Gold Lake, California

[cvcruiser]

Anyone been to Gold Lake near Sierra City? I hear there is a fairly easy trail out there that goes arround the lake to a 4WD camp ground.
I'm going up there for a week leaving this Thursday and will be looking to do some wheelin around that area.

Do you know of any good trails in the area that we could go and have some fun on?

Thanks, Chris

 

[Chartdog]

Been there many times. The road to the OHV campground is usually good for high clearance 2WD and the campsite is pretty nice. There is another smaller one at Little Gold Lake a short distance up a spur trail.

There are several trails over the ridge to the west of the lake but the route over the first ridge can be snowed in this early. The main one, Snake Lake Trail can be pretty harry if you are not used to steep and loose.

Do a google search on Gold Lake and you should find various club right ups. I think the Grass Valley 4 Wheelers adopts Snake Lake so they should have more info.

Post up conditions when you get back.

 

[TACO 4X4]

Like Chartdog said. Campground is very nice. With your set-up you'll have no problems with most of the trails in the area (minus Snake Lake). Last couple spots have little beaches for the lake. Area gets a lot of snow. Last year we went the weekend of June 21st and got both snowed on and the trail was impassable past the lake. Here's pic's from last year http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/judge...=&.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Couple of other trails in the area are the Gold Valley trail, LittleDeer Lake Trail (Only about 3/4 mile), Snake Lake, Sierra Buttes and Sardine Lake. My guess is with the snow this year the only thing you'll be able to do is to the campgrounds and up by Sardine Lake (which is about 5 miles towards hwy 49 on Gold Lake Hwy).

Could you let us know the conditions when you come back? Have fun!

 

[jb welda]

looks cold.

is that anywhere near island lake, off I80 down the bowman lake road?

one love
jah bill

 

[cvcruiser]

I will give my update of the area when I get back. Thanks for the trail input!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The Snake Lake trail is pretty cool, but watch the descent! I bent a driveshaft on a rock I misjudged on the way down, but since you have to commit to a line and live with the consequences, it's easy to get in a bind. The rest of it is easy. One of the really fun things to do is leave the backcountry camp and go over the hill (west). Get up on the ridge and head south to the turn for the Sierra Buttes. Drive to the end and then hike to the top. At the top there is a series of metal ladders attached to the rock face and go up into the fire tower. You will find the best views ever from the fire tower. Have fun.

 

[mickey_rubicon]

Redwood City is not far from Mountain View - when are you heading up?

 

[NorCalSam]

Yes the trail in my book is listed as a class 2 and thought it was easy however, there could be a class 3 section or 2. And it is all very rocky if you have a stocker go really slow.

Also if you don't want penstips avoid some of the small side trails to the smaller lakes of the camp ground trail. And I have never been past the campground but people tell me that it is class 5 up the trail.

Fire lookout is cool
have fun
Sam

 

[cvcruiser]

We're actually heading up Thursday morning for 7 days in Sierra City. I'm not sure what day we'll actually get out to the lake or surrounding areas. It will be a mellow trip since we're bringing our kids, 10, 2, and 7 1/2 month old.

I'm really looking forward to driving my 80 in since I haven't taken this one off road yet. My friend just put some tires on his 80 and has never been wheeling before so it should be a great time.

 

[TACO 4X4]

looks cold.

is that anywhere near island lake, off I80 down the bowman lake road?

one love
jah bill

No, it's by Between Bassatts (sp?) and Greagle. About 30 minutes from Sierraville (hw 89n).

 

[TACO 4X4]

I will give my update of the area when I get back. Thanks for the trail input!

Your welcome...that's one of my favorite places to go. Fishing, awesome scenery, great camping and good wheeling. WHat else is there

Have a great trip.

 

[jb welda]

thanks taco 4x4 im thinking an entire different place then...which kind of explains the snow depth there.

one love
jah bill

 

[Little Boss]

Went up to Gold Lake today. The trail is impassible at the far side due to snow. For those wanting to camp at the 4x4 section most of its really really wet. there are a couple of dry camp spots however on the far end, just not in the main 4x4 camp you first come to. The trail is even milder this year than previous years. Probably due in part to the CAT tracks we saw on the edges of the road. Make sure to take warm clothes, when the wind picks up it gets pretty chilly. Have a great time. In Downieville, theres a steak house called Grubstake, its pretty good.

Enjoy,

Teresa

Like Chartdog said. Campground is very nice. With your set-up you'll have no problems with most of the trails in the area (minus Snake Lake). Last couple spots have little beaches for the lake. Area gets a lot of snow. Last year we went the weekend of June 21st and got both snowed on and the trail was impassable past the lake. Here's pic's from last year http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/judgedukey/album?.dir=ce96&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Couple of other trails in the area are the Gold Valley trail, LittleDeer Lake Trail (Only about 3/4 mile), Snake Lake, Sierra Buttes and Sardine Lake. My guess is with the snow this year the only thing you'll be able to do is to the campgrounds and up by Sardine Lake (which is about 5 miles towards hwy 49 on Gold Lake Hwy).

Could you let us know the conditions when you come back? Have fun!

 

[TACO 4X4]

Went up to Gold Lake today. The trail is impassible at the far side due to snow. For those wanting to camp at the 4x4 section most of its really really wet. there are a couple of dry camp spots however on the far end, just not in the main 4x4 camp you first come to. The trail is even milder this year than previous years. Probably due in part to the CAT tracks we saw on the edges of the road. Make sure to take warm clothes, when the wind picks up it gets pretty chilly. Have a great time. In Downieville, theres a steak house called Grubstake, its pretty good.

Enjoy,

Teresa

Thanks Teresa for the update. I was thinking the whole trail probably won't be runnable to early/mid July after seeing it last year and that was a much earlier heavy snowfall. Maybe I'll plan for this at the end of July...thanks again.

 

[2mbb]

I was up a gold lake for the first time last year in mid-september. We drove in via Sierra Buttes. It was a fun trip and a really nice destination. The weather was perfect...warm during the day and no wind. Here's some pics (but none of my FJ60):

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/2mbb@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=4275

Check out the national forest web site for topo maps. The NF's have started OHV route inventory projects. The links below have topo maps with inventoried routes overlayed. Most of the trails to the south of Gold Lake are in Tahoe National Forest (first link below) and Gold lake and north is in Plumas (second link).

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/projects_plans/ohv_inv/images/quarter_quad_index.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/projects/ohv/maps.shtml