The Rubicon Trail - Part 1 - a Jeep Badge of Honor Trail

The Rubicon/McKinney Road in Northern California got its name because it crosses the Rubicon River at one point near Lake Tahoe. Initially established in the 1800s, the road was used as a stagecoach road between Georgetown and Lake Tahoe. After the hotels went out of business, the road began to deteriorate. Because of this, in 1952, several residents of Georgetown held a meeting to discuss the possibility of an organized Jeep tour from Georgetown to Lake Tahoe via the Rubicon Trail. On August 29, 1953, 55 Jeeps with 155 enthusiastic participants left Georgetown on a two-day trip that is now known as "Jeepers Jamboree 1." Since then, the Jeepers Jamboree organization has moved the event to the last weekend of July. Now it's a four-wheelers tradition of these "pioneers."

Today, almost everyone has heard of The Rubicon Trail. It is an extreme trail and believed to be the Super Bowl of offroad trails. It is a must-do destination for all offroaders, overlanders, and rock crawlers. The Rubicon will test your driving skills and your vehicle. According to who you talk to, this trail is scary intense to a weekend camping trip. But don't be fooled; this trail should never be underestimated for one second.

Join Joshua Noesser as he and Kim take their jeeps along this epic overland and rock crawling trail with the Jeepers Jamboree. Will they make it, or will they fail. You will have to sit back and see.

For the complete off-road trail guide, please visit:

Get the offroad trail details and download a GPS route today at:

#trailsoffroad #offroadtrails #therubicontrail

[kylemay]

I did the Rubicon trail in '85 with an overland tour company. I was 14 and it's still one of my best memories growing up. I'd love to do it again some day, but not easy living in FL. Until then, I'll live vicariously through your video. Thanks!

[Crakheadzombie]

I think this is the fifth time I watched this. I’m new to jeepin. Thank you for all your hard work

[RubiconTrailFoundation]

Here's some time stamps on named locations on the trail!
0:28 - Rubicon Trail sign painted by Shannon Chard from Friends Of The Rubicon (FOTR)
1:29 - Auburn, CA
1:35 - Georgetown, CA
2:14 - 1st Dam Loon Lake
2:21 - Shannon's sign (Now owned by El Dorado County)
2:52 - FOTR Kiosk
3:24 - Loon Lake Spillway
3:28 - Hot Rock
4:38 - Gatekeeper
7:11 - The Bowl
8:15 - Stair Steps
8:41 - Whale Bones
9:33 - Ellis Creek Bridge
10:18 - Bottom of Walker Hill
10:42 - Nobie's Rock
11:13 - Driveline Hill
11:47 - Short Little Sluice Bypass
12:17 - V Notch
12:30 - SAM WALKER! at Arnold's Rock
13:51 - RTF Mid-Trail Staff Glenn White on Indian Trail
15:29 - RTF Property Entrance

[parkerboggess]

I’ve learned so much from your videos, can’t wait to get this trail marked off my wheeling bucket list.

[JeepAdventures]

Hell Yeah, such a epic trail and video.... Keep the rock crawling / overland trails coming. I love the difficult multi day trips.

[Stangherbie]

Not to brag but my son and I drove a 68 Bronco from Salt Lake City through the Rubicon and back. No breakdowns. I did spend a year prepping. Awesome video

[jimm]

We live near Placerville so it is not far away for us. A lot of flatlanders come here for it.

[bajamedic]

Just day tripped the trail on Friday. Was the only rig on the trail, it was surreal.

[jefflenney]

Great Video Guys, loving the new style you're doing and the effort you're putting into the editing etc. Keep em coming! :-)

[Thousand_yard_King]

My Brother actually helped establish the Rubicon run and the jeepers jamboree, your welcome!!

[jimsather]

Looking forward to Part 2. Couldn't find it on the TrailsOffroad website as mentioned. Take that as a compliment that I wanted to binge both episodes... :-)

[richardvalitalo]

10 hrs, lol. I'm a week of driving away! Some day I'm gonna drive there to do that! Cheers from Ontario.

[joeverastegui]

Very cool vid Joshua. Tell Kim I am impressed how quickly she has become such a very good rock did you say only a Bear is allowed to shit in the woods on this trail? LoL....I'll keep an eye out for part two. Happy Wheeling!.

[RegisteredNurseLA]

Did this whole trail in my 97 tacoma reg cab on 31’s, king shocks all around 2.5” lift, tc uca’s, fully locked, armor all around and underneath.

[EricBuenoo]

How did the stock sliders hold up on the JL? Looks like they did well despite not being frame mounted. Definitely impressed!

[tomandhistruck]

what are you using to hold your gas cans to your spare tire? I've been looking for something like that.

[ervinrodriguez]

What Communication Radios and Frequencies/Channels do you guys use on the Rubicon Trail? GMRS? FMRS? VHF 2meter? UHF 440 MHz? Commercial? CB?

[ducatifriedrich]

Seems you were travelling with a 4 door driven by "Kim" and a small older red 2 door. What size tires and lifts were on those 2 other jeeps?

[glennraney]

Great video. Looks like a blast. BTW... Where did you get the spare tire rotopax straps? It looks a bit more substantial than some I've seen.

[slowmobius]

Would you say Ellis peak ohh is a difficult trail for a 2021 4Runner with a slight lift and bigger tires?