Nor Cal Easy and Moderate Trails

[Focker]

The purpose of this thread is to try and assemble a nice list of trails we can all refer to for pleasant day or weekend trips. This thread is a Wikipost so anyone can add to it.

Here is some nuggets to start this going:

Near Hwy 36:

• Peligreen Jeepway - Halfway between Red Bluff and Mt. Lassen (and another Link)

Near Hwy 70:

• Cleghorn Bar - Near Quincy just off Quincy LaPorte Rd.
• Deer Lake, Gold Valley - Near Graeagle / Off the Gold Lake Hwy.
• Poker Flat - Starts on Hwy 49 @ Downieville / Ends near La Porte
• Saddleback Mountain Lookout - Starts at Downieville / Ends near La Porte
• Sierra Buttes Lookout - Warning: narrow shelf road with steep drops

Near Hwy 20:

• Bowman Road / Meadow Lakes Road - Starts at Hwy 20 just west of I-80 and runs to Henness Pass

Near Hwy 80:

• ShirtTail Canyon - Near Colfax
• Soda Springs Road - Starts at the end of Foresthill Road
• Buckeye Flat - This road is off Mosquito Ridge Rd (see notes in post below).
• Signal Peak - Shares the Fordyce trail head, just off of I80 near highway 20

Lake Tahoe Area:

• Barker Pass Road - Near West Shore of Lake Tahoe

Near Hwy 50:

• Ellis Peak - Off Hwy 89 / Tahoma (West Shore of Lake Tahoe)
• Slate Mountain - Near Placerville
• Pony Express Trail - Just off Ice House / Runs parallel to Hwy 50

Strawberry Pass - http://4x4trailmaps.com/4x4Trails.php?Trail_ID=9

Near Hwy 88:

• Baltic Ridge Trail - Near Mormon Immigrant Trail
• Plummer Ridge Trail - Near Mormon Immigrant Trail
• Cosumnes Mine Road - Between Grizzly Flats and Capps Crossing
• Red Lake and Blue Lakes Trail - Hwy 88 East of Carson Pass
• Pardoe Trail (aka Squaw Ridge Trail) - Near Hwy 88 / Bear River Reservoir. (this trail may be closed currently)
• Barney Riley Trail - Near Markleeville off Hwy 4

Near Hwy 4:

• Corral Hollow - Near Bear Valley Ski Resort / Hwy 4
• Calaveras Dome Trail - Hwy 4/ Bear Valley
• Sourgrass Trail - Hwy 4 / Near Dorrington

Near Hwy 108:

• Pinecrest Peak Trail - Off Hwy 108 near Strawberry. Map Courtesy of Snail Trail 4x4: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1bl1zQFlG8tIMJBk7Gr3vWatHwmaCchrk&ll=38.223325294888134,-119.95138250000002&z=13

Mendocino National Forest:

• Hull Mountain Road - Off 301 after you pass Lake Pillsbury (the trail is pretty easy going up until the very end, where it gets a little bit steeper and there is one medium-sized hump but people were getting through with various stock vehicles without issue)

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[mikej]

The purpose of this thread is to try and assemble a nice list of trails we can all refer to for pleasant day or weekend trips.

Here is some nuggets to start this going:

• Slate Mountain - Near Placerville
• Pony Express Trail - Just off Ice House / Runs parallel to Hwy 50
• Baltic Ridge Trail - Near Mormon Immigrant Trail
• Plummer Ridge Trail - Near Mormon Immigrant Trail
• Red Lake and Blue Lakes Trail - Hwy 88 East of Carson Pass
• Pardoe Trail (aka Squaw Ridge Trail) - Near Hwy 88 / Bear River Reservoir. (this trail may be closed currently)
  
• Corral Hollow - Near Bear Valley Ski Resort / Hwy 4
• Calaveras Dome Trail - Hwy 4/ Bear Valley
• Pinecrest Peak Trail - Off Hwy 108 near Strawberry. Map Courtesy of Snail Trail 4x4: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1bl1zQFlG8tIMJBk7Gr3vWatHwmaCchrk&ll=38.223325294888134,-119.95138250000002&z=13
• ShirtTail Canyon - Near Colfax

Any chance you could turn this into a wiki post? Then we could just edit the list.

 

[mikej]

Not sure how to do that, if you can tell me how I will be happy to or you are welcome to.

Turns out it’s not as easy as I hoped. I think we need to ask a moderator to do it.

 

[Focker]

Turns out it’s not as easy as I hoped. I think we need to ask a moderator to do it.

I sent a PM to the Admin to see about having it set up as a Wiki (which it now is). I guess we can delete our posts about and keep the thread on target.

 

[JAY]

The first post is now a wiki, and the thread has been sticky'd.

You can always make a Wiki post/thread by clicking the "Is WikiPost" checkbox when making a thread. Or, if the thread has already been made, you can simply check the box under Thread Tools menu at the top of the thread.

 

[mikej]

The first post is now a wiki, and the thread has been sticky'd.

You can always make a Wiki post/thread by clicking the "Is WikiPost" checkbox when making a thread. Or, if the thread has already been made, you can simply check the box under Thread Tools menu at the top of the thread.

Oooooooh, thank you @JAY !

 

[Focker]

For Buckeye Flat, take Mosquito Ridge Road to FR (Forest Road) 23 then go to Rubicon Rd. (aka Blacksmith Rd. on some maps).
GPS for start of road - N39° 00.141' W120° 41.924'

 

[limeade]

I've done the Pinecrest Peak Trail. Not too hard and the scenery is unbelievable!!

 

[mikej]

Added a bunch of links in the hopes it makes it easier for folks to find the trails. I also added a few more trails. Unfortunately these are all longer trips from the Bay Area, but I look forward to checking them out when travel is again a thing.

 

[Focker]

We took a drive out to Capps Crossing and up to Voss for the granite overlook on Sunday in search of the Plummers Ridge Trail.
The trail we took to get there, Cosumnes Mine Road, was blast. There were a lot of fallen trees so we did have to do some work to get around them and I would probably bring a chain saw next time to be safe.
I have added the road to the list above.

 

[Focker]

Jessica and I did Plummer Ridge today, I would rate the trail as moderate with some challenging hills and rocky stuff to keep you "alert".
The destination of Leek Spring Hill Fire Lookout was beautiful. Here is a stock photo for now, I will post my photos and a video this week.

 

[Fire Burns]

Guys, anything closer to Sacramento? Most of these trails are at least an hour from the city, and many further than that.

Thanks

 

[Focker]

Guys, anything closer to Sacramento? Most of these trails are at least an hour from the city, and many further than that.

Thanks

There aren't any trails of decent fun any closer than an hour away. I would say the best close trails are in El Dorado National Forest.

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