Has the trail gotten worse? | Balanced Rock Trail Guide
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- Colorado's Balanced Rock Trail in the Colorado Springs area with a Cherokee Trailhawk, FJ Cruiser, Lexus GX, Wranglers (YJ and JL), and a Honda Pilot also joins. Rated as Moderate, but recent reports state the ruts have gotten worse... is it now a difficult trail? We will see but I guarantee Three Wheeling, Teeter Tottering, and a good time. We also look at how far this trail use to to back in the 1960s.
Channel Members have access to our filming schedule and I want you to be in the videos! The Black Bear crew gets additional easy to edit videos but offer more up to date info on trails (since guides take a while to put together). The Holy Cross crew gets more say in what videos get edited for the channel (video credits and early looks at Trail Guide edits). / @coloradomallcrawlers
Time Stamps:
00:00 Balanced Rock Trail Preview
00:38 Optional More Difficult Start and Vehicle Information
2:19 How to get here from Denver, Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park
2:35 Optional V-Notch and Early Trail Features
3:57 Balanced Rock's Balanced Rock
6:55 Jeep out of gas? & tight switchback
8:14 Door Dinger and more Challenging Ruts
10:45 Best Camp spot & Lake/Reservoir
11:13 Overlook and Trail review
More Front Range Southern Colorado Trails:
• Colorado Springs Off-r...
Off-roading has real risks. Use your own judgement to decide if it is safe for you. Also, please do not use our videos as indicator of safety as conditions can and will change.
Channel Info:
My name is Dewie Jones and I’m the host (till I can afford someone else), videographer, and video editor for the channel. I’ve daily driven a wrangler my entire driving life starting with a 1997 TJ, most recently a ten year old 2012 JK, and now new 2021 JL. I like the challenge of driving a stock wrangler on tough trails. My buds are not new to wheeling either, but for their own specific reasons, now wheel aggressive SUV based off-roaders like Cherokees, 4Runners, FJs, Land Cruisers, VW Touregs, and Renegades. We decided Colorado Mallcrawlers was a funny name so that's how we got here. We film our trail runs letting whatever happens, happen and then later make the video an accurate trail guide with comments on how to do it better than us.
For trail planning, I use the Funtreks Books (amazon search: Funtreks books). I have the current editions of the Colorado books, Arizona, California, and Moab. I finish up my trail planning with TrailsOffroad as they can sometimes have more detail as well as user submitted current conditions feedback. I use GAIA GPS with TrailsOffroad waypoints on UConnect currently (although I'm not paying attention to it on filming days). Here’s my video that tells you how I find trails. • Find off-road trails t...
Our Trail Guides Playlist:
• Jeep Cherokee & Renega...
Our Colorado Playlist:
• Colorado Jeeping!
As always, thanks for watching! Your support by liking, commenting, sharing, and subscribing really helps support our videos (even tho I know that sounds dumb). Our goal will always be to show you how beautiful this world is via 4 wheels and keep making better videos! - Авто та транспорт
This was my final video for the class I took from Casey Neistat. What’d you guys think of the way I edited it?
I focused on quick editing as my goal is to produce a few months of weekly summer content (shorter trail guides, walkarounds, and other hopefully helpful off-road/overland content). The longer more documentary like trail guides will still be made, but they’ll get uploaded as an addition to the weekly content.
I think this style will help me cover a lot more trails and trails you and I may not know about.
How was that course? I was looking at his and then Jeven Dovey's
Excellent, well done video!!! Thank you...
Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
These are Just getting BETTER AND BETTER !!!!!! LOVE THEM !!!!! 🤘😄🤘
That’s awesome to hear! I’m learning how to make these as I go so it’s always good to hear they’re getting better!
always loving the cherokee trailhawks!
Me too!
Did an awesome job, keep up the great work. Can't wait to be out there in August for BBP and a few others.
Thank you and you’ll have a great trip!
hey I stumbled on your channel a bit ago and wanted to let you know that I respect the work you put into this video. Keep it up you have a lot of talent. To many people give up right before greatness, so keep pushing!
I love making them so I’m not going to stop. I just publish as I can around my job which is currently working me every 12-15 hours. I appreciate the support tho!
These videos keep getting more amazing and I always want more. Thank you so much for these.
I appreciate that! I’m really going to try hard to produce on a weekly schedule this summer. Thank you for watching them!
Go jeep KL!! Also that Lexus looks tough pilot did good
What a fun looking trail. I'm surprised I haven't run it yet. Your videos keep getting better and better! Your commentary is great!
Thank you buddy! I really appreciate it and you’ll love the trail!
