Nor Cal Camping, Wheeling, BS and photo dumping - 2020

[Nbr1jdi]

I'm a virgin!

Hello, just bought a new 2020 Sr5 Premium. I am in the process of getting a 3 inch lift, AT tires... etc. The family and I are dying to drive north from SAC hitting the Avenue of Giants and up to Fern Canyon. Taking in account that we are NEW to off roading and camping, do any of you have any suggestions on where to camp and off road? I plan 3 days! Thanks in advance!

 

[MeefZah]

Hello, just bought a new 2020 Sr5 Premium. I am in the process of getting a 3 inch lift, AT tires... etc. The family and I are dying to drive north from SAC hitting the Avenue of Giants and up to Fern Canyon. Taking in account that we are NEW to off roading and camping, do any of you have any suggestions on where to camp and off road? I plan 3 days! Thanks in advance!

Camp at Usal Beach and drive north up Usal Rd (rough dirt), then link over to Garberville and get on AoG and go north from there. Note - only camp there through the week, on weekends it can get rowdy. It's first come first served.
Alternatively there's some marked BLM campsites along Chemise Mountain Rd (the paved northern extension of Usal Rd) that are pretty quiet, but they aren't on the beach. There's also BLM sites at Lighthouse Beach near Petrolia and a few spots along Mattole Rd / Wilder Ridge Rd which is the main artery through the Lost Coast between Shelter Cove and Ferndale. They are also first come, first served.

There's great camping right south of Fern Canyon at Gold Bluff Beach campground, at the end of a sporty dirt road that takes you into Fern Canyon. Gold Bluff will likely require reservations.

I'm in Eureka and these are my stomping grounds so if I can be of assistance on your trip feel free to PM me. If you have regular questions post them in the thread so the info can be available for others.

There's also a Lost Coast thread (mine) which has some good info. If you come up here, post some pics in it. I'm trying to keep it alive.

The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread

Have fun! It's an awesome area. Most of these "norCal" guys have no idea what's actually north of SF...

 

[Nbr1jdi]

You have done some great traveling and taken some awesome photos. Thanks for the info!

 

[MattJakobs]

So who's run Slick Rock? How is it? Any things to be aware of when running it?

 

[rochmpr]

So who's run Slick Rock? How is it? Any things to be aware of when running it?

Yeah, I've run in twice since the new re-route was opened and it completely changed the trail. If you plan to run it and think you can make it through the re-route (there are NO bypasses), start at the Alpine side so you will have gravity helping you down, I would not attempt with out solid axles, large tires and lockers going up. Once past that part, it's a good trail that is challenging, but doable. If you go through my build thread towards the last few pages, there's some info and pics from trips.

Also;

This is the last section of the reroute and POP goes the CV Slick Rock

This is after I busted for front axle Slick Rock

The steps or ladder Slick Rock

 

[MarkamisPrime]

Yeah, I've run in twice since the new re-route was opened and it completely changed the trail. If you plan to run it and think you can make it through the re-route (there are NO bypasses), start at the Alpine side so you will have gravity helping you down, I would not attempt with out solid axles, large tires and lockers going up. Once past that part, it's a good trail that is challenging, but doable. If you go through my build thread towards the last few pages, there's some info and pics from trips.

Also;

This is the last section of the reroute and POP goes the CV Slick Rock

This is after I busted for front axle Slick Rock

The steps or ladder Slick Rock

[MENTION=71738]Smog-guy707[/MENTION]
Let’s do it

 

[ThorRides]

Visit to the High Lakes

Took a day trip Saturday to the High Lakes (Northeast of Chico) and went up to Ben Lomond Lookout. I am impressed with my 4Runner every time I take it out. There were some good rock shelves and powdery steep hills to climb, but I had nary a wheel-slip!

Yes, that is a lawn mower on a receiver rack; I had to take it off eventually

Going down some rock steps and wondering if it will be difficult to get back up.

