anyone done dakan lately?

[philip_g]

we tried to run it today but I have no CLUE where we ended up.

We turned on dakan, went up the paved section, climbed up the hills on the nice smooth dirt road, and when we got to the top it came to a 4 way intersection, straight was closed off with a gate so we went right, which wound around awhile, then got quite a bit rougher than any of the photos i've seen, then we went past a funky house built out of scrap (looked like a creepy meth lab...) then crossed the creek, then came back on a smooth road through some houses and wyed into jackson creek road.

did not pass the stones pictured or the camp grounds. Did find some nice, really washed out rough trail though, wish I had remembered the camera.

Is the trail closed for the season at that 4 way intersection??

[jdogg4]

where is dakan at? don't know if I've ever heard of this trail before.

[Kittrell]

where is dakan at? don't know if I've ever heard of this trail before.

Ditto

[jdogg4]

I thought he was talking about the dakar in africa or what ever at first.

[Yucca-Man]

I believe Dakan is off Rampart in Douglas County

[philip_g]

I believe Dakan is off Rampart in Douglas County

yeah, it's just out of castle rock. From my house, through the trail, and back was 25 miles.


http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=152

[jdogg4]

WOW I can't belive I never heard of this one. well you can teach and old dog new tricks.

[philip_g]

WOW I can't belive I never heard of this one.
what are you doing? We got time to bop up and try the left route that I think is more correct :)

[philip_g]

anybody want to hit something this weekend? (saturday)

[Seiler]

I completed Dakan Road almost 3 weeks ago. Was a really nice trail, easy. Bunch of camping spots as well.

Few photos:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/xj2/DSC04547.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/xj2/DSC04548.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c78/xj2/DSC04551.jpg

[jdogg4]

I'd love to give that road a shot saturday, but I already go plans.

[philip_g]

so, do you remember the intersection I speak of? Because I saw NOTHING that you have pictures of and was on a rougher washed out trail.I'd sure like to know where I ended up. Guess a forest service map would help if I had one :p

[Seiler]

Yes, I remember the intersection that you speak of. Instead of going right, we went left and that's what lead to the trail. I don't remember going past any funky houses.

[philip_g]

Yes, I remember the intersection that you speak of. Instead of going right, we went left and that's what lead to the trail. I don't remember going past any funky houses.

figures.

I don't recall any mention of it in the directions :flame:

well, for a short trail try the right path, it's pretty washed out and apears to be used mostly by ATVs

[philip_g]

anyone up for the real trail tomorrow? Maybe I should make a new thread since it's buried in here. Oh well.

for s+g's we could run the real dakan, then circle around and run the trail I did yesterday

[RockyMT-XJ]

Beware - there are some rather interesting folks living in that part of the world - and that's all I got to say about that.

[philip_g]

Beware - there are some rather interesting folks living in that part of the world - and that's all I got to say about that.
Yeah, I saw some. Yikes. Deliverance anyone?

[90xj4x4]

Phillip- where do you live?? I live in Castle Rock and have wanted to run daken but dont have anyone to go with. We should try and get together to run it sometime.

[philip_g]

I'm in CR.

[Grappler]

Im new around this forum but if you guys decide to go up dakan shoot me a pm id like to join been up it a few times. I also am in castle rock.

[philip_g]

Im new around this forum but if you guys decide to go up dakan shoot me a pm id like to join been up it a few times. I also am in castle rock.
I'm down for most any saturday but no one around here ever wants to go wheeling. :huh:

[90xj4x4]

I definetly want to do it but I have been so busy lately on the weekends I havent had a chance. there are a couple of other trails in that area that look a little more dificult and fun that I found on traildamage.com

We need to start a Castle Rock 4-wheeling club.

[philip_g]

Much cooler when you find the right trail, but too many ATV's and dirt bikes hogging it.
Quite a few hunters too, looks like tough ground to hunt to me.

[93XJdude]

i'd be up for dakan some time. i've just started my ZJ coil spring/bastard pack leafs and will need to try it out.

[philip_g]

it's a nice trail, not rough by any means.

this is the worst section
http://www.miataturbo.net/philip/jeep/jeep4.jpg


which I actually had a hell of a time getting over. That shot is looking downhill so it looks flat when it isn't. I tried a line to the left as you look at the pic, but would run out of steam and traction half way in. Tried up the middle out of frustration (right about where those blocks are) tried to crawl up the right with the same results as the left. Finally I just took a running start at the right and got by.

All I can think is that I was getting one tire up and spinning it, any ideas? Lockers? :D
there is a rocky section further up that could probably be rough if you wanted to make it, but I walked right down with no problems. Good thing too, would have hated to embarass myself in front of the 4 wheelers resting right there :o

Looks like a lot of neat stuff to explore up there, had no idea there was so much national forest just a few miles from home.

[XJFire]

That looks exactly like a section on Old Stage Road, as you are heading up it's off to the right, it's basically a shortcut, cuts about 1/4 - 1/2 a mile off of Old Stage. Know where I'm talking about?

[philip_g]

That looks exactly like a section on Old Stage Road, as you are heading up it's off to the right, it's basically a shortcut, cuts about 1/4 - 1/2 a mile off of Old Stage. Know where I'm talking about?

No, sorry I don't.

[XJFire]

:( doh!

I bet riverfever does.

[philip_g]

there is a forest service sign basically in the middle of nowhere that points one direction and says "garden of the gods 57mi" though :)
Need to go back up there and explore some more.

[XJFire]

Where is that? From up by Woodland area? That's probably for Rampart Range Road. Just a guess...

[Hypoid]

You going tomorrow? Maybe if I grovel....

[93XJdude]

i wont be able to go until next weekend. i get my coil spacers wednesday and i'll have finished up the leaf pack by thursday.

[philip_g]

Where is that? From up by Woodland area? That's probably for Rampart Range Road. Just a guess...

I don't know, probably. At the end of the right fork of the trail I went right, back through the NF and to jackson creek road.

[XJFire]

I don't know alot of road names up there, I just kinda do it by landmarks and such. We started goin up all these roads and trails at night for some reason so we couldn't read the signs, so alot of my knowledge of trails is based off of sight lol

[93XJdude]

i'd be willing to go next saturday if the weather cooperates. anyone else up for it?

[philip_g]

I don't know alot of road names up there, I just kinda do it by landmarks and such. We started goin up all these roads and trails at night for some reason so we couldn't read the signs, so alot of my knowledge of trails is based off of sight lol
sure would be handy to have the forest service maps for up there.

[Grappler]

i'd be willing to go next saturday if the weather cooperates. anyone else up for it?

Count me in

[93XJdude]

alright cool

[Hypoid]

Groveling worked! She is letting me take HER Jeep out today. I'm taking the twins instead; less complaining, more fun.

Next weekend I have family stuff, won't be wheelin...It's today or wait...

[philip_g]

good luck, watch out for dirt bikes hauling ass around those corners at like 30-40.

[93XJdude]

well dakan road is a no go for me. just got the spacers installed and still have nothing for the leaves. plus the weather looks like crap saturday.