The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread

[MeefZah]

I've edited this post a few times since originally posted to keep it current

Greetings!

I'm not sure how much traction a thread dedicated to Humboldt and area is going to have, but I'm going to give it a good shot. Hell, I'm gonna keep it alive even if no one else contributes... just because!

I'd like to have a place where we can meet other locals, post up about routes and places to go, post pics, arrange trips, camping, wrench days, etc. Basically if it involves being outdoors in Humboldt, and especially being outdoors with your truck, it can go here!

So pop in, say 'hi', introduce yourself, describe your truck, post up some pics, and post up your favorite local route! Passing through Humboldt? Got questions, or need assistance? Holler!

About me: I'm 43. Married. No kids. Two years ago, my wife and I came through Humboldt on a random cross country camping trip. We really liked it out here and started talking about maybe moving here as we were driving back home from that trip. Six months after that trip we were selling off our house and all our stuff in Ohio, and moving to Humboldt. Crazy. I got a job with the city and Meredith got a job with the hospital.

In my free time I'm usually out on my motorcycle or in the 4R, exploring the back roads. I also enjoy camping, hiking, shooting, tinkering on my truck and bikes, and photography.

I kind of get restless with vehicles. When we moved out here I had a well modded silver 2014 TE. Since we've been out here, that's been sold; a few Tacomas have come and gone, and my wife has bought and sold a white SR5. We currently (as of June 2020) have a MGM 2017 SR5 with a lift, 33s, winch, and some other mods; and a MGM 2019 ORP set up exactly the same.

The 2017 as it currently sits:

The 2019 as it currently sits (the Yak basket only gets put on for trips):

 

[MeefZah]

So I maintain a gallery of images I've taken since 2013; the main link is in my signature, below. The folders are itemized by trips and dates.

One folder is just a dumping ground for random California stuff. It's kind of the default folder where photos of all my day trips on the bikes or the truck wind up.

Cali-graphy - MeefZah

Looking through the last 18 months of photos from the area I came across some worth posting...

My 2014 on McCann Road, soHum

Overlooking the Eel River on Fort Seward Road, soHum

NOAA weather radar at 3,000 feet above Ferndale

Bear River Ridge Road, between Rio Dell and Ferndale

Temporary bridge over the Eel River off Avenue of the Giants near Shively

The same bridge a year later in my 2017

Devil's Backbone Trail near Mad River

Rockfall on Larabee Butte Road

Fortuna mural

Saw this guy on French Camp Road near Hoopa

My 2017 on NF-23 near Mad River

Mad River crossing near Ruth

On the Eel River bar near Fernbridge

Not Humboldt but still cool:

Mount Shasta

Mono Lake, near Yosemite

 

[MeefZah]

So one of my favorite fast local rides is:

Leave Ferndale and go south on 'The Wildcat' / Mattole Rd.

After about six miles going up the mountain, hang a left (east) on Bear River Ridge Road.

Bear River Ridge runs along the mountain ridge for 15 miles or so with awesome views of the ocean, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Scotia. Paved the first and last few miles but single lane dirt for about 12-ish miles in between. It becomes Monument Road and drops into Rio Dell.

Run north into Fortuna, grab breakfast at Hot Brew - I like the biscuits and gravy!

Run south again, and then east on 36 over to Redwood House Rd (ten miles from 101). Hang a left and go northeast on RH.

Redwood House climbs up the mountain and runs 12 miles east to Kneeland Road. It's all single lane dirt, with some muddy spots. Watch out for logging trucks!

At the end, at Kneeland Road, hang a left and go north toward Eureka. Nice 1 1/2 lane gravel for several miles.

At the junction of Showers Pass Road, hang a right and go east / southeast. Follow Showers Pass as it loops around and back to Kneeland Road south of the intersection with Kneeland and RH that you already came through. SP is all one lane dirt with some muddy sections, switchbacks, and sweet views. It's also way longer than you think it is!

SP intersects with Kneeland and you can either run Kneeland south to 36 (all gravel) or you can run it north a bit and then take RH west back to 36, the way you came. RH is like a whole different road going the other direction.

This is about 75 miles of dirt with some pavement in between (36 and 101, mainly). Takes about 4 hours if you stop for pictures and to check stuff out (not counting breakfast).

I ran this route on 11-22-17 and it was about perfect. Just the right amount of goopiness from the recent rains.

Some pics from that outing:

RH is all open range. This is a cattle chute with fall leaves in the background.

