North Cal and Las Vegas

[Dragon997]

After a few days of riding in North California, I have a meeting in Vegas Aug 19-21, but have Sunday Aug 18 off in Vegas.
I wanna ride, can anyone suggest some dirt roads? loops, whatever. Best time to ride in the morning?

Also if any N Cal doods wanna give me some suggestions on roads and hotels in the redwoods PCH area appreciate it. I been studying the Butler maps.
Really looking for a great hotel, a really great hotel on the water between Eureka and Cresent city.
Doing a loop from Yreka, to Eureka to Cresent City back to Yreka.

Cheers and thank you!
Johnathan

 

[tomatocity]

Got a bunch of routes. I will include some GoogleMaps.

Ferndale to Mattole Road to Avenue of the Giants to Garberville http://goo.gl/maps/bXgzf

Etna to Sawyers Bar Road to Somes Bar to Cecilville Road to Etna http://goo.gl/maps/xFXDL

Bald Hills Road http://goo.gl/maps/Ng3MZ

Scott River Road http://goo.gl/maps/8Swq3

Weed to Stewart Springs Road / I P Road to Trinity Dam Blvd to Weaverville http://goo.gl/maps/4miDs

Mad River Burger Bar to US Forest Service Road 1 to Titlow Hill Road http://goo.gl/maps/lZoLf

Garberville to Shelter Cove to Chemise Mountain Road to Usal Road to Hwy 1 (PCH) http://goo.gl/maps/IP75S

Usal Road & 1 to Leggett to Laytonville to Branscomb Road to Hwy 1 http://goo.gl/maps/iMfi3

Laytonville to Bell Springs Road to Alderpoint (gasoline) to Ruth Lake to Mad River Burger Bar http://goo.gl/maps/kQTOk

Fortuna to CA-36 to Red Bluff (140 miles of fun) http://goo.gl/maps/xymXp

Ishi-Pishi Road http://goo.gl/maps/yNhRL

There are many gravel road around Mount Shasta.

Check your PM.

Red Bluff to Lassen Volcanic National Park to Eagle Lake to Susanville http://goo.gl/maps/yxOQ5

Susanville to 36 to 32 to Magalia to Lower Lake to Lake Berryessa to Winters to Sacramento. Part of this is a favorite ride. http://goo.gl/maps/ilTxe

 

[Dragon997]

THANK YOU...keep em coming...
Heres our itinerary, my wife and I both on Supa Tens, I got the fast white one she's got the shiny black one, have 4 days in NoCal.
Launching from Yreka or Weed area, we wanna ride to the coast and the redwoods, Looking for a suggestion...
Do we leave Yreka and head west to Cresent city or SW to Eureka then North.
Rode the PCH a few years back on the way to the GP in Laguna Seca, love it. Cant wait.
Any hotel suggestions?

 

[EricV]

For Sunday off in Vegas, run up to Death Valley and play anywhere. Out to the Racetrack is a nice ride if you want dirt.

Run out 160 or 95 and drop into Death Valley on 372 or 373, then follow 127 to 190, (or drop from 373 to 190), then go where you want to see things. When you pay your park fee, pick up a map and ask for the off road map at the visitor center or ranger/BLM station.

http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcountryroads.htm

Road conditions - http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/standard-road-conditions.htm

http://oldtrailmaster.wordpress.com/road-guide/

 

[tomatocity]

THANK YOU...keep em coming...
Heres our itinerary, my wife and I both on Supa Tens, I got the fast white one she's got the shiny black one, have 4 days in NoCal.
Launching from Yreka or Weed area, we wanna ride to the coast and the redwoods, Looking for a suggestion...

Do we leave Yreka and head west to Cresent city or SW to Eureka then North.

Rode the PCH a few years back on the way to the GP in Laguna Seca, love it. Cant wait.

Any hotel suggestions?

I am a Best Western Ride Rewards traveler but I have found some I will not stay in again. I have stayed in the Trinidad Inn in Trinidad, cottage style, and liked it a lot. Was not that expensive. Had a very good dinner at the local casino.

Decide whether you want to go to Crescent City.

This will get you to Eureka http://goo.gl/maps/Prmsu Scott Road is fun. Sawyer Bar Road spans the highest pass in the area, is scenic, passes through a few small towns, and I like it a lot. I have not been on Ishi-Pishi Road but have wanted to since I found it on a map. Bald Hills Road crosses a smaller mountain, is partially tribal lands, is clay-dirt-gravel on the top, and drops you into redwoods as you near Hwy 1. Eureka has a nice historical Old Town.

This will get you to Crescent City http://goo.gl/maps/zxUW6 Greenhorn Road and McAdams Creek Road is a favorite of mountain bikers. looks to be well manicured dirt-gravel. Scott Road is fun. Howland Hill Road is in Jedediah Smith Redwood SP. Looks like a nice narrow Redwood road. Check to see if it is open and passable. I have not spent much time in Crescent City, well twice. Once it was gray cold and windy. Stopped at the local Harley shop, drank their coffee and met a very neat 60's person that grew up in CC. Interesting. The other time, half the city was gray cold and windy the other half was clear breezy and HOT.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you will be passing through or near Sacramento. I sent you my mobile number.

 

[AVGeek]

Just keep in mind that time of year is still summer, and temperatures will be 100*+ during the day, and not much cooler at night. In and around Vegas there is not too much riding like NorCal or the Canadian Rockies, but I would say a jaunt up to Mt Charleston (you can run the loop from south to north or north to south) will get you cooler temps. If you're up for braving the heat, Valley of Fire State Park is very scenic (and was the site of several TV and movie sets).

 

[6Rivers]

Motels on the beach?

