Ruts

This is a short and relatively easy out and back off-shoot of Grouse Road that offers a little bit of camping and an area less traveled. This trail has short turns and is overall tight with little room to turn around. Large groups are not recommended for this trail. It is recommended you limit the group to three or four vehicles. Even though the trail doesn’t have a lot of obstacles to negotiate, ruts may require that you have a high clearance vehicle. Longer and taller vehicles will also have issues here. The longer ones won’t be able to maneuver some spots, and the taller ones will hit low-hanging trees.

The end of this trail has three dispersed campsites near Rule Creek, an old mine shaft that is now gated and mostly collapsed in. This is a great place for a small group that wants to be away from the masses. If you are looking for more room, Rule Ridge has lots of dispersed camping, and there is a paid site called Painted Rocks Campground on Painted Rocks Road near Rule Ridge.