserve. feel free to express this interest.

Saturday - this is very open but id like to have somewhat of a structure

10AM - leave camp and start up the trail to Goose lake

12-1 arrive at goose lake. hike to the lake and eat lunch, people can fish, explore hang out talk Toyotas, drink Soda pop ETC.

I don't have anything really specific planned for the afternoon, or evening, we can make a decision of where the group wants to set up camp, we've camped at the end next to goose lake, or we've gone down lower and found a spot. should be plenty of options.


Sunday

10AM- start down the mountain to head to hit daisy, LULU pass and sheepshead mountain. this is a lot of long gravel switchbacks, easier fast driving with epic views, we will stop for lunch somewhere, lots of opportunities. I anticipate getting back to Cooke City around 3-4 at the latest. This is where people can gas up to head back to Gardiner through the park, or bomb down the bear tooth highway to red lodge. Red lodge is a awesome little town for anyone who hasn't been.

I'm thinking ill be headed back through the Gardiner way, and depending on timing.


Feel free to express the need to leave early, stay for all the fun, or take off when you need to be. Sunday is a long full day of driving i realize but i promise the views and pictures are WELL WORTH IT!

And one who needs to make special arrangements to meet up, we can figure something out. I have most everyone's phone number and we can coordinate on the GMRS radios and the HAM

GMRS 18

HAM 146.460
and ham 462.6250 for GMRS Ch 18

We are still planning on joining this run if that is OK? We are planning on being up most of the week exploring. Driving up from Nebraska. Never been to Montana.

 

[ttFJC]

We are still planning on joining this run if that is OK? We are planning on being up most of the week exploring. Driving up from Nebraska. Never been to Montana.

more the merrier! we wont be hard to find!
this is looking like a very strong showing! super stoked

 

[freedomsnake]

you can take my name off the roster for goose lake between the smoke the air show in billings and the fact i believe im buying a race car on the 22nd i will not be attending. hopefully ill catch some of you on the BDR ride.

 

[ttFJC]

I will give an update on the status here this weekend. Stoked !

 

[ttFJC]

Update on the Cooke City Campout 2026!

So later this week I will be starting a group chat. If I do not have your number, please be sure to DM me before Wednesday if possible. This group chat will be used to coordinate convoys down to Cooke city but don’t expect a lot to get through once we are in the park or Cooke city will not have any service , but you can get WIFI at the visitors center. I have the password somewhere ill post it as soon as I find it again, I doubt it has changes from last year.



So, the plan again will be to have the convoy meet up at the town and country at the end of main. I would like this convoy to leave by two. Like ready to roll and leave at two. (even thought I was the one who was an hour late last year lol whoops.



We can also coordinate when we will be rolling through Livingston to meet anyone from park county that wants to jump in.

I’m leaning towards providing two different potential camp spots. With Matt’s (@90WT) permission I’m going to nominate him to be my co caption/ tail gunner if he’s willing. His plan was to head up early and have a camp set up lower on the trail then the coordinates for the usual camp spot. He has camped their before and says it can accommodate several/ a few trucks. The spot at the lake can accommodate everyone, it just might be a late arrival if we don’t get on the road to Cooke city soon enough, or traffic in the park does is bad. but I always try and time it so we’re driving into the sunset next to the lakes. But it can make for a looong day and a late-night camp set up in the dark. So the original schedule has been accurate in the past time and duration wise but lets try and get it started a couple hours early

We can set a rally point if we feel nessicary but for Saturday since we have a large group it might not be a bad idea to split the group up.

This would also be a great time to maybe coordinate group meals between us. I know that Andrew ( @PIZZZZA ) made amazing tacos for anyone who wanted one last year and it was awesome. I will likely have some sort of vegan meal for myself and im always willing to share.

Please come prepared for terrible weather. IT always hits us with at least one decent storm, so have sandwiches or plenty of snacks incase you cant make a hot meal because were stuck waiting out a storm in the cruisers. Its summer but its high elevation, we get snowed on, or at least hail/sleet every year.

Please be sure to have a spare, a good one. This trail has been known to eat tires.