Crescent City - There is a Hampton Inn on a bluff overlooking the ocean... several blocks from downtown eating establishments. A few motels directly across the highway from the boat basin with a number of eating places within walking distance.

Trinidad - A number of lodging establishments on the old highway -- Patricks Point Drive. Can't make a recommendation. There is a good place to eat down on the pier.

Arcata/Eureka... nothing on or with a view of the beach/ocean.

PCH (Hwy 001) - We go to Fort Bragg often. The place I keep going back to is The Beachcomber, on the north end of town. Its as close to the beach as you'll get as far as I know. A few other motels immediately adjacent to The Beachcomber. Only drawback is nearest place to eat (Mexican) is 1.25 miles away. No taxi in town. The North Coast Brewing Company restaurant is a few paces further, if you like pub atmosphere and micro brew. Several other motels in Fort Bragg. A couple overlooking the Noyo harbor ($$$).

 

[6Rivers]

South of Crescent City: This area is within boundaries of State & National parks. Scenic, but there is next to nothing for lodging.

If you're not going south of Eureka, check the link attached for lodging in Trinidad. There is a good restaurant on the pier:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=&authuser=0&q=motels%2C+Trinidad%2C+Calif.&oq=motels%2C+Trinidad%2C+Calif.&gs_l=news-cc.1.1.43j43i53.302086.310708.0.313317.34.12.0.15.0.9.854.8640.4-1j4j7.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.csYjkFZ8LZk#authuser=0&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&ei=DSwAUqywHeGRiAKCpIGIDg&fll=41.09482420692603,-124.11698841796874&fp=d84a4b55f1d5168b&fspn=0.15834632558716777,0.190887451171875&fz=11&gl=us&hl=en&oll=40.96532892652789%252C-124.11973499999999&ospn=0.6346315053389446%252C0.7635498046875&q=motels,%20Trinidad,%20Calif.&st=115241322498563341359&tbm=&tbs=lf_msr:-1,lf:1&ved=0CNUBENAn

Arcata & Eureka are on the east side of a rather large bay and stretch of dunes that separate the towns from the beach/ocean.

 

[tomatocity]

This map http://goo.gl/maps/tLpy6 shows some of the interior more scenic roads and a few highlights (at least I think so ) in the area. Surely there are others.
-Patrick's Point, my grandfather loved this place.
-Scenic Drive, nice narrow road and a bit scary in the dark.
-Cher-Ae Heights Casino, very good food and we had a sunset dinner.
-Clam Beach Drive, I have not been here but it is now on my list.
-Mad River Beach, another very high on my list.
-New Navy Base Road, nice diversion.
-Crab Park, Centerville Road, in and out but beautiful.
-Eagle Prairie Bridge, was recently named the shortest road in California, 1/2/ mile.

* Mattole Road http://goo.gl/maps/Ey798 connects to Ferndale and the Avenue of the Giants.
** Avenue of the Giants http://goo.gl/maps/mzHMG don't miss it.

 

[joneil]

In Vegas, my favorite ride is Mormon Well Rd. About 45 miles of mostly gravel and moderately maintained, you will see all of the Eco-systems southern Nevada has to offer. The road can be a little demanding but not "tear your bike up" demanding. The road is very lonely so bring water, water and water. There will be no cell service for much of the trip. i carry a SPOT. You might not see anyone else while you're up there. Vegas high might be 105 that time year but at the top it can be 20 degrees cooler and a lot of shade.

To get there, take 95 north (towards Tonopah, NV). After the Snow Mountain exit you will see signs for Corn Creek and Desert national wildlife refuge. That dirt road will take you to a ranger station where you can sign in. From there, continue to the end of the road, then turn right. From there just follow the road and enjoy the ride. The higher you get the more amazed you will be.

Start early and you can be back on hwy 93 by lunch time. You will travel from Hwy 95 on the western side of the Sheep Range Mountains to hwy 93 on the eastern side. Turn right on 93 and cruise into Vegas. I normally take my time. Stop and eat, etc.... Seems Like a 4 hour ride. This picture gives you an idea of road and terrain in the lower elevations.

If it looks like it's raining in the mountains north of Las Vegas, DO NOT GO. The area will suffer a flash flood regularly.

 

[tomatocity]

Is this the route for your Mormon Well Road trip? http://goo.gl/maps/nGd0I

Will you ride it with me when I make it to Las Vegas in a month or two?

What do you have the the mountains west of Las Vegas?

 

[swimcoachmike]

Tomatocity, I will try to ride the trails here on your arrival/mike

 

[Firefight911]

Any riding in California MUST include a review of this link;

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

Sonora Pass had a fire, near Yosemite, Ortega Hwy is closed, etc., etc.

Also, this site is invaluable -

http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk which means there are more than likely spelling errors!

 

[joneil]

Is this the route for your Mormon Well Road trip? http://goo.gl/maps/nGd0I

Will you ride it with me when I make it to Las Vegas in a month or two?

What do you have the the mountains west of Las Vegas?

Your google route is correct.

I would be happy to ride it with you. Maybe we can get some others to join us. October will be good weather for that run.

To the west of Las Vegas we have the Spring Mountains. You'll find some good riding there as well. The best is probably Griffith Peak trail. It is accessed from the Harris Springs Rd which is a turn off south of Hwy 157. Fun riding. Easy to moderate. Nice views.

For the adventurous, we have wheeler pass. I've never done it but by all accounts it can be a lot more challenging. I've been told I would never make it on my bike. I've also been told its no problem???

There are also some Forest Access roads that are fun. Same mountain range just closer to Mercury, NV.

There are also some rides around Red Rock that are a lot of fun. All of those rides are in the mountains to the west of the valley.

We haven't even talked about south or east yet.

 

[Dragon997]

Thanks for all the great Info. TomatoCity great info. See you on the road!!