The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread

[RY-ZAH]

Took my 4r to the sand for the first time. Did pretty well, didn't get a chance to play around much but made it to the water, snapped a pic and turned back. Thought I was going to get stuck every second I was on the sand lol.

 

[MeefZah]

Did you go out on the jetty?

https://youtu.be/WFjIpuD49QI

 

[RY-ZAH]

I did. But the tide was low and the waves were calm and cool. Also, once I proved to myself that I could make it I turned around and GTF out of there.

 

[2112 R]

Hey Humboldt Folks -
I graduated 2001 and married an Arcata local. The in laws still live up there and we visit a few times a year.

Some of the greatest camping in all of Cali up there, we miss it a lot, being able to go to an epic site for just a weekend trip.
Considering ya'll live near the Shasta Trinity / Six Rivers / Klamath National Forests there are tons of roads and spurs to explore.

There are some great roads off the 3, 36 and 96. Just watch out for private roads, grow ops and shady locals up there. They are very protective of their income.

Trinity Alps, Marbles and Black Lassic all have great fire road access that lead to some solid off roading.

Keep the pictures coming so the wife, kids and I can motivate to get up there this summer. Excellent thread.

 

[MeefZah]

Hey Humboldt Folks -
I graduated 2001 and married an Arcata local. The in laws still live up there and we visit a few times a year.

Some of the greatest camping in all of Cali up there, we miss it a lot, being able to go to an epic site for just a weekend trip.
Considering ya'll live near the Shasta Trinity / Six Rivers / Klamath National Forests there are tons of roads and spurs to explore.

There are some great roads off the 3, 36 and 96. Just watch out for private roads, grow ops and shady locals up there. They are very protective of their income.

Trinity Alps, Marbles and Black Lassic all have great fire road access that lead to some solid off roading.


Keep the pictures coming so the wife, kids and I can motivate to get up there this summer. Excellent thread.

Thanks man. Yeah, when I have more than a few hours to kill I migrate east on 36. You can run gravel and dirt all the way from 36 south to past Clear Lake!

 

[MeefZah]

Went looking for some abandoned tunnels today. Wasn't terribly successful - I found where they were but it was too wet / muddy to get into them.

There is a old RR tunnel running in the rock behind me, left to right; the hole visible in the rock is a debris dumping port from when it was constructed in 1914. You cannot see either portal from this vantage point. This is Bryan's Bluff in Holmes / Holmes Flat, along the Eel River.

Another seasonal bridge, out for the season, near Holmes Flat. Crosses the Eel River between Holmes Flat and Larabee. The go around is 26 miles. In the winter they open up the go around which is a logging road because this bridge is out; in the summer the logging road gets gated shut and you use the bridge. There's no other way into Larabee.

 

[Albionwood]

Mendocino here, we get up to Humboldt a couple times a year, mainly go birding. First trip I took with the 4R was up the Usal Road all the way through to Four Corners, in late spring right after they opened the gates. Great shakeout trip, straddling the gully... too bad I didn't stop for pics. Took the Mattole Road out and up. Then went out to the North Spit and got stuck in that damn dry sand! Aired down, dug out and drove off.
Anyway, nice to see other North Coasters here. Maybe catch you up on Bear River Ridge sometime, love to get up there during hawk migration.

 

[MeefZah]

Mendocino here, we get up to Humboldt a couple times a year, mainly go birding. First trip I took with the 4R was up the Usal Road all the way through to Four Corners, in late spring right after they opened the gates. Great shakeout trip, straddling the gully... too bad I didn't stop for pics. Took the Mattole Road out and up. Then went out to the North Spit and got stuck in that damn dry sand! Aired down, dug out and drove off.
Anyway, nice to see other North Coasters here. Maybe catch you up on Bear River Ridge sometime, love to get up there during hawk migration.

Cool! Man I love Mendo, the coast, Mendo NF area....

 

[MeefZah]

I recently took an 11 day, 5900 mile cross country trip. Not really California Lost Coast related, but, hell... it's my thread!

https://meefzah.smugmug.com/March-2018-MMM-Tennessee-trip

 

[MeefZah]

Good day out on South Fork Mountain, explored some new roads.

 

[xwake4lifex]

Nice photos MeefZah! We're upon a great time of year to explore Humboldt and the surrounding counties.

 

[MeefZah]

Nice photos MeefZah! We're upon a great time of year to explore Humboldt and the surrounding counties.

Indeed! We have to get together at some point and do some exploring!

 

[xwake4lifex]

Indeed! We have to get together at some point and do some exploring!

