Whats Outside in NorCal?

So, just drove my family out here from NJ. This place is pretty cool. BUT, I dont know anyone or where to go or what to do as far as Outdoor adventures. My own reaserch has not turned up a too much actionable info. Hit up Mt Diablo, very nice but only served to entice wanderlust. Looking to camp, paddle, wheel, whatever. Just want to get a thread going and start a conversation. So, what's good around NorCal?

 

Yosemite! Tahoe!!! big SUR

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-not-camping-wheeling-and-shenanigans.585095/

 

Trees and grass.

 

Excellent Cannabis

 

There are tons of great places camp, paddle, wheel or whatever. I would suggest starting with a few threads here in this local section of the forum. But the best way to find them is to get out there and just explore.

If you want a family friendly place to paddle, check out Del Valle(sp?) reservoir near Livermore. It’s local in the Bay Area

If you want a nice camp spot in the Bay Area try something on the peninsula like Portola Redwoods.

If you want a place to wheel, start with Hollister OHV.

But the absolute best way to find places is to make friends and get out there with others to show you the ropes.

Good luck and welcome to the best coast!

 

Did you move out here, or just visiting? Norcal is pretty big. Exactly which area are you in?

 

We moved out here on PCS orders 4 years, got a little place in San Ramon. Nice, quite, Little too suburban for me but what the hell.

 

Lots of lakes around to paddle and bbq and fish. Tons of hiking and biking places.

Lake Berryessa is probably about an hour and a half or so away from you. You can go for the day or there’s some campgrounds around the lake if you wanna stay. No wheeling there though.

Santa Cruz is cool too. Tons of hiking and biking trails. And lots of beaches if you wanna paddle.

 

Hey Thanks for the info man. I'm tryin to meet people but I'm still pretty new and throwing lines out to meet some folks. That's kinda what I was hoping for here! Always seemed like a solid group of guys on these forums.

 

A few faves:
Humboldt Redwoods
Klamath and Trinity Rivers
MacArthur-Burney Falls Area
Bear Valley/Blue Lakes Area
Lost Coast
Pt. Reyes
Bucks Lake

 

I live in north bay and i'm always in the marin headlands

 

Actually was planning on heading over to Del Valle next week for some fishing. Checked the fish report and the water quality report.


Kenny K. of Livermore caught this massive 27.5 pound striped bass while fishing in Swallow Bay. He was fishing with anchovies.

 

Welcome to the Bay Area!

Keep an eye out here in the NorCal section... @MJonaGS32 has a MOD Day coming up in sometime in September I believe... Here in the East Bay and a good crowd to get to know.

 

About 35 minutes north of Berryessa is Knoxville OHV. It’s shitty, but’s it’s an OHV Park. Just puttin it out there since you recommended Lake Berryessa.

 

Welcome to the Bay. If you dont mind driving a few hours there are beautiful areas to wheel and explore. The Sierras are your new friends! camping off all the major hwys. Hwy 4, 50,80, 88, 108, and 120. Little bit of research with the right key words helps a lot. DM if you have any more specific questions.

 

San Ramon is a really nice area, expensive but a good and safe place to live. There’s more awesome places to go in Northern California than just about any where else in the nation. The beauty of Northern California is unsurpassed. Are you into fishing? If so salt or fresh water. Trout, bass or ??. A lot of great fishing (and hunting) in NorCal.
You need to get 2 hours or so outside of the Bay Area as the Bay Area is too crowded and congested.
Head north or south along the coast. Beautiful and lots of things to do. Head into the Sierras on highway 4 or 88 and you’ll find lots of mountain lakes for paddling. Northern California has hundreds of lakes and rivers.

 

Right off the bat and yall are awesome! Thanks, I think were gonna like it here.

 

Up 80 or 88, get into the real NorCal. Tahoe is crowded, Carson Pass area has spots, try Blue Lakes, below the lake also is some dispersed camping. Can do water stuff up at the lake without paying for a campsite. Off of 20 NW of Truckee can go to a number of lakes, or north of Truckee on 89, go by Jackson Meadow Reservoir. Butt Lake or Lake Almanor up here on the Plumas NF, above Red Bluff and Chico. 32 or 36 to Chester to access them. Bucks Lake outside Quincy.
Duane

 

Welcome to Northern California fellow New Jerseyite (maybe you're not from Jersey. If not good for you and welcome anyway)!