Joshua Tree

Couldn't find an old thread about this so..

Anyone who has been to Joshua Tree know which roads are 2wd capable. I tried doing some research and only found one road that is 2wd capable which is Covington Flat.

 

Geology road is 2wd from what I remember

 

Do I have to air down for this road?

 

I didn't

 

It is doable going from North to South for about 15 miles. Then you’ll want to turn around. Would recommend 4wd if going further.

you don’t need to air down to do the trail but there’s some good corrogations that are softened with air downed tires.

 

I’m going to be the negative Nancy and tell you that if you have to ask, the answer is none and definitely don’t go alone. A question like this is loaded because not all drivers and not all 2wd Tacomas are the same. An experienced driver could probably drive a stock SR through the entire park in 2WD, a novice driver could get a 4wd truck stuck on an access road.

There are two ways to gain experience: go out with more experienced people and learn from them or go out alone and unafraid and learn from your mistakes. I’d recommend the first.

Some tips I’ve picked up

Don’t go alone until you are completely comfortable with how your truck works off road.

Don’t be afraid to turn around if things get weird, I got stuck trying to push through something I shouldn’t have to avoid a detour that turned into a multi hour ordeal, but somehow I have friends that will drop what they are doing to bail me out of my stupidity.

Join the trips that are posted on here, or post up a trip you’d like to make to find people to join you.

 

2WD gang lol

I've asked about 2wd friendly trips as well and this is basically the advice I was given....

 

Good thing you corrected me. Haven't been there in a long time.
I remember that trail is super popular though. Which is why I stopped going lol

 

It is.

 

Nice reference.

I don’t agree with geology tour one though. You can go farther than 4 miles w/ 2wd. Check out how my per mile time goes down dramatically at 8 miles (this is going south to north from Berdoo canyon). Would not advise going through Berdoo canyon in 2wd.
Anyways, have fun!

 

Yea I found that funny too. I did the whole loop no problems at all.

 

What would you say is the easiest trail to do here?

I have a bone stock SR 2.7 that I'd like to take and stick to dirt roads and such...

 

Start with the O’dell road. It’s very short. Just to get a feel. Then I’d move on to Geology tour road. Just go as far as you’re comfortable with. Make sure you air down.

 

Thanks!

 

You realize this is a National Park, not a wheeling spot right? You shouldn't be going out there to rip around on dirt roads, that's what Johnson Valley is for.

 

You saw the map right? Most of the trails are 4WD and even the 2WD trails have sand traps and the like that pose challenges.... I didn't say anything about ripping around, I am taking the necessary precautions and pre-planning to avoid getting stuck - this would be my first time on an actual trail with the truck.

 

Geology Tour Rd is 100% doable in 2wd. We did it on a dads and daughters campout. No need to air down for it or do anything than take your time at a couple of spots. Several of the people with us did it in their stock trucks and none of us used 4wd. I wouldn't do it in a minivan but it's easy.

 

Are you going there to visit the park or are you going to for "my first time on an actual trail with the truck"?

The park website has a page that talks about the roads in the park that is a much better source of information than some person on the internet that calls them trails. These are roads that are used by visitors to access remote sections of the backcountry of the park, not designed for vehicular recreation. Not sure where you got the idea of "sand traps" but these are graded roads, not Baja 500 tracks. Read what is allowed, call the park rangers if you are unsure, wave to the Subarus as they pass you if you do go.

https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/backcountry-roads.htm

 

@TacoSRSX heres what the narrowest sections look like on the “loop”.