How 'bout it..... What trail is more challenging? I know that Dusy is far longer but from a lot of "articles" that I have read it seems most seem to consider Dusy more difficult. I welcome all options...... (dangerous I know) :eek:

I moved this thread out of land-use and placed it here where it belongs.

To answer your question, Fordyce is much harder than Dusy.

Fordyce. Definately harder.
Dusy is a moderate trail at best.

Fordyce. Definately harder.
Dusy is a moderate trail at best.

With some very challenging obstacles.

I agree fordyce is harder. Though it does have a emargency exit, which I had to use for the first time a few weeks back. I saw a few others using it as well. It is a short very hard maditory 2 locker trail in my book, at least to be enjoyable.
The dusy will not let you get away with any breakage that may require a parts run. Not only is the trail loong but then its even longer to the parts house. Shaver/prather are very limited with what is in stock and are still quite far. If you have to head for Fresno to get any parts/tools you are looking at a mulitday extention to your trip.
Good luck and have fun.

Thompson Hill is fun, and there are a couple of spots at the end that get challenging. Other than that, it's pretty moderate.

dusy is just a very long and very very dusty fire road. i will never run it again in an open vehicle.

I'll buck the trend and say that the Dusy isn't really an easier than Fordyce or the Rubicon. Sure there are some 2wd open diff sections but there are rough spots as well.

I didn't find Thompson hill (going up or down) to be the toughest section of the trail. It certainly was the longest hard section though. The North end seemed to have the most difficult sections though considerably shorter. From the South you really don't run into anything hard until Thompson hill.

A person can take stupid lines on any trail :smokin:

Being 32 miles long in BFE was already mentioned (bring spare parts and a means of communication)

I moved this thread out of land-use and placed it here where it belongs.

To answer your question, Fordyce is much harder than Dusy.

Sorry about the board placement problem!! (my wife says I'm stupid, I say I'm with stupid)

Thanks for fixing it up.

Thank you all for your replies........

My other questions are more in regards to the camping...

1. Do I need a wilderness permit?
2. Are the mosquito's as bad as the Rubicon?
3. Where are the best places to camp for a 3 day trip?

The mosquitoes are pretty thick everywhere but at Courtright. Bring deet, you'll need it for sure.

Best camping I think is at Ershim Lake (although some might say camping alongside Courtright Reservoir to be better due to hardly any of those bloodsuckers flying around). Other spots are Lakecamp Lake (near the north end of the trail), and Thompson Lake (top of Thompson Hill).

As for the trail, I had no issues at all locked & geared on 35s (one guy I was with was in a CJ on 33s, banged the diffs a few times, but did fine otherwise). It's not exceptionally difficult, but interesting enough you should have a good time. Very tight in spots, the trees will make it interesting for any full-width axled rigs.
BRING GAS!!!!!!!! If you don't get excellent mileage, or have a small tank, you WILL need at least a couple jerry cans. Like said, it's very remote and far from any services.

Here's a interesting re-direct.....

Dusy or Swamp? Seems from what I read using the search Swamp is just as hard if not harder than Dusy but can be run in 1 - 2 days.

Anyone think an HMMWV will make Dusy. Im not concerned about the trucks capability, just width. I hear lots of people say there are some REALLY TIGHT pinches.

Anyone think an HMMWV will make Dusy. Im not concerned about the trucks capability, just width. I hear lots of people say there are some REALLY TIGHT pinches.

I've seen pic's from the trail that make it appear that there are spots just wide enough for Wrangler width vehicles..........lots of trees.

I ran Dusy last year with my Dad in a 89' Cherokee on 31's with 2 open diffs, full size 76' Blazer, TJ with rear locker, 33's and my 71' CJ on 32's. I am not sure how much wider the above mentioned is. The Blazer made it through with only 1 or 2 really tight spots.
I thought the trail was fun, challenging in some spots with absolutley beautiful scenery. Not super hard though. If you want to run a trail without running into a ton of other rigs this may be the one. We only saw 10 other rigs over 4 days.

Anyone think an HMMWV will make Dusy. Im not concerned about the trucks capability, just width. I hear lots of people say there are some REALLY TIGHT pinches.

My Jeep is 80 1/2" outside tire to outside tire. There are plenty of tight spots but I had a little bit of room to spare without having to resort to "sidehilling". There are a few threads from a year or two back that talk in depth about what fits and what doesn't.

Anyone think an HMMWV will make Dusy. Im not concerned about the trucks capability, just width. I hear lots of people say there are some REALLY TIGHT pinches.

Extremely doubtful.

With fullwidth axles, you can usually force your tires through between the trees (the sidewalls should flex enough to get it past), but not a wide vehicle body like that.

