Off-Road in Truckee, CA area.

[CRYA]

Off-Road in Truckee, CA area?

This forum could probably use a "regional" forum right? Heading up to Truckee and Lake Tahoe this weekend. Is anyone familiar with a trail/area up there where I could get the tires dirty? I'm all stock, including the tires, and am looknig for something just to get out in the woods a little. Ideas?
I'm familiar with Tahoe, just not the off-road scene there, and no, I'm not heading out to the Rubicon.

Thanks.

 

[dpreich]

Hey, I live in Carson City so I know of a few in the area. There are four that come to mind that would probably be doable in a stock 4runner. you can google these to get the locations and more info about the trail.
1. Kings Canyon-starts in Carson City and climbs to Spooner Summit- off of hwy 50
2. Jumbo Grade- Starts in Washoe and ends in Virginia city.
3. Eldorado Canyon- Starts in Dayton and ends in Minden.
4. Goni Road Trail- starts in Carson and meets up with Jumbo Grade.
Good Luck and enjoy you time in Tahoe

 

[CRYA]

Cool thanks for those tips. I will check them out.

 

[1000MPH]

Those are some good suggestions.
Check out this book that was posted by someone in another thread. Nevada Trails Western Region - Google Books

Just a warning that some of the trails on the East side of 395 and in Washoe Valley are little used by full sized 4WD. Some unexpected washouts and overgrown sage to add pinstripes when you weren't looking for them.
I didn't think Jumbo Grade was doable in a stock truck. Have you been up there recently?
This pic is from the top of Goni near Ophir trail overlooking Washoe Lake.

Edit: here's another good bookmark Jumbo Grade Trail | New Washoe City Nevada Off-Road Trails | Trails.com

 

[CRYA]

Very cool. I've got a black Trail that's 3 months old so I'm not quite ready for pinstripes yet...

When I have more time I guess Carson City area is where the bulk of trails are. I'm trying to also find more info on whether there is any 4x4 stuff in the Prosser OHV area off 89.

 

[dpreich]

Those are some good suggestions.
Check out this book that was posted by someone in another thread. Nevada Trails Western Region - Google Books

Just a warning that some of the trails on the East side of 395 and in Washoe Valley are little used by full sized 4WD. Some unexpected washouts and overgrown sage to add pinstripes when you weren't looking for them.
I didn't think Jumbo Grade was doable in a stock truck. Have you been up there recently?
This pic is from the top of Goni near Ophir trail overlooking Washoe Lake.

Edit: here's another good bookmark Jumbo Grade Trail | New Washoe City Nevada Off-Road Trails | Trails.com

I actually have not done Jumbo grade yet, but it is on my list. A friend told me it was doable, but he is a little bit crazy off road.

 

[Casper421]

Blackwood canyon on the West shore has some nice easy trails. Prosser hill OHV area just north of Truckee on 89. Boca Hill, but access from Prosser, Boca dam road is closed. Theres plenty of little trails around Prosser, Stampede and Boca; just explore.

 

[CRYA]

Yeah Thanks. Is Blackwood Canyon the fire road that takes you up to the that summit where you pick up the PCT? I think I've been that way before. I'll go explore. And thanks for the tips Casper. See you at the Wild Cherry.

 

[alirawk]

Kings Canyon Road update

Hello all. I know this thread is a little old, but I wanted to give a little update on this trail as I just did it last weekend coming out of Carson City, NV into Lake Tahoe.

Although it's rated in the Massey's Nevada trails book for the region as a moderate trail, he rates the difficulty as a 4 out of 10 in difficulty, and states that a stock SUV should be fine -- I have to say that is definitely NOT the case. This trail has some washed out off camber turns, a couple creek crossings that were pretty shallow but hard to see because of tree coverage, a short but intense rock crawl, and all of this with some serious exposure to a cliff on an ever more narrow trail -- lots of pin striping.

Admittedly, I'm pretty new to off roading, but I was quite scared. Not still having fun scared, simply "this is awful, I can't believe this is happening SCARED". And the trail is too narrow and treacherous to turn around. Moreover, it can be accessed from both sides, so you might have to negotiate a pass -- how in the world you'd do that is beyond me.

Most online resources actually refer to it as a mountain bike trail, which actually would be really fun. And on the way out, we did come across a guy on a dirt bike who he looked at me like I was nuts for having just popped out of that trail in my 4runner.

I'm sure there are many people on this forum who would have no problem on this trail, but I just wanted to give other newbs like myself a little warning that this trail will test your limits for sure and possibly push you beyond them. Please be careful.

 

[mthrtrkr]

Hello all. I know this thread is a little old, but I wanted to give a little update on this trail as I just did it last weekend coming out of Carson City, NV into Lake Tahoe.

Although it's rated in the Massey's Nevada trails book for the region as a moderate trail, he rates the difficulty as a 4 out of 10 in difficulty, and states that a stock SUV should be fine -- I have to say that is definitely NOT the case. This trail has some washed out off camber turns, a couple creek crossings that were pretty shallow but hard to see because of tree coverage, a short but intense rock crawl, and all of this with some serious exposure to a cliff on an ever more narrow trail -- lots of pin striping.

Admittedly, I'm pretty new to off roading, but I was quite scared. Not still having fun scared, simply "this is awful, I can't believe this is happening SCARED". And the trail is too narrow and treacherous to turn around. Moreover, it can be accessed from both sides, so you might have to negotiate a pass -- how in the world you'd do that is beyond me.

Most online resources actually refer to it as a mountain bike trail, which actually would be really fun. And on the way out, we did come across a guy on a dirt bike who he looked at me like I was nuts for having just popped out of that trail in my 4runner.

I'm sure there are many people on this forum who would have no problem on this trail, but I just wanted to give other newbs like myself a little warning that this trail will test your limits for sure and possibly push you beyond them. Please be careful.

Appreciate the warning. Headed up this week totally stock. Sounds like I'll stick to the fire roads.

 

[mthrtrkr]

Blackwood Canyon update

Thanks for all the suggestions! Blackwood canyon was a really great ~3 mile trail up the mountain. Snapped a pic of the OHV road map to show the other stuff in the area.