good trails in norcal/bay area?

boosted475 · 08-10-2009, 08:18 PM

Where are some good beginner off roading trails in the bay area?

Has anyone been to Hollister? How is that place?

Thank

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highonpottery · 08-11-2009, 11:23 AM

as you may have noticed, the bay area is covered with concrete, cars, and people. there are no *legal* trails in the vicinity. closest trails would be at least an hour away.

now if you're talking "norcal" in general, there are plenty of trails depending on where you're at, most of them being located closer to the Sierras. A good book to buy and keep in the rig would be "Guide to Northern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" by Charles A. Wells - it's like $10 and very handy although of course not everything is listed in there, just some of the more popular trails.

boosted475 · 08-11-2009, 11:37 AM

cool thanks.. just ordered a used one on amazon $10 shipped

highonpottery · 08-12-2009, 05:46 PM

NorCrawler · 08-12-2009, 11:57 PM

Hollister is the best place if you live in the bay area, its about 45min south of san jose, and i find myself going there to wheel almost 80% of the time. great place for beginner to pro.

4Crawler · 08-13-2009, 07:52 AM

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4x4_trips.shtml#California

boosted475 · 08-17-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCrawler

Hollister is the best place if you live in the bay area, its about 45min south of san jose, and i find myself going there to wheel almost 80% of the time. great place for beginner to pro.

yeah i'll probably head to hollister.. any tips for a first timer? trails? what to bring?

4Crawler · 08-17-2009, 04:14 PM

Get a map there and follow the signs. Set up like a ski area, the round/green trail signs are the easiest, the square/blues are harder and the black diamonds are the toughest. And you can sign up for the Esprit de Four Safety clinic coming up on Sept. 19th and 20th:
- http://www.espritdefour.com/dynamic/

BlackBox · 08-26-2009, 11:56 AM

My advice would be to familiarize yourself with the NFS (National Forest Service). I recently went up to the Mendocino forest and hit up the Stanislaus forest/North Fork this past weekend. There are tons of places to go for overnight/camping trips where much fun 4wheeling can be had. Early start day trips are fun too, but these particular forests are a good 3 hours from the bay.

You definitely want to take a good map if you plan to go out to these areas. I prefer the Forest Service maps. You can find them here for California. I'd also suggest starting out with "roads not maintained for passenger cars" for your beginner wheeling adventures and then scout the 4wheel trails (all shown nicely on the maps) before running them. For example, if you search Sourgrass here on YT you can find some good pictures of that trail. I wouldn't call it a beginner trail though (unless you go with someone experienced). On the other hand, the trail to Sand Meadow is definitely a good beginner trail that takes you down to the North Fork Stanislaus River and a good campground (when it's not full).

There are so many trails in NorCal it's ridiculous!

boosted475 · 08-26-2009, 04:03 PM

ah awesome thanks!

RMA · 08-26-2009, 04:10 PM

Where are you located ? Im in san jose and will be going to hollister some time here soon , Im no pro so I need some easy to moderate trails myself.
let me know if your interested.

08-11-2009, 11:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
highonpottery Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Citrus Hts., CA Posts: 255	as you may have noticed, the bay area is covered with concrete, cars, and people. there are no legal trails in the vicinity. closest trails would be at least an hour away. now if you're talking "norcal" in general, there are plenty of trails depending on where you're at, most of them being located closer to the Sierras. A good book to buy and keep in the rig would be "Guide to Northern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" by Charles A. Wells - it's like $10 and very handy although of course not everything is listed in there, just some of the more popular trails. __________________ 1993 X-Cab - 4wd - 5spd - 22re - 200k miles (no rebuilds...yet) \| 31" Michelins \| factory 4.88s \| LockRight (R) \| diff breathers \| RockTech IFS Truss \| OME leafs, shocks and steering dampener \| SDORI BJ spacers \| removed swaybar \| Cobra 76xtr CB \| nerf bars \| "RastaJack" antenna ball \| next: timing chain, 33s and armor 2002 UZJ100 Land Cruiser - in progress 2001 Corolla S - cold/rainy DD 2001 SV650 naked - nice weather DD

