I reached out to 4x4 In Motion Club of Modesto, as they have the Adopt-A-Trail for Niagara rim. And here is what I found out.
"Hi Dale!
Yes, we are still the Adopt-A-Trail club.
If you run the trail in 2026, don't plan on it being open for Memorial weekend. Our FS is kind of slow on opening things up for that weekend. We always get a last minute call to run the trail and remove fallen trees. If it is a big snow year, I would expect it to open a few weeks after the holiday.
Everyone in your group should be able to do the trail and the stock rigs/newbies would probably take a few bypasses and stay off the "Rock Pile".
At the trail head, "No Way Out" has a bypass that travels straight up. The seasoned wheelers will take the rocky turn to the right which will then bring them around to the left and to the top of the bypass. Everyone wheels from there. When you get to "Pecker Head Rock" you will want a leader and then good wheelers at the rear. You have a pretty steep and slick "Hard Brake Hill" that has a turn to the left. Speed puts rigs in a trouble zone as the left turn will flip them over. We remind newbies not to ride the brake and if their gearing is high, we have them put a few clicks on their emergency brake. If in a newer Jeep, they can use Hill Assist. If they are afraid, we hook up 2 rigs at the top and back them up, connect a winch line and slowly lower them down the hill. So, you might have 3 good wheelers lead the way and then have 2 stay at the top, backed into position to winch a rig down. We connect both rigs with a strap and chalk the tires, when lowering.
You will then have an easy ride and will start wheeling again when you hit "Lava Rock" and "Shale Rock Hill". From there, you will go to Lion's Butt where people can sit out, play in smaller stuff or do the whole area. It would be a good lunch place as well. From there, you will head to the "Rock Pile". If no one is around, you can travel this area in any direction. Some can wheel the lower part of the throat and turn out midway, avoiding the big climb entering the final, walled in part of the throat. We send people around the back and have them wheel down the throat, as gravity helps their cause.
If looking up the throat of the "Rock Pile", "Lloyd's Slide" is the section to the right, coming down the big granite slabs. There is a big drop or two, especially at the bottom. Stock rigs will slam down if no rock or logs in place (they usually get kicked out).
The Rock Pile is a place where people like to watch, so if they don't wheel, they will still enjoy their time there.
Let me know when you are heading up. Maybe we will have a few rigs join you for a fun day. We would wheel or meet you at Lion's Butt to spot you and to do some trail work.
mary🙂"
So I am thinking head up there Saturday June 27th, run Niagara June 28th and come home June 29th. This is the weekend AFTER Father's Day.
And if Motion does join, and the trip goes well, maybe we can invite them to do a Strawberry/Pack Saddle/Long Canyon loop in the future.
