Mapping the Tabeguache

IntrepidXJ · June 7th, 2009, 04:32 PM

After finally running the full Kokopelli Trail last month, I decided I wanted to finish off the 'Grand Loop' trails. Today I tackled the second trail; the Tabeguache Trail. The Tabeguache (pronounced 'tab-a-watch') Trail is mountain bike trail that starts out near Montrose and ends up near Grand Junction. Like the Kokopelli Trail, it is made up mostly of 4-wheel drive roads with a few sections of single-track mixed in. However, unlike the Kokopelli, there is not a lot of information about the Tabeguache route available...especially for someone wanting to take a Jeep along as much of the route as possible.

I spent the last week and a half researching the trail and putting together my best guess at a track using a bunch of BLM and Forest Service maps along with Google Earth. While the track I ended up putting together was pretty close, I did run into some problems early on. I ran into some downed trees, an ATV only section of trail and a few locked gates at private property.

I left Montrose around 8am and got back home around 7:30, so I was on the trail for almost 12 hours. Including all of my backtracking, I ended up traveling just over 160 miles off the pavement.

I'll be putting together a much more detailed page about the Tabeguache Trail shortly (once I get the track I kept cleaned up) so I won't go into much detail about the actual route here. Since I was more concerned about not getting lost today I didn't end up taking too many photos, plus the skies were cloudy most of the day so I didn't get that many good pictures, either.

While I managed to nail down a pretty good 4x4 route on this first attempt, there are a few more routes I want to test out in the future to see if they might work better.....so this project is still a work in progress.

Anyway...enough talk, here's some pictures

Signs at the trailhead in Shavano Valley

The trail was fairly well marked, but there were a number of broken and missing signs along the way, too

Headed down to Dry Creek

My first wrong turn....my Jeep won't fit over that bridge

Dry Creek is not very dry

IntrepidXJ · June 7th, 2009, 04:32 PM

A few rough sections early on in the trail

Climbing up higher onto the Uncompahgre Plateau

Up in the Aspens

Waterfall

I was able to move this one by hand...

IntrepidXJ · June 7th, 2009, 04:32 PM

La Sals in the distance

Dominguez Canyon

Finally...some blue sky as I near Grand Junction

Unaweep Canyon

Enjoy!

GJ87xj · June 7th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Nice report. You ever wants some company on a trip like that let me know.

IntrepidXJ · June 7th, 2009, 11:12 PM

My trip on the Tabeguache Trail yesterday ended when I reached Highway 141 in Whitewater, even though the actual trail continues on to Monument Road in Grand Junction. The reason for this is that there is no motorized access to the trail on the north side of the highway. However, the section on the other side can be driven, but only as an out and back ride from Little Park Road. Most know this section of trail as Bangs Canyon. I have driven part of this trail before, but not all of it.

Amanda and I set out this morning to take a short trip and drive more of the Bnags Canyon section of the Tabeguache Trail so I can add it to my full trail track. Here's a few photos from the short trip.

IntrepidXJ · June 7th, 2009, 11:12 PM

zoriloco · June 8th, 2009, 01:36 PM

Always enjoy watching pics of your trip reports.... thanks for sharing

IntrepidXJ · June 8th, 2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoriloco

Always enjoy watching pics of your trip reports.... thanks for sharing

thanks

bik · June 8th, 2009, 05:18 PM

Nice report. Thanks for sharing.

yota79crawler · June 8th, 2009, 06:16 PM

ive been all the way through the bangs canyon to whitewater trail. u have to ask the old man in the trailer to let u out. but it was night time and raining when i did it by myself, bad move on my part. i have heard talk from the blm to make it come out to the highway somehow.

YJgirl · June 8th, 2009, 10:23 PM

Nice trip report Randy!

The BLM is working on re-routing the Tabeguache trail from Bangs Canyon to Hwy 141 due to the private property that the trail crosses in Whitewater. The land owner is not willing to allow an easment. As a result the BLM has already closed off the trail heading towards Whitewater and it is now only a Service Road.

The new section of the trail is flagged, we're waiting on archologists currently to map the area, then its time to blow up some rocks to come off the ledge on the Hwy 141 side an the trail will go all the way through to Hwy 141 from Little Park Road. The ETA is this fall to get the finals from the arch sites, so hopefully by next spring we'll have the trail pass-able.

FYI... I say "we" because the Responsible Recreation Foundation (Stay The Trail) has the Assistance Agreement for the motorized portion of Bangs Canyon.

IntrepidXJ · June 8th, 2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YJgirl

Nice trip report Randy!

The BLM is working on re-routing the Tabeguache trail from Bangs Canyon to Hwy 141 due to the private property that the trail crosses in Whitewater. The land owner is not willing to allow an easment. As a result the BLM has already closed off the trail heading towards Whitewater and it is now only a Service Road.

The new section of the trail is flagged, we're waiting on archologists currently to map the area, then its time to blow up some rocks to come off the ledge on the Hwy 141 side an the trail will go all the way through to Hwy 141 from Little Park Road. The ETA is this fall to get the finals from the arch sites, so hopefully by next spring we'll have the trail pass-able.

FYI... I say "we" because the Responsible Recreation Foundation (Stay The Trail) has the Assistance Agreement for the motorized portion of Bangs Canyon.

That's great news! I'll definitely be updating the trail info I'm putting together when that happens

IntrepidXJ · June 9th, 2009, 07:56 AM

Still a work in progress, but I have posted the trail info page here:

http://www.myxj.net/blog/?p=1100

Friscokidd · June 9th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ87xj

Nice report. You ever wants some company on a trip like that let me know.

x20000, you are the man i will be asking to be our "tour guide" when we plan that trip next fall

74BuckinBronc · June 9th, 2009, 12:44 PM

You really should consider doing a guide service. You go some amazing places and seem you know the area very well! Thanks for sharing your trips. Keep wheeling and keep sharing!

J.D.

IntrepidXJ · June 9th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 74BuckinBronc

You really should consider doing a guide service.

Too many costs....permits and insurance, etc.... Besides, I really don't like big groups

JeepDiva · June 10th, 2009, 01:58 PM

<---- adds to the list of places to explore.

Another great report! Nice website too.