At Ben Lomond Lookout. Looking down to some neat granite formations and the Feather River Canyon and Hwy 70 below.

Hanging out at the lookout. :cheers:

:beer:

Turns out there was nothing to worry about at the steps I came down before.

Drove right up them.

I had a great trip.

 

[FrogginAround]

Took a day trip Saturday to the High Lakes (Northeast of Chico) and went up to Ben Lomond Lookout. I am impressed with my 4Runner every time I take it out. .

Are you in Chico or just passing through?

 

[MattJakobs]

Yeah, I've run in twice since the new re-route was opened and it completely changed the trail. If you plan to run it and think you can make it through the re-route (there are NO bypasses), start at the Alpine side so you will have gravity helping you down, I would not attempt with out solid axles, large tires and lockers going up. Once past that part, it's a good trail that is challenging, but doable. If you go through my build thread towards the last few pages, there's some info and pics from trips.

Also;

This is the last section of the reroute and POP goes the CV Slick Rock

This is after I busted for front axle Slick Rock

The steps or ladder Slick Rock

Sounds like I should actually rebuild my spare CV then. Blew one and haven't gotten to rebooting another.

I know a few guys on TacomaWorld that have run it, I'll have to see what routes they took.

It looks like a real fun trail. I have it on my "list" to do this year and I'm hoping I'll find some time early fall to get it done.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[rochmpr]

Sounds like I should actually rebuild my spare CV then. Blew one and haven't gotten to rebooting another.



I know a few guys on TacomaWorld that have run it, I'll have to see what routes they took.



It looks like a real fun trail. I have it on my "list" to do this year and I'm hoping I'll find some time early fall to get it done.



Thanks for the insight!

The other option, run from Utica to the re-route and turn around and head back out. I did that the first year of the re-route. Once i got to that point, being solo, i walked it, cursed, walked some more trying to figure a line, cursed some moe and ran back with mybtail between the legs. I also hammered down on the wah out and made the trail in just over an hour.

Now, Deer Valley, futher up the hill is awesome. You can run both in a long day. That trail will test you for the entire time.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[MeefZah]

Meredith and I went camping / kayaking at Lake Tahoe this week. 3 days, 2 nights. First camp was at Sagehen in the Tahoe NF and second camp was Chilcoot in the Plumas NF. Super fun. I was surprised how busy everything was and how many people were out. Restaurants in Truckee were openly defying closure orders... our waitress at Wagon Train started out the breakfast specials with "**** Gavin Newsome"...LOL

You guys may be pretending at being northern Calif, but I like it alright down here!

 

[biratley]

There was a bunch of 4runners and Tacomas at Wet Meadow off Blue Lakes road , i hiked the trail back there and stayed the night

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ThorRides]

Are you in Chico or just passing through?

I went up to mow our land in Paradise (live in Roseville now). Turns out my neighbor scraped most of it with a Bobcat, so I just had to do the front "lawn" and had the rest of the day off. I didn't hesitate to hit the High Lakes since I was there.

 

[FrogginAround]

I went up to mow our land in Paradise (live in Roseville now). Turns out my neighbor scraped most of it with a Bobcat, so I just had to do the front "lawn" and had the rest of the day off. I didn't hesitate to hit the High Lakes since I was there.

Cool. I'm down the hill in Chico but do a good amount of work up the hill. Did you leave before the fire? Hope all is well.

 

[ryan_a]

This is great information! A lot of the good spots. I was up there over the weekend and I’ll post a pic on the other site. Usal was pretty wild Friday night. People just kept showing up. I agree with you on the NorCal comment. I grew up in Redding and had family in Fort Jones. I grew up thinking everything south of Cottonwood was SoCal. :jump:

Also, heading north from Sac, Modoc County is also a lot of fun. It a a good juxtaposition with the ocean and there are some awesome places to travel through to get there. My wife and I did both the last 2 weekends.

