CALIFORNIA

Dave

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Crowd Sourced! Share information and ask specific questions about this state here.

This section is focused on documenting the following:
  • Adventure Opportunities & Destinations
  • Trails
  • Campsites
  • Watercraft Put-Ins/Take-Outs
  • Local Info, Highlights & Lore
  • Local Regulations & Local Insight

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An easy So. Cal day or weekend trip for beginners to get out and enjoy.

Many side roads to explore too.

This is a power line road from just north of Barstow ending in Whiskey Pete's Casino in Nevada at State line. Halfway up you will cross a paved road. If you have had enough, need fuel etc. Turn right and in 30 minutes you will be in Baker, Ca.

It is a power line road thus semi maintained. However there are areas of sand and rocks in the road so a vehicle with some ground clearance, AWD, 4X4 or Baja Bug style vehicle would be good.

While the road is not well traveled you will probably see 1 to 4 vehicles on a weekend day trip.

You can camp all along the road and there are many beautiful places to stop and enjoy. Target shooting is allowed in this part of the desert.

What you will see.

An early man sight. It is fenced and well marked.

At some parts Camp Roberts is on the west and you'll see "Haji" villages that the military uses for practice. Last time by we stopped and watched attack helicopters doing dry runs on the villages.

Many stunning desert vistas of valleys and mountains and mountains through valleys.

Detailed directions.

Take I 15 North from Los Angeles.

Approx. 20 minutes past barstow. Exit on Harvard Road.

Turn left at end of off ramp.

Road turns to dirt keep going.

Turn right on Power Line Rd. You can't miss it. Row of big power poles with a road next to them.

Just keep going to Whiskey Pete's parking lot.

You won't get lost and you will see some very pretty country. As a possible benefit you will be at a Casino at the end so there is a buffet.

The trip is less than 150 miles long.
 
Ok guys... Two day trip south to north through Death Valley in a loaded down F350. What to see, what to skip, best campsites?

1, 2, 3 go!!!


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Dually? really limits the sights. Rent a jeep at Larabee's and see it all. Titus Canyon, Artists Palette, Ubehbe Crater, Dante's View, Badwater, dunes by Stovepipe, Charcoal Kilns
 
4 tire, diesel, long bed on 33s. Don't mind stretches of pavement as long as the scenery is good.


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It's all good just 20-40 miles to the next point of interest. Not sure about Diesel at Furnace Creek Ranch or Panamint Springs, none at Stovepipe wells though. If you do Titus Canyon the entrance is about 10 miles from Beatty Nv. which has fuel.
 
This pickup is a Nevada tow pig, carries about 150 gallons of fuel. So fuel isn't going to be an issue this trip.


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It just occurred to me that I'm cluttering up the info thread with banter, so I'm going to go back and delete some posts later to clean up.


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Best advice I can give is fill up outside Ca. if you have that type of range but then you are hauling an extra 1k arround
 
Yesterday I went on a Recon Mission to Prewitt ridge in Los Padres National Forrest. It is considered disbursed camping so no fees to camp. I found it using this link http://4x4trailmaps.com/Books/index.php?Book_ID=1 but it didnt have any directions so I searched on google maps and was hesitant but google maps is accurate all will lead you right to the camp sites as there are many. The road goes from paved, to dirt, poorly paved and back to dirt until you reach camping areas, lots of people camp along the route, there is also a small lake area to camp in. Its an easy ride in, on my way out i faced a lot of people coming up the trail coming of for Memorial Day weekend i assume. I didnt take any pictures up there my gf did but she is awake. You can get to the spot from Hwy 1 or via the 101 and Fort Hunter Ligget (im assuming the road is open to the public but the base is closed to pubilc) drive the speed limit on base!
 
I have had some interesting experiences at prewitt ridge. The first time I tried accessing from Hwy 1 from the south, drove for some time on a dirt road that showed it connected to where the campground was, ended up on private property, with a very aggressive guy telling me to get the hell out. So we did.

The second time was successful, you have to take the road off hwy 1 just north of the big campground on the highway. The interesting thing this time was on our exit. All of my maps showed a nice loop going around to the road we took in, so I decided to take that rather than backtrack. The trail started getting pretty rough, but evidence than many people had taken this route, so I Locked my axles and kept climbing. There was a low branch and I went under it. As soon as it cleared the windshield my wife saw that the road was blocked off. There was no way around, we were stuck. I could see that people had been stuck here previously and they just pulled off the trail between 2 trees and did a 3 point turn, easy peasy.

We had a trailer. A trailer with a very short tongue. I tried the 3 point turn, but to no avail. Every forward/back cycle brought us closer to the 2 trees that were blocking us in. We ended up having to pull all 3 kids out of the cruiser and set them in the shade at the top of the hill, I unhooked my trailer (it nearly crushed me at this point) got the cruiser pointed down the road and backed up towards the trailer. My wife and I had to shimmy the trailer around a tree that was blocking it from turning, once we did that I hooked it back up and loaded the kids back in.