I’m currently looking into the Fire restriction for the area. There will be wood on the trail, but not close to the camp spot I have us targeted for Friday night. Saturday will be open to kind of where ever the group wants to land. Currently, Custer Gallatin national forest is listing fire danger of high, but no restrictions, at of 8 am today.

If anyone wants to bring some dry wood to help start a fire that would be nice just in case. And also it might be a good idea if someone has a chainsaw, those electric ones are so nifty.

I don’t think we have anyone that I would consider a “greenie” but if anyone has any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to ask.

Friday night PIN:

45° 4′ 55.98″ N, 109° 54′ 38.50″ W
this is the spot we have camped out at in past years. nice and open, plenty of space for a lot of rigs. plan to do something similar but we may end up anywhere on the road to goose lake. its an in and out road so we wont be hard to find.

Potential alternative: Ill wait for Matt to post up the location of his Friday night spot. (much lower on the trail and has room for trailers IRRC)

Live up to date conditions/fire map:

Montana & Idaho Backcountry Trail Map & Fire Weather | Aaron Thies — Aaron Thies Motorsports Photography - https://www.aarongoesfast.com/know-before-you-go

406 cruisers trail ride directory- you can use this as a tool to see the past five years of trips to cooke with the club FYI

MT 406 Cruisers Trail Archive & Off-Road Guides — Aaron Thies Motorsports Photography - https://www.aarongoesfast.com/406-cruisers-trail-archive

I can send a Gaia track of the trail for anyone interested.

 

[ttFJC]

another note is that gas is available in cooke city, buts its expensive so plan accordingly. im sure ill have more random thoughts to post as the trip gets closer

 

[90WT]

Happy to be tail gunner, and/or lead a second group if we split up.

I'm camping out Friday before the trail splits to Goose Lake. Taking my trailer and hoping to be in Cooke City before 3 pm.
45.04456, -109.90952. Go to the Lady of the Lake trial head and you'll see a faint dead end road/trail that leads to a camp spot. Excellent view of Index Peak. Can fit a bunch of rigs in there. If that spot is taken, I'll be somewhere else...I'll have my radios on.

We'll head out from there Saturday morning to meet up with the group on the trail.

 

[pismojim]

Have a great trip! Wish I could be there. I've been trying to get out and meet the club but schedules and logistics haven't worked yet. That didn't stop me from going to Goose Lake last month after being motivated by this trip and previous club runs. New trail for me, solo and first legit test of newly built rig made it even more exciting. It was awesome. And the memories are getting get better the more I think about it. Pretty much exactly my idea of a perfect trail. So beautiful. Maybe next time. Have fun!
Cheers,
Jim

 

[ttFJC]

Also a friendly reminder to all the RC guys to get ya crawlers ready.

 

[WreckDiver1321]

Hey Aaron you can pull my +1 off.

I'll be coming up over the pass from the Red Lodge side on Friday since we're not going to be able to leave before 5. That'll put me in the neighborhood of @90WT by around 8 ish. I know the spot well.

 

[MTMarcoux]

I’m not gonna make it on this one. Try again next year.

 

[ttFJC]

stoked for this! updated the attendance page, anyone who knows i dont have their number please DM for the group chat!

 

[90WT]

I’m not gonna make it on this one. Try again next year.

I got tonight and tomorrow night free if you need help with the brakes to get you to Cooke City.

Or you can steal Austen's 80 for the weekend.

 

[geo5]

I got tonight and tomorrow night free if you need help with the brakes to get you to Cooke City.

Or you can steal Austen's 80 for the weekend.

Totally! I can come hold a flashlight!

#getethantogooselakeorbust

 

[thetoyotaman]

I got a laundry list of stuff I need to get caught up on the 80 the next couple of days but looking forward to getting her out again on the trail for the first time in a couple of years.

 

[ttFJC]

I got a laundry list of stuff I need to get caught up on the 80 the next couple of days but looking forward to getting her out again on the trail for the first time in a couple of years.

im like 90 percent sure that i still owe you a fusable link dont let me forget im like almost certain the one you loaned me and i never used is in my 80 series spare parts bin ill bring with me
LOL from last year when i needed one before the trip

 

[thetoyotaman]

Lol I’m having some weird electrical issues I think. Fuel trims randomly go crazy.