I think its about time to get this thread going! Last years inaugural "Cruiser Gold Rush" turned out to be far more successful than @KWalkerM and I anticipated when we first got the ball rolling,... so lets do it again!
As with last years event, this is pretty much just a big camping trip with a bunch of cruiserheads in an awesome place with lots of options for wheeling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, etc. This trip is stock-vehicle friendly, but there are certainly more difficult trails in the area to play on too. This trip is family friendly, so don't be afraid to bring your kids along.
When:
July 24-26
Trail Runs:
Last year we didn't have any set events or trail runs, but we did have two groups that split off and did easy and hard trails. This year I'd like to get some official runs setup for Saturday. I'd be glad to lead the easy group, and I have a few trails in mind. Someone else would need to organize the hard trail run (aka: Snake Lake). (@Fast Eddy, @Finnyfam60, @KWalkerM ...anyone else interested?)
Location:
Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, Plumas County, California.
Colors correspond to map below:
Dot 1: Start of Gold Lake 4x4 Campground trail
Dot 2: Plan A: Planned campsite, last site on the shore of Gold Lake.
Dot 3: Plan B: Little Gold Lake; follow signs, turn left halfway through the rest of the campsites.
Last year our plans to use the last few large campsites at the end of the Gold Lake 4x4 Campground trail got a little messed up by a VERY large group that has apparently been going up there for 30 years and spending a month hoarding all the sites.... I'd like to avoid this issue this time around, so the dates will be pushed back one week from last years event. Plan A is to get those last two large sites so everyone can enjoy the big gravel beach and bonfire pit.
DLV_5701 by Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
Campfire Permits
Campfire Permits are required for your stoves, and fire restrictions are in effect. Open fires are only permitted in designated Gov. installed fire rings. From what I can tell on the Forrest Service website, the fire rings at the Gold Lake 4x4 campground are allowed to be used.
Please take a few minutes to get a campfire permit at the following link!
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3826487.pdf
Getting There:
Gold Lake is part of the Lakes Basin Recreation Area in Plumas County.
The way I usually go is up Hwy 49, passing through Downieville and Sierra City on the way up to Bassetts Station where you can turn onto the Gold Lake Hwy which takes you into the Lakes Basin Recreational Area.
You can also get there by taking Hwy 70 up through the Feather River canyon. Stay on 70 where it splits off to Hwy 89 towards Lake Almanor and you will eventually get to the town of Quincy (KWalkerM's town). Continue along 70 until it splits off to Hwy 89 again towards Graeagle, at the opposite end of Graeagle turn right onto the Gold Lake Hwy.
If your coming from the Tahoe area, follow Hwy 89 north toward Sierraville, then turn left onto Hwy 49. Continue on Hwy 49 when it splits off to Hwy 89 just past Sattley; follow Hwy 49 until you reach Bassetts Station, then turn right onto the Gold Lake Highway.
Pics From 2014:
Group Photo before everyone headed home:
_DLV5900 by Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
If you haven't decided that this is a trip worth taking yet... well, I'll just leave this last pic here...
As with last years event, this is pretty much just a big camping trip with a bunch of cruiserheads in an awesome place with lots of options for wheeling, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, etc. This trip is stock-vehicle friendly, but there are certainly more difficult trails in the area to play on too. This trip is family friendly, so don't be afraid to bring your kids along.
When:
July 24-26
Trail Runs:
Last year we didn't have any set events or trail runs, but we did have two groups that split off and did easy and hard trails. This year I'd like to get some official runs setup for Saturday. I'd be glad to lead the easy group, and I have a few trails in mind. Someone else would need to organize the hard trail run (aka: Snake Lake). (@Fast Eddy, @Finnyfam60, @KWalkerM ...anyone else interested?)
Location:
Gold Lake 4x4 Campground, Plumas County, California.
Colors correspond to map below:
Dot 1: Start of Gold Lake 4x4 Campground trail
Dot 2: Plan A: Planned campsite, last site on the shore of Gold Lake.
Dot 3: Plan B: Little Gold Lake; follow signs, turn left halfway through the rest of the campsites.
Last year our plans to use the last few large campsites at the end of the Gold Lake 4x4 Campground trail got a little messed up by a VERY large group that has apparently been going up there for 30 years and spending a month hoarding all the sites.... I'd like to avoid this issue this time around, so the dates will be pushed back one week from last years event. Plan A is to get those last two large sites so everyone can enjoy the big gravel beach and bonfire pit.
DLV_5701 by Darrell Vaughn, on FlickrCampfire Permits
Campfire Permits are required for your stoves, and fire restrictions are in effect. Open fires are only permitted in designated Gov. installed fire rings. From what I can tell on the Forrest Service website, the fire rings at the Gold Lake 4x4 campground are allowed to be used.
Please take a few minutes to get a campfire permit at the following link!
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3826487.pdf
Getting There:
Gold Lake is part of the Lakes Basin Recreation Area in Plumas County.
The way I usually go is up Hwy 49, passing through Downieville and Sierra City on the way up to Bassetts Station where you can turn onto the Gold Lake Hwy which takes you into the Lakes Basin Recreational Area.
You can also get there by taking Hwy 70 up through the Feather River canyon. Stay on 70 where it splits off to Hwy 89 towards Lake Almanor and you will eventually get to the town of Quincy (KWalkerM's town). Continue along 70 until it splits off to Hwy 89 again towards Graeagle, at the opposite end of Graeagle turn right onto the Gold Lake Hwy.
If your coming from the Tahoe area, follow Hwy 89 north toward Sierraville, then turn left onto Hwy 49. Continue on Hwy 49 when it splits off to Hwy 89 just past Sattley; follow Hwy 49 until you reach Bassetts Station, then turn right onto the Gold Lake Highway.
Pics From 2014:
Group Photo before everyone headed home:
_DLV5900 by Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
If you haven't decided that this is a trip worth taking yet... well, I'll just leave this last pic here...
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