Any Good Overlanding in NorCal?

[Seth_O]

For our anniversary this year the Mrs wants to do a couple of days of light overlanding in the '80. Think light wheeling + camping in unimproved areas. Ok to be either wheel a little bit each day and see a few spots, or wheel into a cool spot and stay there a couple of days and then wheel out.

Anyone have any good locations? Needs to be within ~6hr drive of the sacramento area - this gives me pretty much anything from Yosemite to the OR border on either the NV side or the ocean. Coastal or mountains is preferred.

If you have a favored spot, it would be awesome to see pics! We've never done anything like this, so its an opportunity for my wife to have a good experience and want to do it again in the future.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Are you kidding?

Bowman Lake Rd or Henness Pass Rd from either end to Jackson Meadows Reservoir, then Yuba Pass Rd to 49 to Bassetts, then Lakes Basin Hwy to Gold Lake OHV. These are just ones I've been on. There are hundreds of miles of open roads in Tahoe National Forest.

Get the Avenza mapping app and download the pdf maps from the forest service. As long as you have batteries in your phone or tablet, it will be about impossible to get lost. For this reason, bring a spare usb adapter and cable.

 

[GHOSTFJ]

The eastern Sierra are really nice as well. Laurel lakes, coyote flat, Bodie ghost town and Alabama hills. What fast eddy recommended is great as well and closer. After getting back from moab, we will visiting those places and more. Need to make up for lost time not wheeling for last 2 years. Another good app is backcountry navigator. Takes some getting used to but useful.

 

[Blade 80LC]

If your idea of "overlanding" is more about the driving and camping, than "serious" wheeling; also consider "the lost coast". I haven't been, but I understand there are an assortment of dirt roads that are barely four wheeling unless it's muddy.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Lost Coast is great fun, especially north of shelter cove.
Anywhere in the Eastern Sierra is great.
The Sweetwater mountains off 395 are great.
Bodie and Aurora are awesome.
Death Valley is in northern California and is awesome for WEEKS of offroad travel.
Around Bishop is Coyote Flat, but on the other side of the Owens Valley is hundreds of square miles of offroad fun.
And then there's Nevada which is right there and hard to avoid.

Your real problem is too many choices. If I had 6 hours from Sacramento and 4 days, and wanted to impress the wife, I'd go to Death Valley. You can get to Saline Valley Hot Springs in 6 hours (barely) but it's a great start to several days in the wild. If you have less than 4 days, the Lost Coast can be done in a weekend, but the leg home will be a haul.

If you have only 2 days, go up and camp at the Whentworth Springs off road camp.

If you have 1 day, stay home and work on the truck.

 

[Blade 80LC]

If you have 1 day, stay home and work on the truck.

Don't be ridiculous! Maintenance is overrated. If you have a day near Sacramento, go to Prairie City.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Don't be ridiculous! Maintenance is overrated. If you have a day near Sacramento, go to Prairie City.

I am so done with Prairie City. Mud hole and swamp people. It's a good place to go and test out something you're not certain about, but otherwise is not that much fun. And this time of year, that mud hole is a quagmire. Maybe if I had a Jeep I didn't like....

 

[Seth_O]

lots of good info and great suggestions, tks all. totally agree on Prairie City - I only go there to test mods/work or when I have an hour and the kids want to play in the truck.

 

[surfpig]

I am so done with Prairie City. Mud hole and swamp people. It's a good place to go and test out something you're not certain about, but otherwise is not that much fun. And this time of year, that mud hole is a quagmire. Maybe if I had a Jeep I didn't like....

I've driven right by every day it for sixteen years and still haven't been there. No interest.

 

[onedaatmc]

I say the Lost Coast is so worth it ! Just went there this week !

 

[Seth_O]

I say the Lost Coast is so worth it ! Just went there this week !

thats beautiful! exactly what i am looking for.

 

[Seth_O]

I've never been, do you have any spots you can recommend? I'd like something we have to wheel into and are unlikely to see other folks for at least a day or two.

 

[onedaatmc]

I've never been, do you have any spots you can recommend? I'd like something we have to wheel into and are unlikely to see other folks for at least a day or two.

Well there is drive in camping at the trees area just to the left after crossing the lil wooden bridge once down the hill . Know that weekends are a no no for this great beach ( what I found out before I went ) I was there last tues and the only one there.

Once you find the turn off which is a a few miles as you start back into the trees on hwy 1 going north from westport / rockport area, its a couple miles then you come to a another sharp corner and a sharp left onto the trail. theirs no sign that says Usal rd there , but does say use at own risk , etc. but is "Mendocino County rd " 431.

 

[onedaatmc]

Then make that sharp left turn and go up the hill you'll be in the forest for awhile before you come out to see the first pic I posted shot ...

 

[onedaatmc]

 

[onedaatmc]

 

[onedaatmc]

and then you cross this bridge at the bottom of the hill that goes toward the beach ... theirs camping spots in the trees to the left ... Unfortunately the beach right now is as far as you can go , cause about a mile further up the rd , Usal rd is closed, I assume because of slides, etc. from all the rain we had this year ... but still so worth it just to come in the 5 miles I did ...

 

[onedaatmc]

I was the only one there ! ... The Trees in the middle of the pic are were the drive in camp sites are ...and the bridge .

 

[onedaatmc]

view of the little creek and sand bar and hill you come down to the beach...

 

[onedaatmc]