Forest roads/routes/lakes/camping/off roading

Gold lake is pretty cool, right by downieville. The campground is first come first serve, fun trail into it. Then harder trails branch off from the camp ground.

 

I second that!

 

And fishing ponds through out the trail.

 

Yeah, used to do adventures like Andy before all these electronic devises we have today. And kids.
Where do this road go to, let's find out.

 

Need to get you out in the forest with that pretty truck this summer.

 

I'm in. Sub'd.

Anyone try the Dusy. Good times.

 

did it last year. and you dont really try it, if you just try it that means you are still stuck out there...

33 miles at a 1mph average. yeah it was good times. I think I finally almost fixed the damage I got from that trip minus the body scars.

 

I can only imagine with a truck as big as yours. Lots of tight trees...

I agree with your assessment. I feel like the dusy wore me out more that the rubicon. Not really harder but unrelenting.

The views though and lakes...

I need to go back.

 

@Camby and @jAndyMendo and @Dan8906 thanks for the input. For sure I'm not trying to blow up anybody's good fishin spot. Keep them secrets amongst friends! But it's hard when you have access to all the maps of all the forest service roads in the state. One doesn't know where to begin. I think this kind of thread will help give people a good place to start, some place to go and explore. @jAndyMendo sould you mind expanding on a couple routes thru TNF or PNF? Or any just good memorable trails?

 

@jAndyMendo i just saw in your signature how you link to routes. Will now commence to super creepy creepin....

 

And those are the public. $5 a trail for the private ones

 

Highway 80-Dutch flat. pops out on highway 20 near lake spaulding.


Footes Rd off of Highway 49/North san juan. Road 191 comes out around downieville.



Yankee jims rd. Between forest hill and colfax. No camping but decent fishing at the north fork bridge. You can take shirt tail creek rd to iowa hill rd, Camping at sugar pine reservoir.



Red dog Rd off of hw 174 near rollins lake. Can get to hw 20 on improvised roads. No camping but you can sneak down to greenhorn creek if you're crafty.

 

If I could high five you through this website I would. Thanks @NorCalTaco552

 

be careful down at greenhorn they started ticketing people last yr.

 

im only saying this because a lot of people only lurk these pages they never post or contribute. they just use the info. you put places on here and the masses soon follow. use this as a tool to find others that have the knowledge and PM them for info. trust me. some of my favorite spots like Greehorn have been shut down by the locals because of traffic. I love the idea of this but it just sucks we need to start moving away from publicly announcing some times. Take it for what its worth.

 

Fair point there @jqueener I'm not trying to get anyone in any trouble or blow up locals only spots. People and especially wheelers and fishermen need to keep some secret places secret to keep them less traveled and less fished. im on board 100% and this isn't an argument starting retort.
But there are tons, hundreds probably thousands of miles of forest roads that pop you out at backwoods lakes, quiet places to sit by a river and places to camp that are simply out on forest service or BLM land Which we all own as warm blooded Americans. And I concur that a lot of the time the best way to find these places is to simply get you a map, get you some beer and figure out what road goes where and bring a pack in case you have to hike out. but it never hurts to put a little trust in a fellow TW poster and go find a little river spot to camp for the weekend. Wow the missus and dog with your new knowledge of great spots.
But just like @jAndyMendo posted, some routes are for sharing and some are for keeping private. Although they might be for sale or a bribe of beer!
I don't want people to part with their good fishing holes and promote trespassing or getting ticketed by the forest fuzz, just share the good long forest roads they've traveled, places they'd go back to and maybe places they'd skip.

 

I'd also note if people don't use the roads the forest service like to shut them down. Lots of places I used to go with my dad are no longer accessible due to gates and road closures. Nobody wants a cluster in the woods but it's better than having to walk in.

 

@NorCalTaco552 are those pics recent?

 

That's a solid point @nDub

 

Not arguing just throwing the warning out!!. Its easy to get caught up in the intranet and post stuff,
then the next time you go thinking you will be alone and bam!! not a single place to camp. then a few yrs later bam road closed to protect a red bellied toad some hippy found on the road you may of been part of sharing with the world. Or just due to trash. This site sees a lot of traffic and comes up near the top or at the top of a lot of searches. Just keep that in mine. its not the small tight niched group we like to think it is. and most people don't respect the land as we all wish they would. many of my old fishing and swimming hole have been closed over the years. I would hate to see more get closed. lets use Greenhorn for example. the last time I was down there after the closers there was trash everywhere bullet shells, shotgun shell, propane bottles, 100's of butane bottles. its no surprise they started ticking people. Just food for thought, as I become older I now understand why so many try to keep things a secret. Anyone could get a map but its funny how many cant read a map.