Rubithon 2022: The Lexus on the Rubicon Trail

Oct 13

California • Rubicon Trail • August 2022

Rubithon:The Lexus on the Rubicon

TRPLOK drove from Montana to California for the Toyota Land Cruiser Association’s 34th Rubithon on the most famous trail in America.

Rubicon Trail — Loon Lake — Rubicon Springs — Granite — Triple-Locked — Never Lift — Rubicon Trail — Loon Lake — Rubicon Springs —

The Trail Everybody Talks About

The Rubicon Trail runs through the Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe, about 22 miles from end to end, with roughly 12 miles of real 4x4 trail in the middle. It’s been a proving ground for four-wheel-drive vehicles for decades. Jeep literally named a trim level after it.

Rubithon is the Toyota Land Cruiser Association’s annual run on the Rubicon. In 2022, the 34th Rubithon ran August 24 to 28, with groups leaving from Loon Lake and heading for camp at Rubicon Springs. I drove TRPLOK, my triple-locked, turbocharged 1997 Lexus LX450, down from Montana for it.

Lexus LX450 parked beside the Rubicon Trail welcome sign with the sun rising over the ridge on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Welcome to the Rubicon.

Silver Lexus LX450 and a white Land Cruiser parked on granite under tall pines and a deep blue sky on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — First stop on the granite.

Granite, All Day

The Rubicon is granite: slabs, boulder fields, steps and bowls, one after another. Famous obstacles along the way include the Gatekeeper near the Loon Lake entrance, Walker Hill, the Little Sluice, the Big Sluice and Cadillac Hill on the way out.

It’s slow. Every rig waits its turn, spotters come out at every hard spot, and the whole group watches each truck pick its line.

Group of people standing on granite watching a Land Cruiser work through a boulder obstacle in the pines on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — The whole group shows up for the hard spots.

Blue Jeep in a granite bowl full of smooth boulders with spectators in the foreground on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Even the Jeeps come out for Rubithon.

White Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series climbing past a cut log in a rocky section in deep shade under tall trees on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — A white 80 Series in the shade.

Land Cruiser with a bull bar climbing a pile of granite boulders with another truck behind on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Boulder pile.

White off-road truck climbing granite steps below a pine-covered ridge on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Granite steps.

Blue Jeep with no doors on a tilted granite slab on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Slab work.

Truck on top of rounded granite under a deep blue sky with a cliff behind on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Sierra sky.

Rubicon Springs

Rubicon Springs is the halfway camp. It’s private property with a caretaker, campsites and room for big groups, so treat it that way. After a day on the granite, the river and the shade feel earned.

Green steel bridge over a calm river surrounded by pines on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — The bridge at the Springs.

Camp in the pines with a truck and an open rooftop tent on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Home for the night.

Camp is also the best car show in California. FJ40s everywhere.

Yellow caged Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser on granite in the sun on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Yellow 40.

Red Toyota FJ40 with a winch and Hella lights parked in camp on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Red 40.

Green Toyota FJ40 parked in a shady pine camp on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Green 40.

Gray Toyota FJ40 with a front winch parked among pines on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Gray 40.

After dark, the rock lights came on.

Lifted truck glowing under blue rock lights at night on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Blue hour, literally.

Close view of a rig’s suspension lit purple and blue at night on the Rubicon Trail in California during Rubithon 2022 — Suspension, lit.

Know Before You Go

Entrances. You can start at Wentworth Springs, the Loon Lake spillway or the Tahoe side near Tahoma. Rubithon groups left from Loon Lake.

Who manages it. El Dorado County and the Eldorado National Forest manage the trail together, with help from the Rubicon Trail Foundation and Friends of the Rubicon. Check their current rules on campfires, permits and waste before you go.

Pack it out. All of it. The county’s own 2022 trail poster made the point about human waste in a way you won’t forget.

Expect damage. There are no services and no easy turnarounds. Bring spares, recovery gear and friends with tools.

For more Land Cruisers on hard trails, see the Morrison Jeep Trail and LX450 vs. 80 Series.