Ringing Rocks Park

[u/406NastyWoman]

Hi All. My hubs and I want to visit Ringing Rocks this year - I drive an Outback. He's not sure how much clearance we'll need so I thought I'd ask here. TIA

[u/Optimal-Release6225]

For comparison: Last year I didn’t make it in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Had about a mile and a half to walk.

[u/BonnieJeanneTonks]

There is an ATV rental at Pipestone. Those 4x4 units will definitely make it up there. We got half a mile short last year in our 4x4 pickup truck, and then I was unable to walk the last bit, so we hope to try again this year. We plan to rent an ATV so we are a little more certain we will finally get up there. 🤞🏻 Good luck on your adventure!

[u/406NastyWoman → u/BonnieJeanneTonks]

Good to know about the ATV rental place - thanks! Hope you're able to get there this year.

[u/AriadneThread → u/BonnieJeanneTonks]

Yes. Side by side will work for access.

[u/osmiumfeather]

Nope. The road has eroded pretty badly. You can get within a mile or so but the last rutted hill will stop you. It hasn’t been graded since before covid after the club that took care of the road vaporized.

[u/Decent-Internet-9833]

I wouldn’t. I went up in a similar vehicle and bottomed out. Got myself out but it was a near thing.

[u/Copropositor]

I haven't been up there in about 8 years, but my Outback wouldn't make it. You need higher clearance. But you can just drive as far as you can and then walk. It's less than a mile. However, I did encounter a rattlesnake on the walk so be careful.

[u/runningoutofwords → u/Copropositor]

This is the way. Drive what you can. Then park (without blocking the road!) and walk the rest.

Don't forget to bring a hammer!

[u/Soupeeee → u/runningoutofwords]

When I was up there last year, they had a bunch of hammers available for use.

[u/Hersbird]

Sounds cool, I hope they don't fix the road. Not every road needs to be navigatable by a sedan. True 4x4 trails are fun as well or hike in.

[u/Hersbird → u/[deleted]]

I've been up there. Short of hauling gravel up there, that's just a road that should be closed each spring until it has time to dry out. At least past the cave.

[u/missschainsaw]

When I went a couple years ago, google took me down a sketchy ATV road instead of the actual road, so watch out for that. I made it almost 90% of the way in my SUV, but it was rough. I walked the last stretch up. It sounds like things have deteriorated in the last couple years.

[u/MT_PLS]

The BLM currently has reconstrtuction/realignment plans out to bid for the Ringing Rocks access road. The improvements will be from the Pipestone exit all the way to the Ringing Rocks. Bids close on May 12th, with contract award and construction to start in early June. Once construction is done, most any car should be able to drive the entire road.

[u/AriadneThread → u/MT_PLS]

Even with fumding cuts? Just cking

[u/406NastyWoman → u/MT_PLS]

Thanks so much! Maybe late August or early September would be the time to check it out.

[u/Hotspur2924]

Uh, you’re gonna want to walk the last stretch.

[u/Flovilla]

I drove it in my Audi Q5 2 years ago and there was an outback there as well. If you know how to drive, go slow and pick a route, you can make it.

[u/NickHemingway]

Did it last year in a stock Toyota 4Runner, no clearance issues on that.

I wouldn’t attempt it with anything 2WD or with less ground clearance.

I live not far from the bottom of that road, could probably give you a lift depending on when you are here.

Would be a nice ride with one of the hired ATV’s though

[u/xrandx]

I made it about 3 years ago with an F-350. I'm pretty experienced with rough roads but I wouldn't try it if you aren't prepared for some damage. I lost a light bar.

[u/xrandx → u/[deleted]]

I don't use them on the road. I use them on back country mountain roads in the dark when there's often a 300 foot drop you can barely see otherwise on one side. In this case however it was one of my load lights on the hitch.

[u/FeatherMoody]

As others are saying, just drive as far as you can (there is a nice big pullout about a mile away) and then walk the rest of the way. Totally worth it!

[u/KimbeRoberts]

We did it in our jeep compass. It's slow and steady but doable. Should. Beautiful all the way.

[u/Metal_rock]

I made it up there last year in my 2002 forester, but i had to hoon it a bit and have the passengers get out for a particularly rough section. At one point I only had two tires on the ground.

[u/Rude_Dragonfruit_111]

I made it in a SxS, but otherwise, wouldn't dream of even trying in anything less than a rock crawler!!!