What's harder - Forest Lake or Mineral Basin?

[Troop92]

Just curious - ran Forest with a buddy and some coworkers (built TJ, TJU, and JK). With scout camp next week and with my luck being what it is, I just rode along/spotted and didn't tempt the breakage gods. After seeing it, pretty sure with some good lines my Trooper could handle it.

Before hitting the trail, there was a gentleman at Tibble that scoffed at our plan to run Forest, stating Mary Ellen was far harder.

From reading on here and from other sources, always thought it went (easy to hard) Mary Ellen, Forest, Mineral. Am I wrong? If we were to hit Mineral this week, would we find it harder or easier than Forest?

 

[gertsch]

Mineral is harder then forest lake. But maybe only slightly harder.

 

[Gravy]

I've done all of them dozens of times and, Troop, that order sounds about right to me (at least on a 4x4).

 

[Kevin B.]

Mary Ellen is mostly just hard enough to keep the Subarus out, but has a couple spots just above the meadow that are likely to turn back a stock truck.

Forest Lake doesn't have any particular obstacle that's very difficult, but there's definitely more technical driving to be had than on Mary Ellen. I've spotted several stock trucks through with no trouble though, and I expect your Trooper should not be challenged.

Mineral Basin has obstacles harder than anything on Meg or Forest Lake, but most of them have bypasses. One spot is mandatory and might give you fits if you don't find the right line through it, with potential to eat a rocker panel if you aren't careful. I think that Mineral is just hard enough that I wouldn't recommend a new wheeler in a mild truck take it on alone.

 

[Troop92]

Good to know I wasn't off base. I'm far from new to wheeling, we start early in Idaho! There wasn't anything on Forest that I wouldn't take my Trooper on. I've done Rattlesnake without any issue numerous times. Friend in the JK is more about speed, which I can't stand to watch. Dad taught me young to pick a good line, take it easy, and spare yourself breakage.

 

[JL Rockies]

I've done both in my KJ


BLM... lolz.

 

[N-Smooth]

Mineral basin has some harder, optional obstacles but is also miles of bumpy stuff. I love Forest lake because it has some technical stuff (try it when it's raining) and it doesn't drag on. I'm pretty confident I'll never run mineral basin again because it's not really fun.

 

[Nappy]

After the little slickrock to the left as I'm going towards Mineral, where you can finally see the backside of the lifts, how far up that rocky trail is it to the end? I go up there to that spot and just usually let the kids play with toy trucks on that slickrock chunk. But there was a Jeep coming down that trail last time so I went up it a ways. Was rocky, but not anything I couldn't handle. Went a ways and realized there may not be a picnic area for the fam and turned back... Does it get worse up farther? Id like to go up there this weekend and see what's up passed that area. Never been all the way up I guess...

 

[Nappy]

Mineral basin has some harder, optional obstacles but is also miles of bumpy stuff. I love Forest lake because it has some technical stuff (try it when it's raining) and it doesn't drag on. I'm pretty confident I'll never run mineral basin again because it's not really fun.

This is why I turned around... Forest Lake was a great little run. I hate just putting along rocky trails with the kids along...

 

[Troop92]

Hmmm, food for thought. I think the idea was for a 'guys weekend' where we go up on a Friday after work, camp at Forest Lake, then Saturday hit Mineral and Mary Ellen. A true AF trails weekend.

I think my friend was mostly interested in Mineral because he saw a youtube vid of rigs running it during runoff with water all over the rocks/trail. He's crazy like that.

 

[skeptic]

I've run Mineral 3 times, first two were turned back by snow in my XJ. Third time I got to the end - stock H3T w/sliders and extra protection underneath. Only one spot I was worried about - worried I'd slam against my sliders, but in the end no problems. I did manage to scrape up my sliders and under carriage protection. Ultimately, I have no interest in ever doing that trail again. I hate the long rocky areas, not terribly difficult but just not fun.

 

[sLcREX]

Let me know if you ever want another rig up there with ya, I've been wanting to run those trails as of late and just never seem to get around to it.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Mineral Basin used to be one of my favorite trails in my old Jeep when it was on 31's and later 33's with some great camping spots below Mary Ellen, but it gets pretty boring once you step up to 35's and long arms, haven't ran it in 2 years. Plus it usually gets pretty crowded up there and waiting 20-30 minutes behind a group to get through the rock garden gets old real fast. Still a beautiful area to explore with lots of wildlife, might have to get down there over the summer on a weekday.

 

[Kevin B.]

Mineral basin has some harder, optional obstacles but is also miles of bumpy stuff. I love Forest lake because it has some technical stuff (try it when it's raining) and it doesn't drag on. I'm pretty confident I'll never run mineral basin again because it's not really fun.

That's funny because I feel the exact reverse. Forest Lake bores me to tears anymore even when it's slippery, but Mineral has a couple big obstacles that make me think. And much better views! Maybe I've just run Forest Lake too many times.

 

[jentzschman]

I like them both, air down and run um. MB is bumpy but it still enjoyable when you have that off road itch.

 

[zukijames]

Marry Ellen's is the hardest for me.. When on my dirt bike ..

Mineral and forest lake have became less fun since I've learned you are supposed to turn around when you get to snow

 

[Misfit02]

Going up with a group on the 19th. Will let you know.