Absolutely man! Sorry I've been incredibly swamped in my final year at HSU. Graduating here in about 2-3 weeks.

I've got some family coming up to stay for a bit and then I've got a small trip to a fire lookout in OR about the 3rd week of May or so. I've still got your number saved so I'll hit you up soon.

Hope all is well!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[MeefZah]

Absolutely man! Sorry I've been incredibly swamped in my final year at HSU. Graduating here in about 2-3 weeks.

I've got some family coming up to stay for a bit and then I've got a small trip to a fire lookout in OR about the 3rd week of May or so. I've still got your number saved so I'll hit you up soon.

Hope all is well!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Sounds good. I think I lost your number though. Resend it?

 

[2112 R]

Devil's Backbone Trail near Mad River

Wife and I are planning a trip up to bring the kids to the grandparents house in Arcata in a few weeks.

Do you have directions for this trail specifically? I looked around and most searches reference an OHV/Motorcycle trail that looks super thin, and this pic is awesome. Would love to check it out while we're up there.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MeefZah]

Wife and I are planning a trip up to bring the kids to the grandparents house in Arcata in a few weeks.

Do you have directions for this trail specifically? I looked around and most searches reference an OHV/Motorcycle trail that looks super thin, and this pic is awesome. Would love to check it out while we're up there.

Thanks in advance.

I do. Take 36 East to Mad River Rock Lookout road, which intersects at the top of a hill on the south side of 36, just west of the community of Mad River. Be aware there is construction on 36 and it is closed through the week. You may want to check out California's Road site for details and times of the closure. Go south on Mad River Rock Lookout road until it dead-ends, and that is the beginning of the trail. The trail will wind South and West and eventually will come out on East Van Duzen River Road.

Running it this direction puts you going downhill on the trickiest parts. If you run it the other way, from East Van Duzen River Road, some up hills can be fairly sketchy especially if they are really wet or really dry and loose. I also don't have a good landmark to access the trail off of East Van Duzen River Road. I have it waymarked in my GPS, but there's no signs or other indicators, it's just a small dirt path that goes into some bushes from that end.

Be sure and post some pictures in this thread if you go!

 

[2112 R]

I do. Take 36 East to Mad River Rock Lookout road, which intersects at the top of a hill on the south side of 36, just west of the community of Mad River. Be aware there is construction on 36 and it is closed through the week. You may want to check out California's Road site for details and times of the closure. Go south on Mad River Rock Lookout road until it dead-ends, and that is the beginning of the trail. The trail will wind South and West and eventually will come out on East Van Duzen River Road.

Running it this direction puts you going downhill on the trickiest parts. If you run it the other way, from East Van Duzen River Road, some up hills can be fairly sketchy especially if they are really wet or really dry and loose. I also don't have a good landmark to access the trail off of East Van Duzen River Road. I have it waymarked in my GPS, but there's no signs or other indicators, it's just a small dirt path that goes into some bushes from that end.

Be sure and post some pictures in this thread if you go!

Perfect directions, thanks. Even if we don't bring the 4runner maybe I can borrow my father in laws 4x4 Nissan Titan and give it a go. Either way I'll be sure to keep these details in my off road travel book as a "must see" one of these days.

Thanks again

 

[MeefZah]

Sadly not accessible by truck - only access is via foot or through a gated ranch - but I took my enduro to the long abandoned Island Mountain railroad bridge / tunnel in extreme southeast Humboldt County... tunnel is 4300 feet long. I rode through it and back.

 

[4RunnerIdiot]

Well, I was sort of surprised to find this thread. Recently bought an 04 Limited. I have basically no auto mechanic experience, almost no offroad experience, but I bought this 4runner to help gain both of those. I grew up in Arcata, lived in Ferndale for a while, and now live in Eureka.

I'd really like to find more people in this area who can point me towards some decent trails, and even go out exploring with. And honestly, if anyone needs an extra set of hands on a car project, I'd love to help out just to gain some experience.

 

[MeefZah]

Well, I was sort of surprised to find this thread. Recently bought an 04 Limited. I have basically no auto mechanic experience, almost no offroad experience, but I bought this 4runner to help gain both of those. I grew up in Arcata, lived in Ferndale for a while, and now live in Eureka.

I'd really like to find more people in this area who can point me towards some decent trails, and even go out exploring with. And honestly, if anyone needs an extra set of hands on a car project, I'd love to help out just to gain some experience.

View attachment 306548

Welcome. I'm in Washington this week but I'm around after that; lets go take an easy run.

FYI, I live in Eureka/ Cutten now, we moved to a bigger place 2 months ago.