Loved this video. Good use of the maps and overlays throughout. Trail looks fun too! It's also great to see some of the unconventional vehicles out there. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much! We really appreciate it! As long as people continue to join me with their awesome rides, I’ll keep filming them (I love watching them too).
Balanced rock is a fun trail, I usually get to it via Mt Herman rd in Monument. Went last summer and the ruts are still just as deep, also picked up quite a few pinstripes especially down by the reservoir. In late July it’s a lot more grown out and gets very tight.
It definitely is!
Great videos! Can’t wait to get on a couple more of these trails with the f250!
Thank you! You’ll have a blast and I may have a new trail for you next week.
Great video! You're showing off those mad new editing techniques, too. I definitely appreciate you including camping possibilities in your tail guides. Your Argentine Pass video gave me some great ideas to take the family up there camping/wheeling for the weekend.
Thanks so much! The goal with the less well known and shorter trails is to find and document camp spots better. I’m glad the Argentine one helped! It’s one of my favorite areas.
What a perfect way to get your feet wet for wheeling this season! Great pace on this edit keep it up man can't wait to see the continued progression! If/when you get some wheeling dates def let me know, heck even reach out on the impromptu trips and maybe I can make something work CHEERS!
Thank you so much! We have talked about which ones we want to cover this summer so we’ll next try to figure out dates (we’ll likely put that on here as a community post or go live). Basically for the spontaneous trips like this I’m using Facebook. For instance, here I realized I was going to be off for a few hours on the 16th and put it out as post. It worked pretty but I know not everyone uses Facebook. It’d be nice to plan everything one day. Thanks for watching!
Love your videos! Thanks for sharing. Wish I could do that. Looks like so much fun and relaxing
Thanks so much! Our goal is to bring along those who can’t. Jeeping has definitely been my biggest stress reliever to date. Thanks for watching!
Your editing skills went up a bit! I like it! Good job!
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Another great video. Thanks.
Thank you so much!
Dewie, you crank out the best trail videos on UA-cam! Thank you for taking us along. I think you could use a first gen Tundra for extra fun..
That means so much! I really appreciate that! Umm, yeah I could, I need to represent full size trucks better… my schedule is just chaotic. I’m hoping to have concrete plans for some trails this summer tho!
Trail conditions were good on Sept 5th 2022. My completely amateur sister compeleted it with her 22 Gladiatior Willys, stock, on mud terrains. Considering taking my 2001 VW Golf- lifted on 28 inch all terrains. Some nice campsites near the end.
Thanks for the update!
Alright, I have been binging your Colorado stuff as there simply isn't a better guide on here for planning our October wheel-cation out that way. Great stuff and thank you for providing such great info.
Also, congrats on the new JLR.
I really appreciate it! That’s the goal… to make useful videos, but hopefully somewhat entertaining too. Thank you! I like it, miss my JK, but it needed a build being 10 years old and that’s not what I preach on the channel!
@@coloradomallcrawlers oh, they ARE entertaining. My ADD would have had me clicking off to go watch squirrels or something if they weren't.
SQUIRREL!!!!
Nice video. Entertaining. The demands of setting a shot must be tough.
Thanks! It can be, but mostly because it’s a manual. I’m working on more efficient shooting methods. Just bought some quick disconnect camera mounts that may be a game changer. Thanks for watching!
Sweet video, thank you.
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!
The articulation of the JL is so incredible.
It really is! Let’s talk soon about showing off your G wagon!
Yeah that was the issue with the Cherokee Trailhawk the first couple times I took it off-roading before I lifted it. You got to go pretty slow sometimes to not scrape the front. When you've got a 2 inch lift on it and a little bit bigger tires. It's NEVER going to scrape . Approach and departure go to like 40° with just a modest lift if you measure it. Totally worth it. Its $200 for a 2 inch lift kit .. I think Teraflex has the best 2-in lift right now because you get shock extensions.
Very true! Appreciate the comment with the useful information!
This trail is pretty cool. Nice vlog 👍
It is! Thank you!
I really like that area. Also love the editing style on this one!
Thanks buddy!
When I see a trail off the road, I always take the trail to see where it goes.
That is the way!
@@coloradomallcrawlers A little Mandalorian vibe going there.
I just rode this from the bottom on my mountain bike, have been toying with the idea of driving it in my Armada or maybe F150. Love seeing others out there with "good enough" 4x4's playing around. Can I join sometime? I always thought it was a bit reckless to just go out there by myself with no help around. Edit: The reason it doesn't go down to Palmer Lake anymore is because the section of road that goes beside the two reservoirs is a high use hike/bike trail used by the local residents. There is a simple gate that keeps vehicles from going any farther, but you can bike or hike into town. I think they also want to keep outside traffic to a minimum to preserve the drinking water, you aren't allowed to swim in the lakes or even walk your dog on that section. Here are some rules from their website: Standing in/on, wading, swimming in the reservoir is prohibited!