08-12-2009, 05:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
highonpottery Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Citrus Hts., CA Posts: 255	__________________ 1993 X-Cab - 4wd - 5spd - 22re - 200k miles (no rebuilds...yet) \| 31" Michelins \| factory 4.88s \| LockRight (R) \| diff breathers \| RockTech IFS Truss \| OME leafs, shocks and steering dampener \| SDORI BJ spacers \| removed swaybar \| Cobra 76xtr CB \| nerf bars \| "RastaJack" antenna ball \| next: timing chain, 33s and armor 2002 UZJ100 Land Cruiser - in progress 2001 Corolla S - cold/rainy DD 2001 SV650 naked - nice weather DD

08-12-2009, 11:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
NorCrawler Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 360	Hollister is the best place if you live in the bay area, its about 45min south of san jose, and i find myself going there to wheel almost 80% of the time. great place for beginner to pro. __________________ NOR*CAL ---1989 Single Cab Pick Up - Has to much to list. It's ALL HERE ---> http://www.yotatech.com/f86/i-love-m...rawler-146975/ ---1984 Ford Ranger 2WD Flatbed Prerunner - Hit 3 Trees - Pending Life - It's ALL HERE ---> http://www.yotatech.com/f5/project-d...runner-148316/

08-13-2009, 07:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
4Crawler Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,829	http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4x4_trips.shtml#California __________________ 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR-5, 22REC engine, dual t-cases, 4.88 gears, dual ARBs, 33x10.50 BFGs or 35x12.50 MTRs r.c.brown@ieee.org TruckEditor@tlca.org Project: 4Crawler 4Crawler OffRoad Gettin'Off 4WD Club

08-17-2009, 04:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
4Crawler Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,829	Get a map there and follow the signs. Set up like a ski area, the round/green trail signs are the easiest, the square/blues are harder and the black diamonds are the toughest. And you can sign up for the Esprit de Four Safety clinic coming up on Sept. 19th and 20th: - http://www.espritdefour.com/dynamic/ __________________ 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR-5, 22REC engine, dual t-cases, 4.88 gears, dual ARBs, 33x10.50 BFGs or 35x12.50 MTRs r.c.brown@ieee.org TruckEditor@tlca.org Project: 4Crawler 4Crawler OffRoad Gettin'Off 4WD Club

08-11-2009, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
boosted475 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	cool thanks.. just ordered a used one on amazon $10 shipped

08-26-2009, 11:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
BlackBox Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 43	Oh, so many trails! My advice would be to familiarize yourself with the NFS (National Forest Service). I recently went up to the Mendocino forest and hit up the Stanislaus forest/North Fork this past weekend. There are tons of places to go for overnight/camping trips where much fun 4wheeling can be had. Early start day trips are fun too, but these particular forests are a good 3 hours from the bay. You definitely want to take a good map if you plan to go out to these areas. I prefer the Forest Service maps. You can find them here for California. I'd also suggest starting out with "roads not maintained for passenger cars" for your beginner wheeling adventures and then scout the 4wheel trails (all shown nicely on the maps) before running them. For example, if you search Sourgrass here on YT you can find some good pictures of that trail. I wouldn't call it a beginner trail though (unless you go with someone experienced). On the other hand, the trail to Sand Meadow is definitely a good beginner trail that takes you down to the North Fork Stanislaus River and a good campground (when it's not full). There are so many trails in NorCal it's ridiculous! __________________ 88Runner 22RE, <4k miles on new motor; 31x10.5x15; 4.88's; Aussie rear; extended f/r breathers; 1"bore mc/dual booster/V6 front discs; lame Smitty "steps" (random Frankenstein "modifications" compliments of the PO almost totally undone) 05 Prius, Gold package, custom Corolla sun/moon roof, all leather interior (DD)

08-26-2009, 04:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
boosted475 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7	ah awesome thanks!

08-26-2009, 04:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
RMA Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Jose ,Ca Posts: 1,132	Where are you located ? Im in san jose and will be going to hollister some time here soon , Im no pro so I need some easy to moderate trails myself. let me know if your interested. __________________ '89 2wd X-tracab,W55,22re,My DD '94 SR5 4Runner 4x4,A340H, 3VZE,Alpine deck,Wifes DD '88 SR5 4runner ,A341E,1UZ-FE,kenwoodVZ907, XRC8, Homemade Roof rack.33x10.50,15 KM2 1" home made body lift, BJ spacers ,CB, rear disc brakes ,lockright rear.sky ebrake,truetrac front. My swap thread http://www.yotatech.com/f161/1uz-fe-...0-3vze-185324/

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