I have been in some very sketchy situations while rock crawling, but never with my wife and kids. Adrenaline pump lasted for hours. Damn near cut our trip short. (Day 1 of a 10 days trip) eventually made it down the mountain.

Great views at the camp site though.

Yesterday I went on a Recon Mission to Prewitt ridge in Los Padres National Forrest. It is considered disbursed camping so no fees to camp. I found it using this link http://4x4trailmaps.com/Books/index.php?Book_ID=1 but it didnt have any directions so I searched on google maps and was hesitant but google maps is accurate all will lead you right to the camp sites as there are many. The road goes from paved, to dirt, poorly paved and back to dirt until you reach camping areas, lots of people camp along the route, there is also a small lake area to camp in. Its an easy ride in, on my way out i faced a lot of people coming up the trail coming of for Memorial Day weekend i assume. I didnt take any pictures up there my gf did but she is awake. You can get to the spot from Hwy 1 or via the 101 and Fort Hunter Ligget (im assuming the road is open to the public but the base is closed to pubilc) drive the speed limit on base!

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The second time was successful, you have to take the road off hwy 1 just north of the big campground on the highway.
Up Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as linked below? We're headed down that road next month to take PCH north.

https://goo.gl/maps/RamwNiLiGd42

I've been looking for some free camping along the way, mostly because everything seems to be reserved already, but also because there's no way in hell I'm paying the state $35 a night to sleep in a tent. :rolleyes:
 
Yeah, that is the correct way. When I am done with work today I'll try to find some screen shots of the death trap. Haha.

Up Nacimiento-Fergusson Road as linked below? We're headed down that road next month to take PCH north.

https://goo.gl/maps/RamwNiLiGd42

I've been looking for some free camping along the way, mostly because everything seems to be reserved already, but also because there's no way in hell I'm paying the state $35 a night to sleep in a tent. :rolleyes:
 
Los Coyotes Indian Reservation.

Location...San Ignacio Road off of Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/L...2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xf91b03beaea19c19

Camping...some of the best camping in SoCal. The campground is at 4000', plenty of shade from old growth pines/oaks. $25 a night, as much as I hate to pay to camp, the tribe is dirt poor (no casino) and they are opening their land to us, so I suck it up and pay the fee. There are NO designated camp spots, stake a claim and set up your camp where you see fit.

Bring CASH! No ATM for miles. If you get to the gate and no one is there, proceed to the campground...they'll find you, or pay on your way out.

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Fires...the main camp area has not burned in over 60 years. They generally allow campfires, but there can be restrictions. Propane campfires are always allowed. There is an overabundance of downed wood throughout the reservation, downed wood gathering is allowed.

Amenities...NONE, lately there has been running water at some hose spigots scattered around the camp area. In the past, the water has NOT been guaranteed to be potable. There are some of the cleanest outhouses you'll see dispersed around the campground, and a dumpster for trash.

Nearest gas...miles away, Valero at Hwy 78/79 intersection, Santa Ysabel, CA coming northbound, LaJolla Indian store on Hwy 76 coming from the east, no idea coming southbound from Temecula.

Cell service...spotty at best in the campground area.

Wheeling...mild to wild...someone in the group has to be a member of their off road club ($75 a year) to get a key for gate access.
Mild... dirt road to the old firetower lookout, highest point in San Diego County, can usually be traversed by a high clearance 2wd. I've been on a trip where a FWD Honda Element made it top the top. Figure two hours for a round trip.

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There are two distinct sides to the trails, coastal side and desert side. The coastal side trails are generally a little easier. The desert side can be HOT (bring lots of water), and the terrain is mostly granite/decomposed granite (DG). If you have never experienced DG, it's like BB's on ice, you can get out of shape REAL quick.

Wild...recommend short(er) wheelbase vehicle, 33" tires and one locker. Having said that, I've been on trips with stock vehicles on well worn street tires and had a good time. There is ALWAYS a chance of body damage/carnage when traveling off highway. If your vehicle is pristine and you want to keep it that way, stick to the lookout road and you SHOULD be OK.

More AAV links to LCIR...

The first one has lot's of pics.

http://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/los-coyotes-indian-reservation-april-10-12-2015.2528/

http://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/los-coyotes-indian-reservation-july-4th-weekend.3933/

http://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/socal-meet-los-coyotes-camp.3608/

http://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/los-coyotes-indian-reservation-july-4th.2539/
 
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I have a friend that is looking for an area to camp for two days in the Sequoia's, in late June. It's going to be a family gig, roughing it means no room service, so he's looking for campground type camping.
 
Finding campgrounds in Sequoia NP in peak season can be dicey. Potwisha is first come first serve and in the chaparral zone. Kings Canyon has been a long time favorite and has never disappointed us for an available space even on a holiday weekend.

Often times we avoid the park area and stay in the national forest area just to avoid the tourist zones. South fork is pretty nice. As is mineral king. If your coming from the east, you might try coming up thru kennedy meadows off 9 Mile road. Fish camp and jackass flats both workout great for weekend trips and puts you firmly in the eastern edge of the Sequois.
 
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