Imogene Pass

[GladVentures]

What are your thoughts on Imogene Pass in a stock Gladiator Overland with stock Rubicon wheels and tires in mid-July? Is it "safe" for a Jeep newbie?

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[GladVentures]

This is the trail description from FunTreks:

“Difficult. Do not take this trip lightly. The road is rocky, steep and narrow in places and passing can be dangerous. Stock SUVs should have low-range gearing, 4-wheel drive, high clearance and skid plates. Experienced drivers only.”

Thank you for the information, Azmojave!!

 

[DocMike]

I did it in a Sport S on 35s. Guy in front did it in a bone stock sport, not sure how far he went.
Things to ask yourself:
1. Do I like shelf roads with big drops?
2. Will I deal with tourists who have no business up there in rented Jeeps?
3. Can I pick good lines?
4. Do i have GMRS and a buddy?

Mid week is far less crowded. I would not go on a Saturday.
Take Ophir from Ouray to Telluride and then take Imogene back to Ouray. Get 2 BOH trails.
Ophir is easy. There is one section, about a mile, that is exposed and YOU CANNOT LET ANYONE PASS. So when you hit the summit you look down the trail. If no one is on ascent....haul butt.
If you see someone on ascent, just wait them out.

Imogene is not bad. Two sections one near the summit is a bit technical and one right after the summit is also technical.

 

[Nigelcorn]

Imogene is do able stock. It is more that there are narrow shelf roads than difficult obstacles. Also, lots of idiots in rented jeeps that don't know anything about offroad etiquette. But the trail is doable stock, Ophir pass even more so.

 

[cotnballs2000]

Super easy, just have to pay close attention because of the narrow trail with drop offs. I was on the trail last year in a stock JK Sport. Has amazing views, some of the best around.

 

[DocMike]

If you want, we have a trip for late July to these places, feel free to join.

 

[GladVentures]

If you want, we have a trip for late July to these places, feel free to join.

Sounds great. When we know what days we will be in that area I'll post something on here and see if it coincides with your trip. Thank you!! Maybe we can play some guitar together while we are there.

 

[Discount Tire]

I pulled a 2 wheel drive FJ Cruiser the last bit on Imogene. I didn't know she was 2 wheel drive until she couldn't make it up one spot. It didn't take much and I left her attached until the top. She and her dad were happy to make it. I had a leveled FJ with 33's not even close to a problem, but you need to pay attention. . You will love it.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-J3DvkWT/0/XL/i-J3DvkWT-XL.jpg

What a beautiful trail.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-SNH77Zh/0/XL/i-SNH77Zh-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-spbfHVT/0/X2/i-spbfHVT-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-X7w6qhG/0/X2/i-X7w6qhG-X2.jpg

 

[Orange01z28]

Hopefully someone that has done it will chime in. I’ve done a few trails on the east side of Hwy 550 but not the ones by Telluride. They sound epic.

I'm trying to figure out a time to go. This summer is pretty much screwed for me already

 

[DocMike]

We have a thread in the 4 corners section. Feel free to check it out. Ouray Plotting and Planning thread.

Sounds great. When we know what days we will be in that area I'll post something on here and see if it coincides with your trip. Thank you!! Maybe we can play some guitar together while we are there.

 

[wayned]

If you have never been........Up Hill has the right of way. Most of the time.
And. If you want to sight see, do it from the passenger seat. Always keep your eyes on the trail if your driving.

 

[DocMike]

All good advice and legal advice.

With the amount of rental traffic etc up there I gave up and just pulled over every time I saw a vehicle. Even If I had right of way.

Jeep from Arkansas not obeying anything almost killed me and my kids.

If you have never been........Up Hill has the right of way. Most of the time.
And. If you want to sight see, do it from the passenger seat. Always keep your eyes on the trail if your driving.

 

[wayned]

All good advice and legal advice.

With the amount of rental traffic etc up there I gave up and just pulled over every time I saw a vehicle. Even If I had right of way.

Jeep from Arkansas not obeying anything almost killed me and my kids.

Agree with the rental traffic. way too many folks up there driving around that don't or shouldn't be there. scary..

 

[CerOf]

I had a showdown with a Ford Excursion on Engjneer. I was going up, he was coming down.

Thrre should be a width limit….

To answer OP, none of those trails are hard, really. Phoughkeepsie Gulch, IMO, is not doable in a stock gladiator, or wrangler for that matter. (Unless you have at least one locker if not two).

 

[DocMike]

It's sad really. If people keep a level head, no issues should arise.
@Chargingstar and I ended leaving Mini Moab due to a huge line of vehicles held up by what was most likely a 2500 Dodge Diesel whose solution to a rock obstacle was back way up and...RAMMING SPEED! Sometimes rollin coal does not solve the problem.
heh....see what I did there?
You could see tempers rising.

We hit Schubarth and during the crux of the trail ran across a newbie going the opposite way.
Level heads prevailed and with some 4x4 tetris, all made it through. Colorado went low and Jeeps took the rock garden.
When I pulled up where @Chargingstar is, the look on the passenger's face was priceless.

I had a showdown with a Ford Excursion on Engjneer. I was going up, he was coming down.

Thrre should be a width limit….

To answer OP, none of those trails are hard, really. Phoughkeepsie Gulch, IMO, is not doable in a stock gladiator, or wrangler for that matter. (Unless you have at least one locker if not two).

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