WHere are some real trails

okie · 12-17-04, 10:31 PM

WHere are some real trails I can begin on when i get my fj40? Im curious. My guy friend has a chevy blazer (newer one) and its not tricked out or anything but we will probably be going offroading sometime for the first time and i was wondering where some trails are in the bay area or close by. thanks, Rachel

clownmidget · 12-18-04, 12:15 AM

Try posting this beneath the clubs - specifically the PMC one. Also subscribe to the yahoo list "NorCal 80s" (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...guid=166793906).

Good luck and don't be too offended if you get a bit flamed - especially for the chevy blazer thing! But in the meantime you'd be surprised what you'd find doing a google search. Hopefully others will chime in but not until you post it somewhere it will be seen.
good luck
Mike

okie · 12-18-04, 02:43 AM

thank you

reffug · 12-18-04, 08:48 AM

posting in wrong section to get many reads okie......

Cruiserdrew · 12-18-04, 10:16 AM

Rachel-From the Bay Area, Hollister Hills ORV park is close, and the terrain is forgiving if you stay off the stupid stuff. For instance, stay out of frame bender unless you want that Blazer to break something expensive. Stuff always breaks on the third hop-so two hops and stop-trust me.

Mendocino National Forest is fun-miles of dirts roads and some steep stuff in near the Stonyford entrance. It's 2 hours north of the Bay Area. Stay away if it's raining as the whole area gets dangerously slick and muddy.

In Sacramento, Prairie City ORV park is good for an afternoon of entertainment, and a very good place to get your feet wet. They conduct a 4 wheel drive class several times per year, that I highly reccomend. It's a good place to go and try out new mods in a low risk environment. Also a good place to watch the Yahoos play in the mud pit during the winter.

In the summer, the whole area off of Ice House Road is great-Loon Lake, Wentworth Springs, Rubicon trail etc. Not really appropriate for a stock late model Blazer though.

Get a couple of Roger Mitchell's books-these give excellent trail descriptions of places to go in the NorCal area.

teapot · 12-18-04, 02:04 PM

get this book, guide to california backroads&4-wheel drive trails by charles wells

Romer · 12-18-04, 06:03 PM

Rachel,
Go to this link and type in your area and it will give you lots of info.

http://www.4x4trails.net/db_search.php

Some advice, don't go offroading alone. Even experianced wheelers go with at least one other person who can pull them out. At least wait until you have been doing it for a bit before you go into the hills by yourself. If you get stuck and you are alone . . . . . . Thats why there are so many clubs. You can find a club local to you by going to the Toyoate clubs list above.

Desertdave · 12-18-04, 06:27 PM

Some good advice above. From Livermore the closest might just be the county park called Frank Raines, which is south of you off of Mines Road, if I remember correctly. It's closed in the summer time, open in the winter.

I learned how to wheel in the Clear Creek Recreation area, which is about 3 hours from San Jose, maybe the same time from Livermore, only you'd go down Hwy 5 to get there.

teapot · 12-18-04, 10:07 PM

you can get to clear creek from 101, you have to go through hollister to get in on the new idrea side or you can keep going south somewhere around king city not sure what exit, i've only been on the the new idrea side.make sure you call the ranger station before you go,and stay away from the place in the summer,the place is loaded with aspestos.i'm not sure about frank raines i've never been there. there are alot of trails in california. the best ones are in the sierras and you do not need alot of mods on your vehicle,plus the scenery is worth the drive.good luck

orangefj45 · 01-10-05, 05:56 PM

rachel.
hollister is probably the best place for you guys to "learn". it offers all different types of terrain and it's probably the closest place to you. prarie city in sac is about the same setup, but with less variety and further to drive.

once the snow melts, you can try some of the trails in the sierras like deer valley, slickrock,.........

Wolfman · 01-24-05, 06:49 AM

Bald mountain is open year round in the siearras abouve fresno, clear creek is cool but you can get lost out there easily. There should be a snow run in march put on by the Kingsburg club, thats open to all 4x4s. Then in May the mountaintoppers put on a run in blue canyon, good time. Cranagie might be closest to you to get used to your truck.

Wolfman · 01-24-05, 06:50 AM

Molina Ghost run is at clear creek also I forget when it is. Check the Cal 4 wheel site

12-17-04, 10:31 PM	#1
okie IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: I am constantly on the move TLCA# 15567 Posts: 1,376	WHere are some real trails WHere are some real trails I can begin on when i get my fj40? Im curious. My guy friend has a chevy blazer (newer one) and its not tricked out or anything but we will probably be going offroading sometime for the first time and i was wondering where some trails are in the bay area or close by. thanks, Rachel

12-18-04, 12:15 AM	#2
clownmidget IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ithaca, New York Posts: 1,813	Try posting this beneath the clubs - specifically the PMC one. Also subscribe to the yahoo list "NorCal 80s" (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...guid=166793906). Good luck and don't be too offended if you get a bit flamed - especially for the chevy blazer thing! But in the meantime you'd be surprised what you'd find doing a google search. Hopefully others will chime in but not until you post it somewhere it will be seen. good luck Mike __________________ Mike R. hmmm....nuthin' Answer a fool according to his own folly.

