Charouleau Gap has always been one of my favorite trails, but it has recently been severely damaged by fire, and subsequent flooding and erosion. The trail has always offered varied terrain and sufficient challenge for driver and machine. The trail is completely different now.

We started from the north, in Oracle and began working our way higher in elevation. Nearly all of the cross axle challenges have been removed by the blade of a dozer. Recent fires have required remote entry to this area by fire implements, and the trail needed to be graded to allow their safe access. The trail is an easy 2 until after the "elevator shaft", a once famously steep and long climb. The lack of challenge makes for a lengthy access to the Del Oro Canyon.

After the elevator shaft, the trail becomes more interesting and scenic, as this area was not affected by the fire. The first real obstacle is the tight, off-camber right turn with a large boulder waiting to dent rocker panels, wheels and fender flares of longer vehicles. As we were in a short wheelbase Wrangler, we elected to drive over the large rocks in the center of the trail. We did not encounter any issues, but utilized most of the fitted skid plates. After exiting this obstacle, most of the familiarity of the canyon is gone, as the recent heavy rains, and lack of ground cover due to the fires, resulted in heavy erosion and trail damage. The trail is completely gone is several locations. The interesting "car wash" that used to hold 2-3 feet of water is gone (filled in with sand). We made our way up the creek bed, requiring route finding, and caution with the large, loose boulders. We soon found ourselves at the famous "step", which usually requires locking differentials, or a long wheelbase to climb successfully. Despite having run this trail several times, this was my first attempt at the step since successfully climbing it in my CJ-7, six years prior. It is an intimidating obstacle with a loose, sandy base, and a steep, off camber rock ledge to climb. The step is 4-5 feet tall. On my first attempt, I tried to climb the far right side of the step, which is considered the most challenging. Despite two locking differentials the Jeep slide sideways as the loss of traction and gravity caused the Jeep's front end to slide off the ledge, tilting the vehicle sideways. I backed off and attempted another line a little further left. There was a nice notch in the rock to place the drivers side tires, but the climb was steeper, and a portion of the rock looked like it would hang-up the rear axle. I slowly eased the Jeep up the rock and began to climb, until the rear diff hit the jetting rock. The Jeep stopped and stalled. I still felt this was my best line, so instead of backing down, I restarted the Jeep, and using a little more momentum , I climbed the step, with virtually no wheel spin. It was a great feeling.

We stopped for lunch at the cabin, which was amazingly spared from the fire, despite the total devastation around it. This area of the canyon has been completely burned. The trail after the canyon used to have several great rock sections that had water running through the obstacle. This area was also covered with sand and silt.

We passed through the Gap, and began heading west back to Tucson. The trail here is challenging, as it was spared the tractors blade. Several washouts severely test the vehicles articulation, and there is a fun, rock slab to climb as an option.

Trail Rating: 3 (1-5 scale)

Tight left hand turn at the beginning of Del Oro will challenge long vehicles.
The Step
The bypass to the step is steep and loose, and is made further challenging by water at the base.