I’m so in Sacramento and could help you with some route info.

Camp at Usal Beach and drive north up Usal Rd (rough dirt), then link over to Garberville and get on AoG and go north from there. Note - only camp there through the week, on weekends it can get rowdy. It's first come first served.
Alternatively there's some marked BLM campsites along Chemise Mountain Rd (the paved northern extension of Usal Rd) that are pretty quiet, but they aren't on the beach. There's also BLM sites at Lighthouse Beach near Petrolia and a few spots along Mattole Rd / Wilder Ridge Rd which is the main artery through the Lost Coast between Shelter Cove and Ferndale. They are also first come, first served.

There's great camping right south of Fern Canyon at Gold Bluff Beach campground, at the end of a sporty dirt road that takes you into Fern Canyon. Gold Bluff will likely require reservations.

I'm in Eureka and these are my stomping grounds so if I can be of assistance on your trip feel free to PM me. If you have regular questions post them in the thread so the info can be available for others.

There's also a Lost Coast thread (mine) which has some good info. If you come up here, post some pics in it. I'm trying to keep it alive.

The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread

Have fun! It's an awesome area. Most of these "norCal" guys have no idea what's actually north of SF...

 

[MeefZah]

This is great information! A lot of the good spots. I was up there over the weekend and I’ll post a pic on the other site. Usal was pretty wild Friday night. People just kept showing up. I agree with you on the NorCal comment. I grew up in Redding and had family in Fort Jones. I grew up thinking everything south of Cottonwood was SoCal. :jump:

Also, heading north from Sac, Modoc County is also a lot of fun. It a a good juxtaposition with the ocean and there are some awesome places to travel through to get there. My wife and I did both the last 2 weekends.

I’m so in Sacramento and could help you with some route info.

I keep meaning to go check out the lava tubes in Modoc. I've been through there a few times on trips on 395 but after a few weeks on the road getting that close to home on the way back I never want to stop!

 

[FrogginAround]

The lava tubes and petroglyphs are pretty cool. They use to rent out flashlights but I would bring your own.

 

[MeefZah]

The lava tubes and petroglyphs are pretty cool. They use to rent out flashlights but I would bring your own.

I always have like 4 with me, I'm good!

 

[MeefZah]

Hello, just bought a new 2020 Sr5 Premium. I am in the process of getting a 3 inch lift, AT tires... etc. The family and I are dying to drive north from SAC hitting the Avenue of Giants and up to Fern Canyon. Taking in account that we are NEW to off roading and camping, do any of you have any suggestions on where to camp and off road? I plan 3 days! Thanks in advance!

Camp at Usal Beach and drive north up Usal Rd (rough dirt), then link over to Garberville and get on AoG and go north from there. Note - only camp there through the week, on weekends it can get rowdy. It's first come first served.
Alternatively there's some marked BLM campsites along Chemise Mountain Rd (the paved northern extension of Usal Rd) that are pretty quiet, but they aren't on the beach. There's also BLM sites at Lighthouse Beach near Petrolia and a few spots along Mattole Rd / Wilder Ridge Rd which is the main artery through the Lost Coast between Shelter Cove and Ferndale. They are also first come, first served.

There's great camping right south of Fern Canyon at Gold Bluff Beach campground, at the end of a sporty dirt road that takes you into Fern Canyon. Gold Bluff will likely require reservations.

You have done some great traveling and taken some awesome photos. Thanks for the info!

Clarification: I went by yesterday and the BLM camps in the Lost Coast were closed. Unsure why. If you have any plans on camping at one of them I'd call first. This is most of the campgrounds there. USAL (state maintained) is open. A.W. Way camp (county maintained) is open and mostly vacant. Gold Bluff is, according to my friend, closed. Haven't confirmed that myself.

 

[FrogginAround]

I always have like 4 with me, I'm good!

Ya i figured. Most of us are usually pretty well prepared.