There's only one house on RH. The west part of the road is basically a logging road and the middle / east part is basically a ranch road for the cattle ranch.

Creek along RH

Lots of mossy trees on RH

East end of RH, at Kneeland Rd

Showers Pass Rd

Showers Pass Rd

Creek running under SP

Abandoned house on SP

Old car submerged in the creek

 

[08t4rsr5]

I'm Justin, married, no kids and Live in Loleta across the river from Meefzah. We met here on T4R.ORG before he moved out my way. I no longer have a 4Runner due to finances but am working towards getting one again soon. This has been my ride for a year and this picture was taken on a ranch out Upper Bear River Rd during my hunting trip this year. It's an 08 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 all stock except for oversized tires I got from Meefzah. There is a lot of roads left to travel up here in Humboldt and the adventure is part of the fun of living here.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[MeefZah]

Heck yeah Justin! Welcome!

 

[xwake4lifex]

Humboldt and Lost Coast friends, my name is Josh. I'd love to meet people from the area so feel free to reach out!

 

[MeefZah]

Greetings Josh!

 

[MeefZah]

Took a run both ways across Bear River Ridge earlier. It was really clear. Great views!

Rio Dell, Scotia, and the Eel River in the distance

Pacific Ocean on the left

Background left side is the mouth of the Eel River, background center is Humboldt Bay ( you can see the Manila pulp mill if you look closely)

Rolled over 20k...

 

[MeefZah]

Finally installed my lift and upsized (33") tires... Bilstein 5100s all around, Eibach / Wheeler's coils at 2.5" front, 1.5" rear. Ready to tear up some more Lost Coast dirt roads!

Heading out Wednesday 12-13-17 for a full day of it if anyone wants to join...

 

[MeefZah]

Ran down Avenue of the Giants today, had breakfast at The Avenue Cafe in Miranda, then across Alderpoint Road, Dyerville Loop, Fort Seward Road, Alderpoint Road again, over 36, up Kneeland, across Redwood House, and home. Dragged my wife along, we had fun tearing it up.

Breakfast. Good huevos rancheros!

Above the blanket of clouds on Alderpoint Road

Cool old barn on Alderpoint Road

Outside Ferndale

 

[MeefZah]

One of my other favorite things to do is explore this area on my motorcycle. Because of the staggering number of dirt and gravel forest service roads, and because most of the paved secondary roads are pretty chunked up, an enduro style / dual sport bike is the way to go. It's the 2-wheeled equivalent of the 4Runner.

Much as with trucks, I get kind of restless with bikes. I'm always doing horse trading. Meredith also rides, although not as much as I do, and she's got a bike also.

These are my current bikes (June 2020), a 2018 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 and a 2008 Yamaha WR250R:

This is Meredith's bike, a 2008 Suzuki V-Strom 650 (the yellow one):

Some motorcycle trip pics, some of these are non-current bikes...

Old Hwy 101, a section called "the slab", between Leggett and Piercy. New Hwy 101 is visible in the background:

Low water bridge off Dyerville Loop Road:

Random landslides with the roads eroded away - on Alderpoint Rd and Mattole Rd:

The north end of the "G-O Road" from Gasquet to Orleans that never got totally built (making it a NO GO):

Trinity Mountain Road:

Old lighthouse base off of Mattole Road at Cape Mendocino (you couldn't get a 4WD out here, the shelf to get out to this spot is too narrow):

Drive through tree at Myer's Flat:

 

[MeefZah]

Snow above 2,000 feet

 

[MeefZah]

Redwood House and Kneeland today

 

[RY-ZAH]

Sup guys! my name is Ryan and I am brand new to the 4runner world. I recently bought a 95 4runner to use as a hunting rig. it has 273,000 miles on it and I hope it stays strong for a few years.

 

[MeefZah]

Hehe.... what's up Ryan?

 

[Folsom4Rnr]

Some great pictures in this thread! :thumb3:

 

[RY-ZAH]

Wazzzzzzzzzzzz up Mark!

 

[MeefZah]

Some great pictures in this thread! :thumb3:

Thanks man!

 

[v_man]

lots of nice pictures here, thanks for sharing...

 

[MeefZah]

Found a 4 mile long sand road that runs parallel to the Pacific, between the south end / switchbacks at the South Jetty and the mouth of the Eel River. Some fun muddy spots and a lot of loose sand!

Tons of driftwood on this section of beach for some reason.

Cannibal Island Road was flooded...