Dusy-Ershim Questions?

[matter_daddy]

I want to plan a trip to do dusy. I have never been can anyone post some PICTURES and as much info as you can about the trail. How long does it take? How hard is the trail? Is there good camping, fishing, and such? Is there lots of places to camp? Are guns allowed? Also I'm considering bringing my daughter. Is this a family sort of place.....as in not a hundred drunks everywhere?.....I like drunks just not with the kid....also how about directions from the nearest town? Thanks!!!

[Dirt Mover]

The trail takes two long or three semi long days. Most people go in from the Courtright Lake side. The lake is 60 miles + or - east of Fresno. Go up Hwy 168 to Shaver Lake make a right onto Dinkey Creek Rd. Go right at the bridge at Dinkey and just follow the signs. The trail is about 33 miles long. When you get done you'll be at Whitebark Vista on top Kaiser Pass. Kaiser Pass is above Huntington Lake on Hwy 168, then just head back to Shaver. Hard to say what you think is a hard trail. My friend told me he pulled a toy through 2 weeks ago ( 5:71 RP ) Check out Marlins BB, Marlin just went about 3 weeks ago.

[Terry4X4]

I've run the trail 3 times, we are planning another trip in Sep. If you avoid Labor Day weekend, most of the time you will have the trail to yourself. The first two trips we never saw another rig.

As said, it takes about 3 days to run the trail. It is easier than the Rubicon but is grueling due to the length. Coming from Courtright, Thompson Hill is fun and there is some good trail the last mile near Kaiser Pass. Lots of tight squeezes between trees and rocks all 3 days. Helps to have a spotter at Divorce Corner (a blind right turn down a steep off camber turn.)

There are many lakes in the area, fishing is supposedly good. At the ranger station on Hwy 168 pick up a Dinky Creek wilderness map. It contains a excellent map of the trail.

Last Year's Trip
There is a link here to lots of pics from the trip.

[mudratz]

Our group has done Dusy multiple times. Only one time did we go from Courtright all the way through. Most everyone said they did not want to do that again. It is a lot of dirt. Bumpy enough to keep speeds down, but not challenging enough to be going slow. We usually do Thompson Hill, make a u turn and head back to Courtright. Thompson is a good section. Make sure you are not running to rich if you have a carb. The top is 10,000 feet.

[plug ugly]

Originally Posted by Terry4X4

Helps to have a spotter at Divorce Corner (a blind right turn down a steep off camber turn.)
.

I always wondered what that was called.

This trail isnt particularly hard as stated, but the length does take its toll on you. We havce taken our fullsizes through without much problem. The trees are tight when you are big tho.

Camping is nice, mosquitos can be bad depending on the time of year. Fishing is supposed to be great, but never tried it. Very pretty, very secluded, and no shit on the ground everywhere you step.

IMO, its one of the must do's just to get away. Thats why we are going in a week.

[RCKRATZ]

fishing is awesome up there. We camped at Courtright for a few days on the 4th of July weekend and caught 8 keepable rainbows

[got 4wd]

RCKRATZ: hey did i see you guys leaving on the 4th weekend? i was in the Red TJ with coilovers, headed out to dusy? you guys were at dinky and 168 intersection with a couple jeeps on trailers?

[mudratz]

We were there over the 4th, but no trailers. This trip we just had a Toy P/U and a Yellow Jeep. We just finished building the trailer for the Jeep.

[TheMucker]

Is there a place to park a tow rig near the beginning of the trail?

[plug ugly]

9 threads down from here

/forum/trail-rides/272531-tow-rig-parking-dusy.html

[Terry4X4]

Originally Posted by TheMucker

Is there a place to park a tow rig near the beginning of the trail?

If you're going in and out you can park near Courtright or at Kaiser Pass depending on which end you go in. Otherwise you would want to park near Shaver, and do a large loop. It's a haul from Shaver to Courtright and then have to backtrack if you run the whole trail.

[LCOwner]

Originally Posted by Terry4X4

Helps to have a spotter at Divorce Corner (a blind right turn down a steep off camber turn.)

If you're talking about the big rock just north of Ershim Lake it's called Whale Rock.

Here are some pics from this July. http://www.hillhoppers.com/DusyS04/

[plug ugly]

cant you leave the tow rig over at the other little lake area? Where the trail comes out if you go in through courtright? I seem to remember a gas station and a dcok over there?

[sloburban]

I want to take my sub through the entire trail. Will it fit? I have had it up to what I have heard is "Chicken Rock"(?) I need to do the rest of it.

