The Humboldt / Lost Coast / surrounding areas thread

[a t l a s]

Maybe this is a good thread to ask what I've been wondering since visiting the Lost Coast/Humboldt area a couple weeks ago..

When driving up toward Eureka, the Eel River more or less followed the highway. I saw a bunch of small side roads that led down to the water, and from the highway I could see a bunch of tire tracks. Some even seemed to have water crossed in areas.

So what's the official word on this? Is it truly allowed to just cruise on the river bank and through the river itself? Or is it more for official vehicles only and other people just go down there anyway?

 

[MeefZah]

Maybe this is a good thread to ask what I've been wondering since visiting the Lost Coast/Humboldt area a couple weeks ago..

When driving up toward Eureka, the Eel River more or less followed the highway. I saw a bunch of small side roads that led down to the water, and from the highway I could see a bunch of tire tracks. Some even seemed to have water crossed in areas.

So what's the official word on this? Is it truly allowed to just cruise on the river bank and through the river itself? Or is it more for official vehicles only and other people just go down there anyway?

100 % legit! Some are even posted with state maintained signs pointing the way to access them, and have names that show on the map ( eg Leatherwood Bar, etc).

I do believe actually crossing the river is a violation, but I've never heard of anybody getting pinched for it.

 

[a t l a s]

100 % legit! Some are even posted with state maintained signs pointing the way to access them, and have names that show on the map ( eg Leatherwood Bar, etc).

I do believe actually crossing the river is a violation, but I've never heard of anybody getting pinched for it.

Awesome! It does seem like it would be a ton of fun just driving around down the river. Might have to make another trip out of it.

 

[MeefZah]

Awesome! It does seem like it would be a ton of fun just driving around down the river. Might have to make another trip out of it.

It is!

Every summer, when the levels drop, the country installs several "summer bridges" made from old rail cars over the Eel. Pics are on page 1. One is at Shively and one at Holmes Flat (both off Ave of Giants). The Shively one utilizes about a mile of river bar to get between the bridge and the cut that goes up into the town of Shively. It's pretty cool. Both allow easy access to a few miles of river bar and the Holmes Flat one is within walking distance of a badass old NWP railroad tunnel at Bryans Bluff.

Be warned if you try to actually ford the river, there are some crazy holes that you can't see, and the river is constantly changing the banks so even a ford you did yesterday might be different today. On my old 4R I actually bent the bottom of the radiator up into a nice "J" screwing around at the Shively bridge and fording the river instead of using the bridge.

But river fording is fun! Here's a 30 sec video of me back in Ohio crossing the Walhonding R.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fVw9N4T6aI&feature=youtu.be

 

[hiveloc]

Hello, just popping in to say "hi" as a new 4Runner owner from Macktown.

You've done a great job with pictures from the area- I have been to some of them, and now I have some more places to check out thanks to you!

Also, did you sell a 4R cargo area cover to somebody on CL a month or so ago? If yes, that was me!

 

[MeefZah]

Hello, just popping in to say "hi" as a new 4Runner owner from Macktown.

You've done a great job with pictures from the area- I have been to some of them, and now I have some more places to check out thanks to you!

Also, did you sell a 4R cargo area cover to somebody on CL a month or so ago? If yes, that was me!

Haha! Yes, indeed!

 

[hiveloc]

Haha! Yes, indeed!

That's great! Might have to meet up to hit some trails in the future. I checked some of your photo albums today, and it was nice to see familiar places. I used to live in Paradise, and my Softail has been up and down Hwy 70 many times, even been to some music festivals in Belden town. Northern CA has some of the best roads for both two and four wheels.

 

[MeefZah]

That's great! Might have to meet up to hit some trails in the future. I checked some of your photo albums today, and it was nice to see familiar places. I used to live in Paradise, and my Softail has been up and down Hwy 70 many times, even been to some music festivals in Belden town. Northern CA has some of the best roads for both two and four wheels.

Sounds great! Do you still have your HD? Most of my exploration is via motorcycle and you are right, there's some great roads here!

 

[hiveloc]

Sounds great! Do you still have your HD? Most of my exploration is via motorcycle and you are right, there's some great roads here!

I do still have it. I need to clean her up and change the oil and probably charge up the battery. I had to stick to four wheels for awhile due to some back surgery, but I am anxious to get back out again.

 

[MeefZah]

Well, shit. Bye bye 2006 Taco (made some money on that sale) and hello 2014 TX Baja... got a winch and bumper already ordered... I think I have a problem.

 

[2112 R]

Prepping for Alaska v.2 in August - September. I've been wanting an awning of some sort and this one fit the bill nicely (and cheaply):

Slumberjack Roadhouse tarp - $100 at Sportsman's Warehouse and a pretty good price, I think

Full review in thread:

Gear Review: SJK Roadhouse Tarp 2017

I just got one of these and have yet to set it up.
Planning on bringing it with me to Death Valley this fall/winter in addition to the already attached ARB awning I have.

I'm reading through the review now (thanks for link) and was wondering how your set up experience was? How would it hold up to some wind?

