Suggestions for easy trails

RoamWithJon

RoamWithJon

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Central Valley, CA, USA
First Name
Jon
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R
Can anyone recommend some easy trails in the Central Valley/ Bay Area, for maybe an all day trip or a quick overnight? Just started off off-roading/softroading/overlanding with a couple buds, kinda just want to get out of the house but don’t really know where to begin. Pretty much only been out on small trails and mud pits so far. Thanks in advanced!
 
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JonRvr said:
Can anyone recommend some easy trails in the Central Valley/ Bay Area, for maybe an all day trip or a quick overnight? Just started off off-roading/softroading/overlanding with a couple buds, kinda just want to get out of the house but don’t really know where to begin. Pretty much only been out on small trails and mud pits so far. Thanks in advanced!
Click to expand...
I’m going to tag @PapaDave , a
Member Representative, Who might be able to assist you.
 
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I'd be interested to hear as well. Most of the trails I know in our area are a bit more challenging. I have some buddies that want to Overland with us, but are in less capable rigs (stock pickups, even a big transit van).

If you're willing to drive a bit one that is pretty easy and super cool in our area is the road between The Little Town of Washington, CA and Bowman Lake. You could make it a multi-night deal and spend one night at River Rest Resort (they have tent sites, and have very clean/nice bathrooms/showers) in Washington and check out the awesome old Hotel/Bar (just don't mess with the locals... and I don't necessarily recommend being at the bar after midnight, I have some good stories, lol). Then the next morning drive up to Bowman and spend a night out there. Then head out from Bowman (you can take the short way back out to 20 then 80).

River Rest Resort | RV camping | Yuba River

Enjoy the high country waters of The Yuba River! Situated in the quirky Little Town of Washington California, River Rest Resort offers RV and tent camping for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you are tubing down the clear cool water on a hot summer day, or riding the ridge line of the sierra...
www.riverrestresort.com www.riverrestresort.com

www.fs.usda.gov

Tahoe National Forest - Bowman Campground

Tahoe National Forest - Bowman Campground
www.fs.usda.gov

www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.com www.google.com
^^this is basically all dirt, but well maintained "soft roading" after the first good thaw... but it's under snow right now, I have friends that tried to get out there with RZRs running 33-35" tires last weekend and couldn't

-TJ
 
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tjZ06 said:
I'd be interested to hear as well. Most of the trails I know in our area are a bit more challenging. I have some buddies that want to Overland with us, but are in less capable rigs (stock pickups, even a big transit van).

If you're willing to drive a bit one that is pretty easy and super cool in our area is the road between The Little Town of Washington, CA and Bowman Lake. You could make it a multi-night deal and spend one night at River Rest Resort (they have tent sites, and have very clean/nice bathrooms/showers) in Washington and check out the awesome old Hotel/Bar (just don't mess with the locals... and I don't necessarily recommend being at the bar after midnight, I have some good stories, lol). Then the next morning drive up to Bowman and spend a night out there. Then head out from Bowman (you can take the short way back out to 20 then 80).

River Rest Resort | RV camping | Yuba River

Enjoy the high country waters of The Yuba River! Situated in the quirky Little Town of Washington California, River Rest Resort offers RV and tent camping for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you are tubing down the clear cool water on a hot summer day, or riding the ridge line of the sierra...
www.riverrestresort.com www.riverrestresort.com

www.fs.usda.gov

Tahoe National Forest - Bowman Campground

Tahoe National Forest - Bowman Campground
www.fs.usda.gov

www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.com www.google.com
^^this is basically all dirt, but well maintained "soft roading" after the first good thaw... but it's under snow right now, I have friends that tried to get out there with RZRs running 33-35" tires last weekend and couldn't

-TJ
Click to expand...

Definitely gonna look into this, appreciate it!
 
JonRvr said:
Can anyone recommend some easy trails in the Central Valley/ Bay Area, for maybe an all day trip or a quick overnight? Just started off off-roading/softroading/overlanding with a couple buds, kinda just want to get out of the house but don’t really know where to begin. Pretty much only been out on small trails and mud pits so far. Thanks in advanced!
Click to expand...
Copperopolis and Serpentine Loop- Day trip with a great BBQ lunch
La Grange Rd and Red Hill Rd has a short off road loop there called Serpentine Loop. It’s easy but a fun little road to explore. It’s not far from Griff’s BBQ in Copperopolis which has an AMAZING Tri-tip sandwich.

Bourland Trestle in Stanislaus National Forest- overnight trip
It‘s mainly forest roads that gets you up to where the old train trestle was, it fell down in the 80’s. You can camp right at the edge for the night

1581051435165.jpeg
 
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PapaDave said:
Copperopolis and Serpentine Loop- Day trip with a great BBQ lunch
La Grange Rd and Red Hill Rd has a short off road loop there called Serpentine Loop. It’s easy but a fun little road to explore. It’s not far from Griff’s BBQ in Copperopolis which has an AMAZING Tri-tip sandwich.

Bourland Trestle in Stanislaus National Forest- overnight trip
It‘s mainly forest roads that gets you up to where the old train trestle was, it fell down in the 80’s. You can camp right at the edge for the night

View attachment 138872
Click to expand...

That’s awesome, appreciate the info
 
PapaDave said:
Copperopolis and Serpentine Loop- Day trip with a great BBQ lunch
La Grange Rd and Red Hill Rd has a short off road loop there called Serpentine Loop. It’s easy but a fun little road to explore. It’s not far from Griff’s BBQ in Copperopolis which has an AMAZING Tri-tip sandwich.

Bourland Trestle in Stanislaus National Forest- overnight trip
It‘s mainly forest roads that gets you up to where the old train trestle was, it fell down in the 80’s. You can camp right at the edge for the night

View attachment 138872
Click to expand...
Went out and took the serpentine loop trail, pretty fun
 
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Vinz Clortho said:
Great shots, Jon! My brother has an '18 Crosstrek so I'll send this his way. Looks like a fun trail to try.
Click to expand...

Nice! The trail definitely had some "I don't know if i can do that" portions and some spots where it seemed like I would bottom out but the Trek did pretty well lol. Had a took it real slow most of the time, the park ranger lapped me twice haha
 
Vinz Clortho said:
Great shots, Jon! My brother has an '18 Crosstrek so I'll send this his way. Looks like a fun trail to try.
Click to expand...

Looks like we're neighbors, I'm up in Lincoln!


RoamWithJon - looks like that was a great trail to cut your teeth on and figure out what the 'trek can do.

-TJ
 
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Serpentine Loop

Yeah it’s a fun little trail, it really is short and pretty easy. But the drive to Griffs BBQ after or before makes it worth it :)

This is a view from the top, my fiancée and I are kinda in the way...93B68B43-9854-431B-BAB9-D18E2B4639A7.jpeg

Red Hill Ranch is where Back to the Future III was filmed years ago, almost right there
 
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RoamWithJon said:
Oh definitely it’s a lot more capable than I thought, probably would benefit a lot with a lift and some under armor
Click to expand...

Skid plates are worth their weight in gold. It doesn't matter how big and bad your rig is, eventually you'll find that obstacle that requires some belly-dragging, having good armor so you can do it with confidence (and not break or get hung-up) is key.

-TJ
 
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