[Ghetto Fab.]

Uhm... No. I would not take a suburban through there or any fullsize truck for that matter. I know some people have done it and I've seen a group of fullsizes up there, but its a lot of work. Some spots in my toy were just barely wide enough to get through the trees with mirrors out. And I'm talking inches not feet. The fullsize guys kept saying that they go up and over the trees.

The part from the start to "chicken rock" is nothing like what the rest of the trail is like.

Looks like I'll be up there from the 21-24 if anyone is interested.

Kevo

[got 4wd]

if i get the jeep together ill go...

[Terry4X4]

Originally Posted by sloburban

I want to take my sub through the entire trail. Will it fit? I have had it up to what I have heard is "Chicken Rock"(?) I need to do the rest of it.

I won't say it can't be done. I just wouldn't want to be behind you. Earlier this year we saw a fullsize burb on the 'Con. If it matters, body rash will be certain in the many tight squeezes. You'll see the scrape marks on the trees. Some of them will be yours...

[crwln73]

I live about 60miles from Dusy and run it often. I would have to agree w/ Terry4x4 it can be done but be prepared for lots of BD. I have a 73 Chevy truck and it got alot of the BD from the Dusy trail. Of course now it doesnt matter;

[sloburban]

The body is still nice and strait. Minus one fat rock dent in the rear. I guess I should hold off until I flop the burb. Then it won't matter for me either.


crwln73-- thats a purdy truk. does the winch block flow to the radiator any?
I like the setup.

[crwln73]

Originally Posted by sloburban

crwln73-- thats a purdy truk. does the winch block flow to the radiator any?
I like the setup.

It does but not enough to bother anything.

[03chevyhdcc]

sloburban (& others with full size rigs)...I've been looking for some information all over the 4x4 internet realm for info on taking a fullsize rig (03 chevy 1500 HD CC 4x4 in my case, stock) through the very first part of the Dusy. I take it that you've been able to take your suburban through from the parking lot to "chicken rock"? I've taken that trail many times before (in the past) in a jeep & s-10 blazer, now I have my full size crew cab and would like to get to voyager campground, but was wondering if i could squeze through w/o much trouble?

I don't think having a stock ride (tires & height) is a problem for that first 2 miles or so to the campground...i was just wondering about the long wheel base being an issue...particularly the part on that trail that comes after crossing marmot rock (the large granite area, lined with smaller rocks) and before the campground. It's that sharp 90 degree turn, uphill. Did that present you (or other fullsizer's) with a problem with your long wheelbase?

[shamb]

Dunno if anyone's posted this yet or not.. but check out this site

http://www.off-road.com/4x4web/travels/dusy.html

[03chevyhdcc]

shamb...I've read that before. However, it seems like this article pertains to the entire trail which I am not wanting to travel. I've never been 4x4'in on or past chicken rock, but I've read and heard that past chicken rock is by far the "most difficult" portions of the trail.

"Not recommended for fill-size pickups, long wheel base vehicles or for traveling alone. Only short wheel base vehicles recommended beyond Voyager Rock Campground." Is this aimed at the entire trail, or mainly the part that's past chicken rock?

All the info out there seems to relate to the entire trail. I'm wondering if there are others out there besides sloburban who have taken full size rigs like ours from the parking lot to voyager campground?

The reason I ask is that I'm planing a trip up there in a few weeks and it would be a big time bummer to drive up there (from Sacto)...only to find out that I can't get past some part of the trail.

Thanks in advance for any additional info/tips.

[sloburban]

I just got back from the Dusy. I can get through without a problem **up to voyager campground**. I have been fore warned about going past chicken rock with my burb. 03chevyhdcc** that turn you are talking about can pose a problem for a long wheelbase. My burb doesnt like right hand turns, so I have to make a "K" turn up there and put the center rock between my right rear tire and the rear diff. (Stay to the left and hug the tree at the top of the corner. As you pass the tree cross the road to the right side and then go back to the left and you will be fine. You will see the line im talking about. That diff catcher is slap dab in the middle of the road so you cant just put your tire on it. A couple of tight spots here and there, but nothing to sweat. I did put a nice crease in both sides of my truck on the same tree though. Going in and comming out. "I" didnt see another line to take but there has to be one. Somebody had a stock F-250 CrewCab Dually up there at the voyager camp. I didnt see a scratch on it.

[03chevyhdcc]

wow...awesome info sloburb!

thanks for the great detail and I'll post my results after.