 

[MeefZah]

I just got one of these and have yet to set it up.
Planning on bringing it with me to Death Valley this fall/winter in addition to the already attached ARB awning I have.

I'm reading through the review now (thanks for link) and was wondering how your set up experience was? How would it hold up to some wind?

There was a breeze when I was setting it up, and I was by myself. Once I got the lines set up correctly it was simple, even solo. I think it would hold up pretty well to a fair wind, it seems pretty stout and being anchored on one end to the truck really makes it solid. I think it would suck to set up in the wind but once you got it up you'd be golden.

 

[hiveloc]

Well, shit. Bye bye 2006 Taco (made some money on that sale) and hello 2014 TX Baja... got a winch and bumper already ordered... I think I have a problem.

A little late, but congrats, looks like a nice canvas to work with!

 

[xwake4lifex]

I finally have something new to share with the Humboldt / Lost Coast group! Earlier this month my girlfriend and I set off towards Oregon to stay at Bolan Mountain Lookout. This is an old fire lookout tower that is part of the system of ones you can rent from the US Forest Service for a small nightly fee. They are intensely sought after so you really have to fight to get a spot, generally 6 months in advance. We booked this back in February.

Unfortunately, the weather decided to take a turn for cooler days during our stay. We enjoyed it regardless. This time we got to experience being inside a fire lookout during a thunderstorm. I'm talkin' lightning starting in the distance around 4PM and enveloping us around 9PM until 12AM for a solid 3 hours of lightning all around us. It was quite the cool experience, but also terrifying. One of our dogs does not like thunder and the lightning being so bright there was freaking her out. We had to lay with her on the ground and cover her eyes with a bandana lol.

Anyway here's some photos from the trip. If you ever get a chance to rent one of the lookout towers for a few nights I'd say go for it! You won't regret it. We've also stayed at Pickett Butte Lookout before.

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/YsuPVgx" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/YsuPVgx">Bolan Mountain Lookout (August 2019)</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MeefZah]

I finally have something new to share with the Humboldt / Lost Coast group! Earlier this month my girlfriend and I set off towards Oregon to stay at Bolan Mountain Lookout. This is an old fire lookout tower that is part of the system of ones you can rent from the US Forest Service for a small nightly fee. They are intensely sought after so you really have to fight to get a spot, generally 6 months in advance. We booked this back in February.

Unfortunately, the weather decided to take a turn for cooler days during our stay. We enjoyed it regardless. This time we got to experience being inside a fire lookout during a thunderstorm. I'm talkin' lightning starting in the distance around 4PM and enveloping us around 9PM until 12AM for a solid 3 hours of lightning all around us. It was quite the cool experience, but also terrifying. One of our dogs does not like thunder and the lightning being so bright there was freaking her out. We had to lay with her on the ground and cover her eyes with a bandana lol.

Anyway here's some photos from the trip. If you ever get a chance to rent one of the lookout towers for a few nights I'd say go for it! You won't regret it. We've also stayed at Pickett Butte Lookout before.

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/YsuPVgx" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/YsuPVgx">Bolan Mountain Lookout (August 2019)</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That's awesome!

 

[MeefZah]

Well with my wife driving the 4Runner most of the time I went ahead and modded the Taco. Just hammered it all out at once, hurts less in the long run I guess.

Winch, bumper, tint, Softopper, bunch of interior mods.

Pics are above Bear River Ridge at the NOAA satellite.

 

[hiveloc]

Well with my wife driving the 4Runner most of the time I went ahead and modded the Taco. Just hammered it all out at once, hurts less in the long run I guess.

Winch, bumper, tint, Softopper, bunch of interior mods.

Pics are above Bear River Ridge at the NOAA satellite.

Lookin' good!

Who did your tint? My wife needs her Subie windows done and I will end up darkening up mine a bit as well, so looking for a good local installer.

 

[MeefZah]

Lookin' good!

Who did your tint? My wife needs her Subie windows done and I will end up darkening up mine a bit as well, so looking for a good local installer.

I've used American Auto Detailing, over by Target, several times. They are good. I've suggested them to a few people and all but one guy were pleased; that guy had some bubbles that wouldn't go away but the shop replaced it for him under lifetime warranty. I think for a full car they charge $350 and for just matching the two front windows to factory tint it's $110.

 

[hiveloc]

I've used American Auto Detailing, over by Target, several times. They are good. I've suggested them to a few people and all but one guy were pleased; that guy had some bubbles that wouldn't go away but the shop replaced it for him under lifetime warranty. I think for a full car they charge $350 and for just matching the two front windows to factory tint it's $110.

great, thanks for the lead!

 

[xwake4lifex]

Well with my wife driving the 4Runner most of the time I went ahead and modded the Taco. Just hammered it all out at once, hurts less in the long run I guess.

Winch, bumper, tint, Softopper, bunch of interior mods.

Pics are above Bear River Ridge at the NOAA satellite.

Your Taco is looking great man! Are you able to keep up with those 2 big dogs?