Anyone think an HMMWV will make Dusy. Im not concerned about the trucks capability, just width. I hear lots of people say there are some REALLY TIGHT pinches.

not gonna happen...way too wide. Up until a few years ago you could not get a full-size through the trail w/o doing major damage to several trees. The Fresno club rerouted a couple of spots to eliminate that problem but the chances of body damage is still very high ;)

How 'bout it..... What trail is more challenging? I know that Dusy is far longer but from a lot of "articles" that I have read it seems most seem to consider Dusy more difficult. I welcome all options...... (dangerous I know) :eek:

Dusy/Ershim never has been a 'technicaly' difficult trail but the length and concentration needed to get through the multitude of tight turns will just wear you out. This trail really isn't one to do if all you are looking for is a place to test the capabilities of a hardcore rig; for that go to Fordyce and Hammers ;) But, if you want some of the most incredible scenery in the country and an uncrowded environment...head to the Shaver area for any of the may trails up there. Thomson hill is different every year and even w/in a season; it can bite you anytime you go ;) I've seen well built rigs on 40s struggle in spots that a locked Tacoma on 33s walked right up...and vice versa... It can be run in 2 days for those who just like to blow though things but 4-5days is a much better time frame to have time to enjoy the scenery...and wrench :p
The North end's last mile can be very tough, up or down.
camping: North end of Courtright, Thomson Lk, East Lk, Ershim Lk, Mallard Lk, Lakecamp Lk

Shaver Lk area trails
Dusy
Swamp Lk
Red Mt trails
Brewer Lk
Bald Mt
Spanish trail

Swamp has a few spots that are fun but for the most part it is a point-n-shoot trail for a SA rig on 35s. IFS on 33s will have a good challenge.

My Jeep is 80 1/2" outside tire to outside tire. There are plenty of tight spots but I had a little bit of room to spare without having to resort to "sidehilling". There are a few threads from a year or two back that talk in depth about what fits and what doesn't.

My HMMWV is 89"+ depending on the amount of flex. I talked to a couple of guys from Fresno 4 wheel, Clovis Independent, 4x4him, & lock and low this weekend at Hummer's Bald Mountain Trail Rescue. They said it was doable, but not likely to be easy. I want a little more armor first. They also said that it was not a really difficult trail with the exception of 4 really short, really tough spots. They did say it is LONG! People that have been on both tell me that Fordyce makes Dusy look like a quick jaunt across a fresh plowed field with a few comparable exceptions. Don't take it personally if you don't agree. I'm just researching.

My HMMWV is 89"+ depending on the amount of flex. I talked to a couple of guys from Fresno 4 wheel, Clovis Independent, 4x4him, & lock and low this weekend at Hummer's Bald Mountain Trail Rescue. They said it was doable, but not likely to be easy. I want a little more armor first. They also said that it was not a really difficult trail with the exception of 4 really short, really tough spots. They did say it is LONG! People that have been on both tell me that Fordyce makes Dusy look like a quick jaunt across a fresh plowed field with a few comparable exceptions. Don't take it personally if you don't agree. I'm just researching.

I'm just under 82" up front, rubber to rubber, but fit through everything except one tree squeeze w/o pulling in any mirrors...and that is also just barely riding up both trees right to left with the front wheels. I just don't see how you'd get 89" width through that trail, sorry. If my truck were 82" wide, body wise, it would not make it.

stjames...I've been on both trails...nothing personal:D

If Trek had been canceled this year I would have ended up on the Dusy again:smokin:

Dusy is just a great trail. Been going there since 1975. The 4 wheeling can be challenging and changes every year. You need to spend some time there to enjoy it. Great fishing and dozens of lakes to hike to. If you like the more extreme hiking you can see some incredible sites. I am going to start the trail this thursday and come out on sunday, wish I had more time.

Also if you go in september the mosquitoes are gone.

I think due to the fact I don't carry much in the way of spare parts and was planning on running solo, I think I'll just run Swamp this weekend. Sounds like a good trail and it looks like there is some camping areas near by too. Can Swamp really be done in 5 - 6 hours?

We are doing the Dusy this weekend in our Sidexsides and would LOVE to have a Jeeper along for support!!!:D:D:D

We've already done Swamp and looking for more of a challenge. Were going up Thursday night to camp and starting Friday morning. Let me know if you want to join us and I'll give you coordinates to where were camping.

I think due to the fact I don't carry much in the way of spare parts and was planning on running solo, I think I'll just run Swamp this weekend. Sounds like a good trail and it looks like there is some camping areas near by too. Can Swamp really be done in 5 - 6 hours?

Can it be done? sure, but that would be blowing through it and IMO, why? the Shaver trails are all about taking your time and enjoying the scenery, doing some fishing ;)

camping at the top of the first climb near the trailhead (hiking) to Sportsman Lk; next, Grouse lk (easy), the ridge between Grouse and Swamp and then Swamp Lk (hard to get down to the actual campsite on the lake.)

have fun.

We are doing the Dusy this weekend in our Sidexsides and would LOVE to have a Jeeper along for support!!!:D:D:D

We've already done Swamp and looking for more of a challenge. Were going up Thursday night to camp and starting Friday morning. Let me know if you want to join us and I'll give you coordinates to where were camping.

Which end of the trail are you starting from?

Which end of the trail are you starting from?

We are starting from the Courtright Side. Do you know of any big groups going our way?

Just 4 of us leaving courtright thurday morning. All jeeps in our group. Don't know of any other groups.