Elephant Hill

[ZUKEYPR]

Got a bud who has a bone stock Nissan XTerra, would he have any issues on Elephant Hill? That's one of the few trails I haven't been on.

 

[TK1]

Have him take the rear sway bar off (takes five minutes) and it will do just fine. We've taken plenty of stockers on Elephant Hill.

 

[Rusted]

Last summer we took a stock wrangler through there. It took a little work to get the stocker through SOB Hill, but from memory he drove it on his own as I was getting a strap ready. I think you are fine, but I would not drive it alone, bring another rig with you.

 

[Don B]

I drove the wifes stock 98 ZJ over Elephant Hill just a couple months back and didn't have any problems. They've filled in all the holes between the rocks, so while it's still steep, there's nothing too technical about driving it.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

I drove the wifes stock 98 ZJ over Elephant Hill just a couple months back and didn't have any problems. They've filled in all the holes between the rocks, so while it's still steep, there's nothing too technical about driving it.

They filled in the holes? What, do they actually maintain this trail? Is it still worth the mileage to go down there? How steep? Like Hells Revenge Steep? My daughter as well and I don't want her flipping out on me.

 

[Don B]

Yeah, the Park people have gone in and put asphalt in the holes between the rocks to make it easier to drive. Makes no sense to me.

It is quite steep and has a few interesting switchbacks but it's not really that hard to drive. Don't know if it's Hells Revenge steep. Even with the work they did on the trail, I still enjoyed the trip and had fun. Elephant Hill would have been way too easy in the modified CJ, but doing it in the stock grocery getter was still interesting. I had the wife and kids with when I drove it and it didn't bother them any, but then again, they're used to going out with me on some of trails.

 

[TK1]

ZUKEY, the scenery is worth it! I love it down there and would still go if it was just a dirt road.

It's not Hells Revenge steep, in fact it wasn't that hard even before the "improvements".

 

[ZUKEYPR]

Hooah! sounds like a good one to break the daughter on then it's off to M & M.

 

[Rodeoman]

Thanks for the info guys, friend in question is actually me, recently aquired 2001 Xterra. Still debating on taking it for maiden run, or just take my Rodeo instead.

 

[Houndoc]

I thought that it has been maintained to some degree for a number of years...shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

 

[Jeremy]

I thought that it has been maintained to some degree for a number of years...shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

ya like 30 years.....


its not regularly maintained, but when it gets bad enough that there park service cherokees and libertys cant make it they fill in a hole. they only do that in the first hill, up the front side and down the back side. the rest of the loop is relativly unimproved.

it is defenatly worth the trip. we stopped at the devils kitchen for lunch and some exploring. that was more fun than anything else we did that day.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

I thought that it has been maintained to some degree for a number of years...shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

It would be if you've never been in that district before. Thanks for the info folks. What's up Rodzilla!

 

[TK1]

You need to hike into Chesler Park, it is awesome!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...they only do that in the first hill, up the front side and down the back side. the rest of the loop is relativly unimproved....

As you mentioned they do regularly maintain Elephant Hill (the actual first hill), but this last year they completely dozed SOB Hill...

Back to the question, I don't think the Xterra would have a problem at all. I took my Tacoma along with a freinds Lexus SUV (Landcruiser) through it earlier this spring... both were unlocked and we didn't have any issues. Great trail!

 

[Jeremy]

As you mentioned they do regularly maintain Elephant Hill (the actual first hill), but this last year they completely dozed SOB Hill...

i am unfamiliar with SOB hill???? which/where, is/was that hill? and how did they get a dozer to it?

we where there at EJS, did they do it before EJS 06? this was the first year we did the whole loop. in years past we just did "elephant hill" up and over the hill and then turned around.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

I've heard of Chesler Park, how far in is that? What's Devils Kitchen?

 

[TK1]

Devils kitchen is an cool area with some really cool camp grounds, it's about half way through the trail.

Chesler park is about a 2 mile (maybe less it's been a while) hike from the Chesler Park trailhead.

 

[TK1]

i am unfamiliar with SOB hill???? which/where, is/was that hill? and how did they get a dozer to it?

we where there at EJS, did they do it before EJS 06? this was the first year we did the whole loop. in years past we just did "elephant hill" up and over the hill and then turned around.

SOB hill isn't actually part of the Elephant Hill trail proper. They probably got to it from the Beef Basin side which is just dirt roads.

 

[Rick B]

Actually the park has a service road that bypasses Elephant Hill. They use it to get their heavy equipment out there when needed.

For anyone with any question as to what can be driven over EH consider this: the tour companies (Tag A Long, Navtek, etc.) all drive either Suburbans or quad cab F-250's over it every day.