Fishing is permitted only from the bank of the upper (2nd) reservoir - ice fishing is not allowed on either.
Dogs - or other pets - are prohibited near Town Reservoir.
That’s some good insight! I do take channel members out, these are filming trips so not a typical group trail day. A good group for meeting up with people is CO overland meetups on Facebook.
@@coloradomallcrawlers Thanks!
I like to see a stock Cherokee TH on the trails, considering I own one it makes me happy seeing what it can do. Love to drive this trail.
I’d love to see it too if I could find anyone that would be wheeling theirs with us. I think a stock Trailhawk can do all these trails except wheeler lake and maybe some Moab ones.
Great trail. One of my favorites. Lots of more difficult alternative lines on this trail.
For sure!
Interesting trail for a nice leisurely drive....
Absolutely!
seconds ago
Love your videos. I would love to go wheeling with you guys some day. I'm actually taking my wife to Durango and Silverton for our 28tth anniversary in April. Would love to meet you and your friends.
We’d love that! Right now we just use Facebook for trail organization, but we’re looking into other methods.
Awesome video! Hope we can link up this July! I think we have the itinerary put together. I’ll message Sean.
Thanks man! I’m saving up attendance points and vacation days for this summer so I think we’ll pull it off. Sweet, I’ll get in touch with Sean about it!
Awesome id man! Because of this and me just getting my jlurd i took my friend out there yesterday and hit it and the offshoots!
Nice work! Glad it was helpful!
@@coloradomallcrawlers I’ve been enjoying all the vids man🤙🏻 the one negative ish comment before was just meant as constructive criticism but i was just off a 18hr day so i do apologize if it came off rude.
But yea, now that i got my jeep im hoping to go to most if not all the places you have shown, they all look like alot of fun!
I didn’t take any offense! I’m about to start mine altho we can only operate for 12hrs… but I’ve been on duty for 22hrs before so I get it. Anyway, good luck with the Jeep!
Did this trail back in June 2017 in an '04 Grand Cherokee with only a 2" spacer lift and AT tires. Just needed a little momentum to get through the ruts back up from the lake but was fine even with 3 bikes on a large swing-away hitch rack. They do look to have gotten notably deeper though. That area is good for beginners but it gets busy and dusty in the summer.
Absolutely!
Love the 3 wheel action. Hope you would do Sedona with Sean sometime soon. Pick a weekend and I might be able to join in. I have a 2020 Cherokee trail hawk elite with a 2 in MFC lift and 32 in BFG KO 2s.
We would absolutely love to go down there and I definitely have plans to film all those trails. The biggest issue is my job. Our attendance policy is insane and I’m on call 24/7. We will get there tho!
@@coloradomallcrawlers let me know if you get a chance to come out.
That YJ needs to delete all it's away bars holy moly. The most unpleasant ride out of all of those.
Also the Cherokee face planting at 7:40 😄 🤣
His Jeep to do as he pleases, but he didn’t build it, he had just bought it and will be making it his own as he goes. Thanks for watching!
Great job getting people out there off-road. Not sure I would call this trail moderate. Looked like a pretty easy trail most stock vehicles could do.
Thanks! I generally agree with the ratings of Funtreks and Trails offroad unless our run offers a different perspective. Ratings are subjective but generally made to encompass a wide range of vehicles and driver skill sets. Considering the escape didn’t make it home and had to be careful with line choices, I think the ratings are valid. There’s a wide range of stock vehicles… I’ll be taking my stock Jeep and a stock bronco on one of the hardest trails in Colorado soon. I think we’ll both make it.
it is cool to see your accessories gauges on the middle screen at 4:26, with the temperature and pressure gauges.
Did you have your swaybar disconnected in the front?
Pretty sure I didn’t. I keep trying to get the JL to three wheel because I like how it looks on camera. I’m not having good luck. The JL’s articulation is pretty awesome.
Defintely a reminder why I love solid front and rear axles. Can’t imagine getting so tippy like that constantly
It definitely adds a whole new level of driver skill. I’m with you, but I’m excited to learn how to wheel with IFS!
Here's the thing. When you 3 wheel a lot , and you are confident in your vehicle, you don't even remotely think about it because you know how it is gonna react. It's way more weird for the people Not in the rig than the people in it
It’s definitely 😱 sometimes. You do get used to it and learn to compensate for it.
