Any California Routes for Bikepacking?

[mrmatt]

I'm seeking any extended bikepacking routes in California for atleast 130+ miles. I'm located in San Diego, however am not opposed to travel north. I saw the Devils Trail route in Yuma, however I'm familiar with the area and am not willing to risk the ride in the sand... Any feedback, comments, links would be great.. Cheers!

[Rob]

Have you considered bikepacking in the Santa Ana Mountain range or the San Gabriels?

[mrmatt]

I would definitely consider it, as long as I had a general guide or map available for some of the trails. Have you done any bike-packing in this range. I was also considering looking into some of the San Bernandino Range up and around Big Bear. I would assume they have some 100+ mile trails. 

[dave54]

There is a 130 mile route that roughly circumnavigates Lassen Volcanic National Park, mostly unpaved forest road with about 15 miles of singletrack.  Cascade high elevation forest.

A new rails to trail from Alturas to Wendel (east of Susanville), called the Modoc Line.  About 85 miles.  High desert/Great Basin.  So new there is not much published about it yet, trailheads and infrastructure along the route are yet to be built.  Plans are to connect it via another abandoned rail line to the Bizz Johnson Trail.

Oregon has a 100 mile rails to trail from Klamath Falls to just west of Lakeview.

or just get some maps and start laying out your own route...

[AZTtripper]

Not exactly 130 miles but this is a cool area in central CA.

East out of Fresno in the Sierra's near Courtright Reservoir the Dusy Ersham jeep route is really cool riding even if it is a road and not Single Track.

The route it self is only 30 miles but connects between two highways (possible loop) goes over a 10,000 foot pass, passes by lakes at 9,000, drops down a huge slab of granite called "Chicken Rock".

I should think that some thing could be worked out in this area.

Closer to home you might check out the Kern River Valley. There are certainly options galore near there. Everything from 2500 to 9000 ft. You could do a big loop in the Greenhorn Mountains west of the valley or go up to the Black Rock Station (southern end of the Sierra Crest) area and ride back down on the Cannel Trail http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-talk/2862-cannel-plunge-7-15-06-a.html

[Rob]

I would definitely consider it, as long as I had a general guide or map available for some of the trails. Have you done any bike-packing in this range. I was also considering looking into some of the San Bernandino Range up and around Big Bear. I would assume they have some 100+ mile trails. 

I'm planning on doing some overnighters in the Santa Ana's.  Only did one overnighter in the San Gabs and camped at Millard campground. 

Check out www.geoladders.org for some ideas on rides.

[MC]

Hey Matt, Morgan Hill-Gilroy area just south of San jose has Henry Coe State Park. Its a huge park with a good mix of terrain, many lakes, creeks, shade, lots of granite, etc.. 100 plus miles fireroad and singletrack open to bikes (atleast 30-40 miles of single). You can camp at designated campsites (scattered about park) if you want/need fire, or you can camp almost where you please as long as 3 or so miles out from headquarteers.
The Park is 81,000 acres, you could see a dozen or so people within range of the few entrances, or no one at all if you are out deep.
I ride there often, have overnighted once with buddies, have a trip coming up soon.
Some of the really fun single tracks are China Hole, Middle Ridge, Spike Jones. Most peaks at around 3000, lows around 700. Oh yeah some wild pigs, lots of deer, hence lion.

[protoceratops]

For the SoCal posters...

I live up here in the San Bernardino NF, by Crestline.  Interested in going
for some shared bikepacking adventures, and know the local area a bit. 
There is some decent riding up here, and I know of an overnight spot with
shower and kitchen facilities up here.  I am decidedly NOT fast...yet.

[Rob]

Cool, we have a cabin up in Crestline.  I'd definitely be interested in a ride that would leave from Crestline, then camp somewhere and return.  Maybe 20-30 miles each way. 

[drwelby]

There is a 130 mile route that roughly circumnavigates Lassen Volcanic National Park, mostly unpaved forest road with about 15 miles of singletrack.  Cascade high elevation forest.

So you're taking the 17 Road on the west side, I assume, and then up through 1000 Lakes? What's the route on the east side? And where's the singletrack??

To the OP: you're looking for bikepacking inspiration in California, dig up a copy of "Cycling the California Outback" by Chuck "Bodfish" Elliot:

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL11630905M/Cycling-the-California-Outback

[Keithhn]

I live in Northern California. I want to try Tahoe Rim Trail(bikes on only certain sections) and the trails in the Plumas national forest area. Jaimison lake loop or North Yuba trail has promise (when it is complete).

[protoceratops]

OK, Rob.  Let's plan a weekend out and back?  Start in Crestline, then head toward Big Bear...
lots of choices as to exactly which route to take.  I know my way around a bit, but there will
be some exploring to do unless you know the area better than I do. 

Anybody else in SoCal want in on some of this?

Me:  Lots of road miles, pretty new to the offroad bikepacking scene.  Recovering from an ankle
problem, so I am not very fast these days.  Gathering up modern, light camping gear.  The 30 YO
cheapo backpack and eight pound sleeping bag are OUT, and the Talon pack, compression bags,
water bags, and bivy are IN. 

Sounds like fun!

steve

[dave54]

So you're taking the 17 Road on the west side, I assume, and then up through 1000 Lakes? What's the route on the east side? And where's the singletrack??...

