Ive been wanting to try the Rubicon for a while now, and think its time this summer. What im curious about is when is typically a good time to go between June and September? I have no idea when i may get time away so would prefer to plan and work around/toward the best time to go. Im guessing that camping is a must and id try west to east. I have no Jeep friends in California so might need to tag along with a group already planning on going. Any tips appreciated.

 

May to September would be good, just make sure to avoid the Jamborees. Weekdays are usuall less traffic. There's a calendar on another site that often has schedules of large group runs that you'd probably want to avoid as well.

You dont have to camp, but on your first trip it might be a good idea so you can take your time and enjoy it. A lot of people run it in one day.

I'm sure this summer there'll be trips posted on here.

 

Let me know and I'll run you across.

The trail is an easy day run, or a pleasant over nighter. More than one night and you are doing very little wheeling between camping spots. The trail is tougher in the spring, before all the rigs get up there, and it is easy in the fall after the jamborees stack the whole trail for stock jeeps to make it.

Most of my day runs have us eating dinner in southshore at a great burger place!

 

With the snow we're getting this year, I would think May would be too early.
For me, Tahoe after Labor Day is the best time of year as the crowds are gone and it starts to feel like Fall is coming.

 

Thanks for the tips! Im pretty sure I will want to camp and just enjoy being away from emails and deadlines would late June be too busy would yall think? September might work too after labor day but i should ask what temps and weather is generally like between June and September?

 

The Rubicon is in the 6200' elevation range. Late June is usually fine. We ran it this past October without any issues.

Weekdays on the Rubicon are usually completely open. The only time I was hammered with traffic was on a Friday run. I've never had a bad Tuesday or Wednesday run and I do those all summer.

If you are planning to camp on the weekend then after labor day or before memorial day are the best bets. the early date will have lots of snow up top, but I've made it across on the Tahoe side with snow there. Weekends the rest of the time are just too busy for my liking - and all the drunk people who can't drive being up there.