So I did this trail a couple days ago. Another guy in a jeep who was ahead of me asked me where I was going and what I was using to guide me. He mentioned a video and I guess this was it.
That’s cool! I had hoped these helped people to get out there! Thanks for telling me!
Hello Dewey. Do you ever have occasions where subscribers can go out wheeling with you? Would love to go on some of these trails with you. I'm a Colorado native and love the i-70 corridor Boulder area of trails. Thank you
We’re talking about it, but my schedule is the restriction here. I’m on call 24/7 and it’s chaotic. We’ll have some announcements soon tho.
Id like to join in too I got a stock taco and a stock 1st gen runner
Good video.👍
What years is your JL and how is it running?
Anything good or bad about it.
I’m thinking about getting one.
The JL has been rock solid but it’s still brand new. Picked up in October of last year, ordered in August. It’s a late production 2021 model. I like it a lot and have had no problems. I’ll definitely put any problems I have in the trail guides. I’m likely going to push it to its max capability on holy cross & Mt Blanca this summer and that’s where I may break it (altho I believe it’ll be fine). It has done Poison Spider without any hiccups and made the trail feel pretty easy (no damage there, followed the lines of a guy on 39s).
What is the radio brand you use? Is it GMRS/FRS?
Have CB, GMRS, and FRS, but we’re using mostly GMRS bands lately.
So the FJ doesn't have the stock 4.0 liter engine?
Her motor is stock so I must have wrote it wrong.
Those trails are ok. But you gotta hit some 4x4 rock crawlers. Leave the Honda behind lol.
Reason im hating on it is because they refuse to make a true 4x4 and we are almost finished with gasoline vehicles.
We cover all trails for all vehicles. I will not take my Jeep on trails above Holy Cross or Mt. Blanca, but I have buddies with crawlers to help cover buggy trails in the future. Thanks for watching!
Surprisingly not a lot of Snow!
Yeah, the Springs area trails are usually open sooner tho. My normal go to trails are buried in snow right now.
Is the red jeep tour just in case?
What are you referencing? It’s been a while since I edited this.
Your background sound is vey similar to MORR. Not that we mind, just mentioning for branding considerations
What’s MORR? Im guessing that’s another creator and if so it’s likely we both use epidemic music. Unfortunately many creators use it so you’ll hear similar music in a variety of videos even if different niches. I did sign up for a new service but haven’t cracked it open yet, but music choices may be similar still.
Ah, Matt’s Off-road Recovery. I know at least Tucker has seen our videos. I’m a fan of their videos, editing, and crew. I’m guessing we both use epidemic sound and have similar music tastes. Even tho Matt is a huge channel, I think we started using epidemic sound first 😂. I’m just kidding, unfortunately most creators share music. I do try to pick stuff from all over epidemic, but I’m guessing we just have similar tastes. However, Matt does recoveries, we do trail guides with stock and variable vehicles… that’s our difference.
Definitely MORR vibes with the music + offroading + Banana jeep! Great vid! Love the guides!
I’ve had a yellow Jeep since 2000 😉. Thank you tho!
@@coloradomallcrawlers it’s all good. With millions of contributors trying to deliver interesting content at an economical investment, similarities are likely. And yes, even those who were here first may get trampled by others which are experiencing a lot of momentum.
I mention it as I am a fan of both of your channels and would like to see them both flourish! Some people out there might get the wrong impression and may falsely research / criticize your actions. Commenting seems to be an open landscape for some critics. Yet at the same time, we viewer’s understand that creators are what makes UA-cam great, and commenting is not creating (IMO)
We love Balanced Rock Road! We were just there in March and it was covered in snow...check on the video on my channel. By the way, love the way this was edited man! Big fan of Casey...this vid had an awesome pace and was engaging from start to finish. Keep it up bro!
That’s awesome and I definitely will! Thanks, that’s great to hear. I’m trying to keep them moving as my parents don’t even watch so I’m trying to make them appealing to all. I want my parents to see these beautiful places!
Ruts have gotten much deeper over the years, IFS vehicles beware.
They definitely have.
Hey, I live down in Crested Butte colorado and I wheel a 1985 Nissan 720 4x4. Would love to get out with you!! I don’t know how to message on UA-cam, but if you know how, hit me up!!
Would love to see you wheel. Right now, just announcing runs on my personal Facebook page as they’re last minute. If I ever change careers to a UA-camr, I’d have a better system then that. But currently these guides happen around my work schedule.
My guy in the CR-V showing y'all up lol
😂
Funny how people take their non-modded vehicles here
Mine is non modded and had no issue, what’s the point?