Best route to South Bass

[robxxx]

Hi Im headed to the South Bass trailhead next week. In the past few years Ive ridden a mt. bike from the reservation gate to the trailhead. From the gate Ive followed the dirt road/track that is parallel to the wire fence until it hits pasture wash Rd. This time I plan to drive a four runner and was wondering if there is a better alternative route for a vehicle ? The bike route isn't bad, just narrow and there is a limestone shelf near the end that has to be navigated over/around. thanks, Rob

[chumley]

You'll find the NPS-recommended directions on the [ South Bass Trail ] description page including the GPS :: Drive to South Bass TH track. This route cuts across the reservation.

@Louie recently posted a [ triplog ] with the GPS :: Alternate road route to South Bass TH track that avoids the reservation (which was necessitated by the reservation closure during the pandemic). While it sounds like others travel the alternate route, the roads are not shown to be open to motor vehicle travel according to the Kaibab National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map, which shows the only legal route across national forest land to be FR328 to FR2515.

It's been a while since I've had a permit for South Bass, but as a permit holder the BCO should be able to provide you with the best option for accessing the trailhead currently.

[robxxx]

Thank you sir ! I think I'll take the route along the fence then.
I don't understand why the park service is ignoring this unless they don't own part of that dirt road.

[shelby147]

@robxxx
The Forest Service controls that section. NPS shrugs and says it's out of their jurisdiction and if the FS cared enough they would block the road. Access to South Bass is an issue which no agency seems willing to fix so it seems they look the other way when people inevitably fudge the rules. The Thumb situation is even worse.