12-18-04, 08:48 AM	#4
reffug grown up MOD Join Date: May 2004 Location: 'in dat der briar patch' TLCA# 14549 Posts: 3,777	posting in wrong section to get many reads okie...... __________________ "If it wasn't a Landcruiser and hadn't been built the way it was you do realize you would be DEAD." VA State Police Officer

12-18-04, 10:16 AM	#5
Cruiserdrew KI6MIE Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA TLCA# 11734 Posts: 7,163	Rachel-From the Bay Area, Hollister Hills ORV park is close, and the terrain is forgiving if you stay off the stupid stuff. For instance, stay out of frame bender unless you want that Blazer to break something expensive. Stuff always breaks on the third hop-so two hops and stop-trust me. Mendocino National Forest is fun-miles of dirts roads and some steep stuff in near the Stonyford entrance. It's 2 hours north of the Bay Area. Stay away if it's raining as the whole area gets dangerously slick and muddy. In Sacramento, Prairie City ORV park is good for an afternoon of entertainment, and a very good place to get your feet wet. They conduct a 4 wheel drive class several times per year, that I highly reccomend. It's a good place to go and try out new mods in a low risk environment. Also a good place to watch the Yahoos play in the mud pit during the winter. In the summer, the whole area off of Ice House Road is great-Loon Lake, Wentworth Springs, Rubicon trail etc. Not really appropriate for a stock late model Blazer though. Get a couple of Roger Mitchell's books-these give excellent trail descriptions of places to go in the NorCal area. __________________ Andrew 1971 FJ-40 Rubicon tested, 2F powered, some mods 1976 FJ40 Rusting slowly in the back yard 1984 FJ-60 H55f, 4.11, OME, Daily Driver 1989 FJ-62 117k-son's driver for now-low and slow 1997 FZJ-80 Driveway queen

12-18-04, 02:04 PM	#6
teapot IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: bottom of the bottle TLCA# 6722 Posts: 424	get this book, guide to california backroads&4-wheel drive trails by charles wells __________________ "nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

12-18-04, 02:43 AM	#3
okie IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: I am constantly on the move TLCA# 15567 Posts: 1,376	thank you

12-18-04, 06:03 PM	#7
Romer Kneel for the Shaman Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Englewood, Colorado TLCA# 13968 Posts: 7,533	Rachel, Go to this link and type in your area and it will give you lots of info. http://www.4x4trails.net/db_search.php Some advice, don't go offroading alone. Even experianced wheelers go with at least one other person who can pull them out. At least wait until you have been doing it for a bit before you go into the hills by yourself. If you get stuck and you are alone . . . . . . Thats why there are so many clubs. You can find a club local to you by going to the Toyoate clubs list above. __________________ Ken Romer ~ Friend of Shaman Keeper of the FAQ, Defender of Newbies, and Slayer of Tards Commander Rising Sun 4WD Club - K0ROM 97 LX450, Supercharged, Locked, and lots of other stuff ROTW 96 LX450 - ROD's 06 4Runner - Wife's 99 4Runner - daughterofromer's 03 BMW Z4 Roadster

12-18-04, 06:27 PM	#8
Desertdave IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Jose CA TLCA# 1559 Posts: 193	Some good advice above. From Livermore the closest might just be the county park called Frank Raines, which is south of you off of Mines Road, if I remember correctly. It's closed in the summer time, open in the winter. I learned how to wheel in the Clear Creek Recreation area, which is about 3 hours from San Jose, maybe the same time from Livermore, only you'd go down Hwy 5 to get there. __________________ Dave djschmit@pacbell.net 1974 FJ40 2f, TBI, SM420, Marlin Crawler TC gears, Detroit Rear, ARB Front plus some other parts

12-18-04, 10:07 PM	#9
teapot IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: bottom of the bottle TLCA# 6722 Posts: 424	you can get to clear creek from 101, you have to go through hollister to get in on the new idrea side or you can keep going south somewhere around king city not sure what exit, i've only been on the the new idrea side.make sure you call the ranger station before you go,and stay away from the place in the summer,the place is loaded with aspestos.i'm not sure about frank raines i've never been there. there are alot of trails in california. the best ones are in the sierras and you do not need alot of mods on your vehicle,plus the scenery is worth the drive.good luck __________________ "nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

01-10-05, 05:56 PM	#10
orangefj45 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: on thin ice Posts: 5,574	rachel. hollister is probably the best place for you guys to "learn". it offers all different types of terrain and it's probably the closest place to you. prarie city in sac is about the same setup, but with less variety and further to drive. once the snow melts, you can try some of the trails in the sierras like deer valley, slickrock,.........

01-24-05, 06:49 AM	#11
Wolfman IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Plainfield,IL Posts: 65	Bald mountain is open year round in the siearras abouve fresno, clear creek is cool but you can get lost out there easily. There should be a snow run in march put on by the Kingsburg club, thats open to all 4x4s. Then in May the mountaintoppers put on a run in blue canyon, good time. Cranagie might be closest to you to get used to your truck.

01-24-05, 06:50 AM	#12
Wolfman IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Plainfield,IL Posts: 65	Molina Ghost run is at clear creek also I forget when it is. Check the Cal 4 wheel site

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