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Santa Cruz- Safe Dirt Trails...?

Discussion in 'Northern California' started by Booster, Feb 1, 2017.

  1. Feb 10, 2017 at 5:06 PM
    #41
    dman100

    dman100 Well-Known Member

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    Setting aside the fact that there are some recluses and criminals up in the SC Mountains, as well as land being used for illegal activity, which are best to avoid, a lot of the roads are private and maintained at the owners' expense. We have a house on one such road; fortunately it's paved so you guys wouldn't enjoy it, but after getting bids on grading and drainage (not to mention paving) I am a lot more sympathetic with the NIMBY's. So, the truth is: there are no legal motor vehicle TRAILS in the SC Mountains. There are a few miles of unpaved county and State Park ROADS, which usually have seasonal closures.
     
    Skada likes this.
  2. Feb 10, 2017 at 7:53 PM
    #42
    Longboard1110

    Longboard1110 ...................

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    A few things
    I love all the posts about being shot at. Most people who run into trouble are tresspassing on private property. Stay off other people's land and you will be fine. Go to a place that is designated for offroading and nobody will bother you.
     
    dman100 likes this.
  3. Feb 10, 2017 at 10:13 PM
    #43
    SR510

    SR510 Huge member

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    Back in the good old days of this thread they were talking about a good drive on the ( most say unchallenging but nice) old coast road and a TW meet up to drive it. So...........who wants to go find out where this trail washed out or trees fell across it? We all have chainsaws. Let's give it a week or two to dry out and get after it.
     
  4. Feb 10, 2017 at 10:31 PM
    #44
    demo243

    demo243 Well-Known Member

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    Id be down for exploring old coast road - been meaning to go check it out.... my guess is its pretty screwed up right now though...
     
  5. Feb 11, 2017 at 2:27 AM
    #45
    Jrobb

    Jrobb Well-Known Member

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    Old coast Rd is fun. Haven't done it in the truck yet but many times on the motorcycle. IF you continue down the coast to Nacimiento Fergusson Rd and head East from 1 near the summit take a Right on South Coast Ridge Road. Wide dirt road, been up there a bunch and never ran into wierdos. There are a few steeper sections but I think 2wd could do it. If it's wet I'd stay off it...lots of clay. Turn West onto Will Creek Rd, It'll drop you down on 1 near Treebones resort and just North of Gorda and the Whale Watcher cafe.

    IF the rain stops I plan to tryit out. I'll report back.


    J
     
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  6. Sep 25, 2018 at 1:36 PM
    #46
    Pidgeto

    Pidgeto Member

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    Is this still alive lol?
     
  7. Sep 25, 2018 at 1:39 PM
    #47
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    I'm headed up to Santa Cruz tomorrow for my wedding, taking my truck...would be awesome to find some trails to hit up when I'm killing time lol.

    We are planning on taking the Old Coast Road down to Big Sur for a few days after the wedding, heard it's a nice easy trail
     
  8. Sep 25, 2018 at 5:53 PM
    #48
    Jrobb

    Jrobb Well-Known Member

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    It’s easy.

    I did it in 2wd in my Frontier. Only needed 4wd (I used 4wd. Could have made it around if I tried harder) on a rutted steeper section about 1-2 miles in from the North. Everything else was just drivin.

    J
     
    eon_blue[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Sep 25, 2018 at 8:13 PM
    #49
    dman100

    dman100 Well-Known Member

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    I think Old Coast Rd is closed now. Best to check with Monterey County Roads Dept or Public Works before trekking down there.
     
  10. Sep 25, 2018 at 8:37 PM
    #50
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Oh man I hope not...I checked the Monterey County Roads website and it's not listed as being closed unless it goes by another name I'm not familiar with. There are trip reviews of the road online from as recently as 2 months ago.
    Guess I'll have to call up the County just to be sure but I hope it's open
     
  11. Sep 25, 2018 at 9:11 PM
    #51
    dman100

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    It was closed for sure in spring but seems open now. Sorry for the wrong info.
     
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  12. Sep 25, 2018 at 9:19 PM
    #52
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Lol no worries, appreciate the lookin' out...its a good reminder to check on the road status regardless
     
  13. Sep 27, 2018 at 10:38 AM
    #53
    crizq0

    crizq0 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the update! I didn't realize they opened it back up as well. Been wanting to check out that road.
     
  14. Oct 26, 2018 at 10:30 AM
    #54
    evoxtaco

    evoxtaco Well-Known Member

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    I plan on going to Old Coast Rd this weekend. Does one enter through where Bixby bridges is at?
     
  15. Oct 26, 2018 at 10:36 AM
    #55
    eon_blue

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    That's where we entered from. Honestly I was a little underwhelmed by it...it's pretty short and only took us maybe 45 minutes to get to where it meets with the PCH again. I don't think 4WD was even needed at all.

    It was pretty though and had some great views of the ocean and farmlands from certain points, just wish it was a longer stretch of road. I think from Bixby bridge it's just a few miles to the end. I was hoping for more of a '4x4 required' kind of trail but it's really just a fire road. If it were raining it would definitely be a lot harder due to mud.

    I've heard that it goes from Santa Cruz down even further past Bixby but I don't know where that part of it is..
     
    evoxtaco[QUOTED] and Anderson like this.
  16. Dec 28, 2022 at 10:14 PM
    #56
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

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