Road to Beartown Current Conditions

[Grover]

I was at Beartown TH recently, but BEFORE this latest monsoon flow. So my intel will skip the Rio Grande crossing, as it was not an issue for me at that time. I will confirm the road has become increasingly rougher, and especially once you go through the zig-zag section in the first cluster of trees (veterans of this road will know what I mean). And the final push uphill to get to the Beartown site and the actual TH is extremely rutted with loose rocks. There are several "bogs" to go through, so be prepared to power through and/or engage the RR Diff Lock.

[Monster5]

Back from Beartown today. Most stock 4wd were parking between 4.1 and 4.8 miles from the RG crossing prior to bigger steep ruts. This is after my topo map's Beartown location but before the hill leading to the signed Beartown location. Beyond that, faster to hike for most.

River crossings were maybe 5-10 inches. I've seen good Subaru drivers tackle far worse than Stoney Pass, though low gear was nice for the steeps.

[desertdog]

Back from Beartown today. Most stock 4wd were parking between 4.1 and 4.8 miles from the RG crossing prior to bigger steep ruts. This is after my topo map's Beartown location but before the hill leading to the signed Beartown location. Beyond that, faster to hike for most.

River crossings were maybe 5-10 inches. I've seen good Subaru drivers tackle far worse than Stoney Pass, though low gear was nice for the steeps.

Thanks so much. I’m driving Thursday and this helps a lot. Sounds very doable. Richard

[9patrickmurphy]

Back from Beartown today.
...
I've seen good Subaru drivers tackle far worse than Stoney Pass, though low gear was nice for the steeps.

I also just got back from Beartown today, and I'd agree. If it weren't for how steep Stony Pass is, I would have little issue taking my Subaru to Beartown; I just don't love overheating my transmission or brakes. I believe it was Tom Frahlic telling me that he has gotten his Outback Wilderness to Beartown a couple of times. It's generally a good road, any stock 4WD with 4Lo should be able to get to the trailhead.

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

Any recent info on the road to Beartown/Hunchback?

When I went in 2023, the road had deep ruts and I only saw lifted/modified vehicles and OHVs up there. My jeep Cherokee 8.5" clearance would not have made it.

Would like to hear from anyone who's been there this year.

[Mtnman200]

I've been to Beartown at least a half-dozen times and was there most recently in Aug. 2024 in a stock 3rd generation 4Runner. The road has definitely gotten worse, and I definitely wouldn't try getting a Subaru all the way to Beartown.

[yaktoleft13]

As of last year, a Subaru could easily get to the rock step like 1.5 miles below hunchback trailhead. Don't think it would make it past that, but even if it did a few obstacles would probably shut it down shortly after that

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

Thank you for the responses, very helpful!

[TomPierce]

Fwiw, I was up there about 10 days ago, weekend before last. Made it all the way to the TH. Mostly stock 2013 4Runner, Trail Edition, although it has pretty good aftermarket bash plates all the way to the transaxle, and I needed them. A few places where I misjudged the line, conked the plates, but that's their intended purpose, no biggy. There was a water obstacle/bog that I don't remember from last time (this was my third time to the TH) and it's trickier than it looks, hard to avoid some rocks hidden under the muddy water. The last .5 mile I thought was easier than last time, seemed like the ruts had been filled in with gravel?

Sporty but not that hard IMO.

-Tom

[HikerGuy]

There was a water obstacle/bog that I don't remember from last time (this was my third time to the TH) and it's trickier than it looks, hard to avoid some rocks hidden under the muddy water.

Tom, any advice on the best line through the water hole?

[TomPierce]

There was a water obstacle/bog that I don't remember from last time (this was my third time to the TH) and it's trickier than it looks, hard to avoid some rocks hidden under the muddy water.

Tom, any advice on the best line through the water hole?

HikerGuy,

Great question, but no easy answer. There are two main ways to do it: Straight ahead through the big puddle, or left (as you head in on the road) to take on the bog. We opted for the straight in approach, the bog looked like we could (you guessed it) get bogged down in the muck. My 4Runner doesn't have a winch and I don't think there was a place to anchor one anyway.

As to the straight in option, we took a left-ish angle going in, hit some underwater obstacles; the water is like chocolate milk so you can't see them. On the way out we opted for a true straight out exit, but still hit some obstacles. Not stop-the-vehicle obstacles, just pretty good pops. We didn't try a right-ish line (going in) either time, maybe that's the trick, but also a complete guess. Besides that Idea, I would (a) be cautious if you don't have decent skid plates, and (b) the number #1 tip would be to go slow through there. The water went up to the axles maybe a bit more but that's about it. Charging in might increase the possibility of damage, but that's a guess.

It had rained on the days before we arrived, so maybe the water level will be lower when you go. I don't want to overstate it, it's not fording the Zambezi , just an noticeable obstacle. Good luck!

-Tom

[kashley0807]

I just got back from Beartown last night. Got my Outback Wilderness to within 2 mi of the TH and didn't think it was that bad. I had the clearance, but lack of 4WD was an issue a couple times with getting momentum over rocks going uphill after I had stopped. Needed my friend for a few spots and to get rocks under my tires for traction with spinning tires. The Rio Grand crossing was a non-issue as you can imagine this time of year and with the drought. I think the place we stopped was just before the "bog"/large puddle referenced above. We were mostly concerned with getting stuck if it was at all muddy, but it looks like people that went through this section swung wide to the meadow side to get around.

All that said, we were shocked that some brave soul from NM got a standard CROSSTREK all the way to the TH. There was also a standard Outback that made it all the way (oddly also from NM...), but judging by the high pitched shrieking his car was making when he arrived, we weren't so sure he was successfully going to make it out.