California wheeling trip suggestions?

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C

California 4x4

10 Year 15 Year
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Dec 30, 2009
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SF Bay Area
Hey everyone,

Looking for some help/suggestions on an off roading trip I'm trying to plan with a couple buddies of mine. I live in the SF Bay Area and just got a 1971 fj40 and I am dying to really get it off the pavement. I've been looking online for a good long trail but can't find much and what I do find I'm afraid will be to difficult. I was hoping to be able to do a 2 or 3 day trip. Is something like the Mojave Road a bad idea? Hopefully I'm not out of line posting this here. Let me know. Thanks! :)
 
California 4x4 said:
Hopefully I'm not out of line posting this here.
Click to expand...

Only out of line if you didn't search first.

How about Anza Borrego? Death Valley is a popular destination too. Search here and google.

The FJ45 run at Deer Valley on Labor Day weekend is a blast, but it's not 2-3 days of continuous wheeling. Surf & Turf at Pismo in Nov is required by law for a Cruiserhead.

If your rig was up for it, Rubithon started today. Registration probably closed a while ago though.
 
Hi Fast Eddy,
Thanks for the response I really appreciate it. Do you have any recommendations for Death Valley trails? I've been checking a few of these parks but there are so many trails I'm kind of at a loss. Really appreciate any opinions. Thanks again
 
Slick rock (californiajeeper.com :: Slick Rock Road)
Deer Valley (californiajeeper.com :: Deer Valley Trail)
Barney Riley (californiajeeper.com)

Make a 2-3 day loop with camping in between, there's really good camping all over up there and lots of side roads to explore. These trails are all close to each other and only a couple of hours from the bay area so you can focus on wheeling, not driving. They're also good trails for breaking in a new truck. Make sure you stop to eat at the wolf creek restaurant in Markleeville while you're there.
-Dan
 
Thanks dxwilson! Really appreciate all the info. Exactly what I was hoping for.

Landcrusher909 I was thinking about trying to quickly set it up before 4th of july weekend. So probably from the 24th to the 26th? Not much planning time.... but after the 4th I'm getting a puppy, which I assume will be quite the time consumer. :)
 
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Do you plan to tow the 40 to DV?
It's a lot of miles from SF, specially with a puppy.
Temps in mountains in DV are cool anytime of the year, but in the summer the valleys can pass the 120°F mark. Not quite dog friendly.

The costal range offers quite a number of trails. And it's a lot closer to home.

DV is awesome in the spring and fall.

Regards

Alvaro
 
dxwilson said:
Slick rock (californiajeeper.com :: Slick Rock Road)
Deer Valley (californiajeeper.com :: Deer Valley Trail)
Barney Riley (californiajeeper.com)

Make a 2-3 day loop with camping in between, there's really good camping all over up there and lots of side roads to explore. These trails are all close to each other and only a couple of hours from the bay area so you can focus on wheeling, not driving. They're also good trails for breaking in a new truck. Make sure you stop to eat at the wolf creek restaurant in Markleeville while you're there.
-Dan
Click to expand...

You could tie in the Strawberry trail with these three as well. Either first day or last day. It runs between Strawberry on hwy 50 to Caples lake on 88. Maybe barney riley now, Deer Valley ties 88 to 4, maybe barney riley now, too, then Slick Rock on the way down 4.
 
Rat70Fj said:
You could tie in the Strawberry trail with these three as well. Either first day or last day. It runs between Strawberry on hwy 50 to Caples lake on 88. Maybe barney riley now, Deer Valley ties 88 to 4, maybe barney riley now, too, then Slick Rock on the way down 4.
Click to expand...

On a FJ40, from the Bay Area this makes more sense.
 
strawberry to deer valley to slick rock is a nice loop as the trails line up (watch your gas), but when I ran strawberry I thought it was pretty boring :) Barney Riley and Deer Valley have more offshoots to explore, Barney Riley is more mild than Deer Valley. Everywhere up there is fun.
-Dan
 
The Mojave Road itself takes about 2 days if you raerly get out of the vehicle to see the historic stuff. Plus, the thing ends (or begins) at the Colorado River--that's quite a ways from SF, and not a great time of year to go.
 
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