Miller Rock - Parking, tight-spots, large group concerns

[newracer]

Where do you usually stop to air down, just a little ways into the trail? I am thinking of taking my club up there but we can get a lot of rigs on trips. How tight does it get towards the end?

[RockyMtRebel]

we aired down at the meeting spot (which is pretty big). I've thought about airing down on the trail but if another group comes along it would be a pain.

[FINOCJ]

we aired down at the meeting spot (which is pretty big). I've thought about airing down on the trail but if another group comes along it would be a pain.

Is this the best place to meet: https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B009'58.7%22N+105%C2%B027'29.6%22W/@40.1663008,-105.4591667,244m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d40.1 662992!4d-105.4582302?hl=en
This would be on hwy 7 just east of the intersection with 72, I believe - don't know if leaving lots of trailers here is doable or not?. Then you have short pavement drive (approx 1 mile) down past the Raymond store to the actual trail head. Wondering about leaving trailers at that location?

[RockyMtRebel]

That spot has a good amount of room for trailers but I'm not sure if there are restrictions or not...... that exact spot usually has a group camped there but the road just loops around and has the room but again, not sure if they'll get ticketed or anything.

[Tom]

Where do you usually stop to air down, just a little ways into the trail? I am thinking of taking my club up there but we can get a lot of rigs on trips. How tight does it get towards the end?
Trailridge runners always air down a little ways up the trail.

[newracer]

We usually have a decent size group. What would you say is the biggest group that could run the trail without too much getting in each others way?

[Jim]

Another option for trailer parking. I don't know status as to if it'd be legal but my assumption is yes (it has stop signs and is (long ago) county painted double-yellow with stop lines).

EDIT: This short run of roadway is on the MVUM as 264.1 so I take it as public and that parking in the wide spot by the old house should be legal.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B009'53.8%22N+105%C2%B027'28.8%22W/@40.164936,-105.4587834,270m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x0:0x0!2zNDDCsDA 5JzU4LjciTiAxMDXCsDI3JzI5LjYiVw!3b1!7e2!8m2!3d40.1 662992!4d-105.4582302!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d40.1649363!4d-105.4580099?hl=en




What would you say is the biggest group that could run the trail without too much getting in each others way?

For when folks are moving group size should not matter much (assuming no counter flow traffic). For stopping & socializing points (Miller Rock, the two cabin sites). Hmmm - pack-m-in parking at Miller Rock (10 vehicles)?? At the cabin sites 5 or 6 at / near the cabins but more spread along trail from the cabins?

I assume you're all buggies that would not stop at the obstacle heading to the creek.

[newracer]

Actually no buggies. This would be a trip for my club http://mountaineers4x4.org/

I'd be driving my stock JKUR. Most of our members have stock or mildly built rigs.

I am mostly concerned with getting turned around at dead ends.

[Jim]

If people will get stacked up at the obstacle down to the creek - I'd say, easy parking for four vehicles before / after. All on-trail - so you could string out more.

I grabbed the MVUM and made a couple notes for sections of trail that don't offer much for off-trail parking or allowing an overtaking/passing group of vehicles to get by. Turning around at the dead ends I do not see as a concern.

Section 1 - the main "IN" route and a bit of shelf-road climb up the hillside.

Up at the intersection area - ample parking off-trail - lots of small one to three vehicle spots.

Section 2 - down a valley / shelf road down the hillside to the creek - scant few areas for off-trail parking for vehicles to pass - and where possible mostly only one vehicle in size (more just above the obstacle)

Section 3 - moderate spots to park vehicles to bypassing traffic or ability to turn around.

Unmarked spots - specifically to the northeast - generally ample turn around / bypass options.

The trail to the southwest is a common exit through the ?bible camp?. They advertise for people to call their phone number to see if their gate will be unlocked / open. Be courteous when traveling through to James Canyon Drive.

The southeast trails don't have issues turning a large group around (though 254.1 near the "F" of 254.1F is a side mountain shelf-ish road for a stretch - some nice views to the northwest where the trees are thin.

[Jim]

Depending upon group size, you could split up into at least two groups - one large group entering up to the intersection then split - one to the northeast and one to the southeast. Each section is an in-and-out and perhaps meet back at the intersection. From there drop down to Miller Rock and perhaps take the southern exit for a complete trail experience or back out as one group the way you entered.

[newracer]

That's some great info Jim and thanks for splitting off into a separate thread.

We could easily have 30 rigs. What I am actually thinking about doing is have one group run Miller Rock and another run Bunce and Ironclads, and then maybe swap.