Sandstone Canyon California

A quick tug set the Toy free. It's best to travel with more than one vehicle here. Even if you have a winch, there's not much around to anchor the winch to, unless you have a Pull Pal. In the summer, this area gets dangerously hot, and a breakdown could become a medical emergency. Be smart and 'wheel in groups here.

Braden's Unlimited Rubicon uses 35-inch BFG All-Terrains on stock wheels, along with Rokmen body armor. The wheelbase, shorter than the FJ-80 but longer than a standard TJ, had no hangups with this line.

This narrow spot is a one-liner, so keep moving and don't break down.

The walls get high and the passage gets narrow. We didn't see anywhere that a fullsize rig wouldn't fit, but we don't think it would be fun to attempt Sandstone Canyon in a full-size truck with a long wheelbase. If you've got a Chevy Blazer or a full-size Bronco, you've got nothing to fear. The M-715 fit through this spot without drama.

Tare sized things up and then stacked a few rocks for Nick's left rear tire to climb.

This is the Fred Flintstone part. The Wind Caves are passed on the left as you exit Split Mountain Gorge and continue up Fish Creek Wash. If you've got the time and energy after driving through Sandstone Canyon, it's worth the side trip to hike to the Wind Caves. The trail takes you up a hill that's steep in a couple of places and about a mile each way. Although they're called the Wind Caves, the differential erosion that carved the caves came primarily from water, not wind.

Sandstone Canyon is an out-and-back route. The trail continues up the hill, but eventually disappears into the ever-steepening slope, the boulders, and the ocotillo plants. At this point, it's still worth it to get out and hike a little further to check out the view.

Nick goes for an optional tough line in his TJ. Thirty-six inch Cooper tires had enough grip, but the short wheelbase struggled a bit here.