 Yep.  Up the 17 Road.  A short piece of pavement on Hwy 44, then back on forest roads east towards the Hat Creek Rim.  All south of 44, not through the 1000 Lakes -- that's a Wilderness.  Up the rim on Parm's Trail.  At one time Parms Trail was a temp section of the PCT, and on some older or erroneous maps it is still shown as the PCT.  From Baker Lake back on forest roads east to the 10 Road at the north end of the Caribou Wilderness. Follow the 10 Road to Silver Lake, then the Trail Lake Trail to Echo Lake.  This is NOT wilderness and is open to mountain bikes.  Some guidebooks and websites erroneously claim the Trail Lake Trail is closed to bikes.  At Echo Lake, back on the 10 Road.  A couple of options here -- to Highway 36 and back to Chester, or descend the Mud Creek Rim on forest roads.  While in Chester you can visit Chuck Elliot's shop -- Bodfish Bicycles -- on Main Street.   From Chester, up Feather River Drive, to Rice Creek Loop road.  Get on the Spencer Meadow Trail and descend to Hwy 36.  Some unavoidable pavement again to the top of Morgan Summit, then forest road back to the 17 Road.  There is a trail from Glassburner Meadows to Heart Lake to 17 Road.  It just nicks the corner of the National Park, but the NPS folks don't seem to care if bikes cross that 1/4 mile of NP land.  It doesn't get much bike use -- the trail is bit technical for bikes in places.

There are, of course, a near infinite number of variations of this route using the forest road system.  That is the beauty of National Forests and BLM public lands -- if you do not mind riding on unpaved roads you can create any route of any length you want, and camp nearly anywhere along the way.  Just by perusing forest maps I have penciled in a route from Mt Shasta to Lake Tahoe that is at least 90% dirt.

Detailed topo maps can be downloaded from the Lassen NF website free.  PDF files sized 8.5 x 11, so you can print them on your home printer (photo paper creates a cleaner map than bond paper).

[dave54]

I live in Northern California. I want to try Tahoe Rim Trail(bikes on only certain sections) and the trails in the Plumas national forest area. Jaimison lake loop or North Yuba trail has promise (when it is complete).

I was looking at that the other day as a possibility -- Jamison loop to the Yuba Divide, then down Lavezzola to Downieville.  You would need set up a shuttle to return, or long hard pavement grind up the Gold Lake Highway... 

[Keithhn]

I was looking at that the other day as a possibility -- Jamison loop to the Yuba Divide, then down Lavezzola to Downieville.  You would need set up a shuttle to return, or long hard pavement grind up the Gold Lake Highway... 

That's close to what I was planning. Still unsure the best way to do it. I agree with the shuttle idea. My brother in law will be going with me.

[drwelby]

All south of 44, not through the 1000 Lakes -- that's a Wilderness. 

Not through it, around it, following the Backcountry Discovery Trail route - 32N17 to 32N24 to 33N16 to 34N22 to FS26.

Thanks for all the other details - I kind of guessed that was the route, I'll have to snoop it out.

Done any exploring in Mill Creek? I've looked at it from the 172 and Black Rock ends but never made it through.

[dave54]

...Done any exploring in Mill Creek? I've looked at it from the 172 and Black Rock ends but never made it through.

Hiked Mill Creek, never biked it.  Many locals bike it. 

The Lassen Forest Recreation Officer has stated in public meetings the Mill Creek trail is closed to bikes, and I gotten into arguments with her about it.  It is proposed wilderness, but not designated yet.  The FS has to manage it as if it were wilderness, but the public is not bound by the Wilderness Act restrictions.  Also, after a winter storm blew out the road to the trailhead at Rocky Gulch, the FS opted to just start the trail there, instead of rebuilding the road for the mile or so (at an estimated cost of $250k).  So that short stretch of roadbed was decommissioned and turned into trail.  I suggested to decomm the road all the way back to Hole in the Ground campground, but it costs money to decomm a road as well as rebuild it, so that was held a possible future project.

Another trail in the area is the 4wd road along the ridge at the north boundary of the Ishi Wilderness from Peligreen Place to the Fish and Game Campground in Antelope Creek.  Or continue all the way down to the valley floor.  That is a Spring ride -- the wildflowers are fantastic!  Summer is too hot, winter is too muddy and cold.       

[drwelby]

Another trail in the area is the 4wd road along the ridge at the north boundary of the Ishi Wilderness from Peligreen Place to the Fish and Game Campground in Antelope Creek.  Or continue all the way down to the valley floor.  That is a Spring ride -- the wildflowers are fantastic!  Summer is too hot, winter is too muddy and cold.       

Yeah, Peligreen's been on my list for a while. I'll check it out this next spring.

[AmyL]

Andreas Vogel's northern California loop mixes dirt and paved road.  So it's really more of a bike touring route for people who like dirt roads.  We rode it last year and loved it.  If you wanted to have more dirt and less pavement you'd need to get the forest service maps and alter the routing.
http://northwestcalloop.blogspot.com/

And Andreas has also mapped a SF to LA route that mixes paved and dirt roads:
http://home.pacbell.net/hillmann/SF2LA/index.html

[Rob]

OK, Rob.  Let's plan a weekend out and back?  Start in Crestline, then head toward Big Bear...
lots of choices as to exactly which route to take.  I know my way around a bit, but there will
be some exploring to do unless you know the area better than I do. 

Anybody else in SoCal want in on some of this?

Me:  Lots of road miles, pretty new to the offroad bikepacking scene.  Recovering from an ankle
problem, so I am not very fast these days.  Gathering up modern, light camping gear.  The 30 YO
cheapo backpack and eight pound sleeping bag are OUT, and the Talon pack, compression bags,
water bags, and bivy are IN. 

Sounds like fun!

steve

Steve, I have Sundays and Mondays off.  Are these days doable for you? 

How soon would you like to do this?

Thanks

Rob