Forest roads/routes/lakes/camping/off roading

My wife and I are thinking of heading toward either snow mountain area or hull mtn/pillsbury for a night or 2. I grew up camping at lake pillsury but am not too familiar with anything off the beaten path. Any suggestions?

 

That is a long way away from Stanislaus NF so I can't help you.

 

Well my Stanislaus NF map showed up in the mail a few days ago and we are also planning to explore down there as the snow continues to melt.

 

I may be interested. If some other plans fall through I am definitely down. Never been out that way except to mtb at Downieville.

 

PM sent. Im thinking Gold Lake after watching some trail videos. Plus I want to jump on the freezing water haha.

 

My buddy was out there last weekend he said the gatr was still locked and talked to a ranger that said there was still a 20'+ drift in the way.

 

Went up there last month. Snow was gone from where we were, but there were a lot of closures due to slides. Check the USFS website for the current ones. It was a tough winter for the trails up there

 

Need suggestions for last minute trip June 8-10

Some cousins from LV decided to come visit this week to go camping. They have stock 2nd gen Tacos with decent rubber (KO2s), no lift.
Normally, I'd do some research and plan out my trip but work is super busy right now and time is limited.

Looking for suggestions on some nice and easy forest roads leading to camp with maybe a lake or a nice view. I was thinking of taking them to Mendocino NF but not very familiar with the area.

 

Los Padres Natl forest. View from campsite. Free campsite. Let me. Know if you want more info! 30 minutes of fire roads in, good and easy, and tons more if you want to explore.

 

@siznarf I also have a spot in los padres nf that i really enjoyed.

 

@siznarf listen to @cheeehara i got the idea to go where I did based on a conversation he had with another user on this thread. He probably knows the area better!

 

I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of what's out there

 

You can eat humble pie all you want. And you still may not know the area well. Still got the idea from you and this thread. Although it was @Camby i pressed for information.

 

Good to know, thank you

 

i almost opened up 5n02 to take it off the closure list, i had about half a mile and a lot of downed trees left. but you are pretty much stuck to the lower elevations currently unless you want to hide from rangers and do a lot of chainsaw work. most roads under 5k south of 108 are open, a lot of rim fire is open. anything that just melted or is melting has a lot of hidden damage and forest service may not know what is under yet. there is a list of closed roads until 2018 on the website you should print out, you basically cannot legally get to 4 from 108 which is the best part of Stanislaus imo. all the higher trails are closed by drifts or damage, eagle peak and niagara areas.

 

good info Andy , i was just looking at that yesterday. hoping there was some updates. here is a good place to look as well for eldorado
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5290737
there is links to more info.
this one is helpful.
https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/StormDamage2017/

 

speaking of eldorado. are you watching the meadow trails about to reopen? I am getting a lil excited.

 

yes. there was a few last yr that open in eldo. need to go check them out. hopefully they will get more reopened. I wish i had time to help. that club is doing big things.

 

the main one should open this year. the smaller ones just got you closer to the main. they area clearcutting rainforests in other countries, and we worry about some silty runoff into meadows???

 

Stupid California green codes. Its part of nature but we must stop mother nature from her self. I dont get that. They take it way to far.