Where Have You Off-Roaded Today? 3rd Gen

More exploring looking for access to small remote lakes. Area dotted with small fishable lakes, but few details online. Many have no name and the forest hides old overgrown roads from satellite maps. Bloody 8 hours up and down pothole hell roads, wears you out. Spotted a dozen deer, and 2 young bull moose. Lots of bear crap but none sighted. Some beautiful spots though, next trip way less driving, more hiking and bring a belly boat.

 

Spada Lake in Sultan, WA.

 

The Old Senator Highway from Prescott, Arizona heading south to Horse Thief Basin through Crown King. Elevation 6500 down to elev. 2000 in sixty miles and six hours.

South of Prescott (Elev 6500ft)


Halfway to Crown King (Elev 6500ft)


Still North of Crown King (Elev 5000ft)


Not yet to Crown King


East of Crown King (Elev 4000)


Horse Thief Basin (Elev 2000)

 

Area bordering Dixie NF, Bryce Canyon and the Staircase.

 

Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range.

 

Out exploring, found 2 fishing lakes close to home. No one at either lake.

 

Fantastic scenery. Gotta luv southern utah.

 

Paria/Cottonwood/Buckskin

 

Red Lake/Lost Lakes/Blue Lakes

 

Sounds like Dr. Suess named som lakes.

 

We went to Drummond Island (in Lake Huron off from the east side of the Michigan Upper Peninsula). Tons of trails from mild to wild, with great destinations like Fossil Ledge or the only alvar in North America. We have never been on rock before, and never in this deep of water. We did not drive the famous Marblehead, but after seeing the size Jeeps it took to actually drive it we are glad we stayed at the top. Yes, there is a cheater bypass that is technically the same hill, but it has no real steps and is not an official state route (therefore driving it is a violation of Tread Lightly guides). We did hit some decent sized steps on our way out that took some spotting to get through, but the real fun was the spot known as Connor's Hole - a few hundred yards of water crossing almost 3 feet deep the entire run. That was pretty cool to hear water lapping the sides of my truck like it was boat! https://youtu.be/hQBjC88lLQs

 

Is Forestdale Rd open all the way from 88 to the upper and lower blue lakes?

 

Did some off-roading in Sedona, Arizona. Truck performed well and the scenery was amazing. Great time playing in the red dirt! Saw a flipped stock Jeep (soccer mom SUV) off the trail; stay safe out there folks.

 

Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina.

 

Out in the Eastern Cascades this weekend

 

Yeah, little bit of snow at the top switchback still but not bad, probably be all gone in a week or two.

 

Exploring out near Chehalis Lake; initial access via an active logging road (a busy, narrow, windy, active logging road with minimal pullouts and a plethora of Mad Max Peterbilts) I had wondered if my investment in a logging radio was worthwhile; after yesterday, I am convinced it was money well spent as I watched, from my hastily found haven up a cutbank, several tonnes of steel and wood flash by at sublight speeds. Pretty sure that being squeezed off the road and trundled down the bank into the lake would've tested the limits of a Taco's capabilities. Once we hit the deactivated roads, it got quieter and I was reminded that i need better tyres and a lift.

Supposedly out for the closing day of Spring bear season, but the single bruin we saw just gave us the bird and laughed out loud, secure in the knowledge that two fat old Hoomans were not going to scale the side of a mountain to follow him. Seems the most common wildlife would be the banana slug. Lucky for these guys, they aren't in season yet.

Not sure on the story behind the Buddhist Shrine at the start of the FSR, but I reckon stopping and paying respects does in fact help to negate the risks posed by the log trucks.

 

Great trail and nice pic!

 

The Box Canyon North-East of Florence, AZ.

Heading into the hills



All the saguaro were blooming


Getting Closer


Entering the canyon


Narrow but not hard to maneuver


Looking up


Heading out the North end. More blooming saguaros. The vertical "sticks" you see in the distance are more Saguaros. The one in the foreground is about 30 feet tall and about 2 ft across at the bottom.

 

Winchester Bay, Or

Been a couple fun days in the dunes and going to be a couple months to get all the sand out.