tips please on public dirt roads

[thump]

Hi DirtyBarfers :teeth

Not sure why but I woke up early this morning and was out of the house by 7.30!!

Which is how come my pic taken from Loma Prieta has the mist still in the valley bottom :)

This has been my first encounter with public dirt roads with the SuperMoto and while it ain't no agile 125 2-smoke, it's no hog either!!

Good enough that I'm very definitely looking for more!!

Hence my request- have you any tips please for dirt roads and fire trails that are public roads that I can go ride up??

Thanks :thumbup
Thump

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/026/636/388310-loma-prieta-1.jpg

[thump]

And a view of the dirt road.

After coming back down again, I rode 'Mount Charlie' and a couple of other roads to the south of 17. Makes a great change from my more usual loops around San Gregorio and Pescadero.

So like I mentioned in the previous message- all tips on public dirt roads very much appreciated.

Thanks :thumbup
Thump

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/026/636/388313-loma-prieta-2.jpg

[NorCalBusa]

La Gloria Rd- runs from Hwy 25 south of Hollister 20 miles to Gonzales, dirt the entire way, gorgeous country.

Topo Rd; runs from Soledad, off Hwy 146, east to Hwy 25 (but you can't get on Hwy 25). All dirt, stunning scenery.

Los Gatos- Coalinga Rd; off hwy 25, 45 miles south of town. Paved, gravel, stunning. Also goes to/by Clear Creek BLM land, a dirt bike mecca.

You are officially "in the boonies" on these roads, but they are public and on the map.

[magyarbetyar]

Damn :wow That looks like some serious fun :devil Not too many public dirt roads in the Bay Area. You kind of have to get out of the Bay Area :(

[rsrai]

if u take 152 to watsonville, make ur way to eureka canyon rd, it turns into highland blvd i thinkk and the road is unkept full of potholes and covered with loose gravle, dirt, etc. eventually it goes into summit rd, but after it takes you to the top and u get a view of the santa cruz valley, pretty awesome scenery. i did it on my r1 last year.

[Max Smiley]

oh man this is great stuff :teeth

[caballero]

I seem to remember some roads off Aldercroft Heights, check the maps to Mt. Chuai and Mt. Bache. Happy trails.

[morthrane]

Originally posted by NorCalBusa
Los Gatos- Coalinga Rd; off hwy 25, 45 miles south of town. Paved, gravel, stunning.
Fun road, but not all that dirty. If a motley collection of sportbikes will ride through there... it ain't much challenge ;)

:later

[thump]

Hi All,

The dirt road I took up Loma Prieta last weekend is marked in blue on the map below. Next time out I'll continue on the red route and see what that's like- probably on Sunday 27th

Anyone else with a Dual Sport or Motard and wants to come along is very welcome.

Once I have a decent circuit mapped out, I'll post a ride invite.

Thump

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/026/636/392232-loma_prieta_1.jpg

[JoeBar]

Damn! I wish I still had my street legal YZ400F!!!

:infrandom

[Max Smiley]

think this book is good for dirtbikes too?

http://www.4x4books.com/can4wd.htm

http://www.4x4books.com/images/can4wda.jpg

it sure sounds like great adventure / exploration!!!


Adventures galore!

See Northern California's natural wonders up close. Gaze over the state from atop the Sierra Nevada. Explore the vast dry expanse of Pacific Coast.

View Northern California's abundant wildlife in its natural habitat.

Walk the silent streets of ghost towns. Imagine the explosive report of six-guns as Wild West lawmen and gunslingers faced each other.

Discover mines and mining camps that once reverberated with the sounds of machines, and men hoping to find the Mother Load.

Follow in the footsteps of pioneers and early settlers.

Marvel at the artwork ancient Indian tribes, preserved as petroglyphs, and pictographs.

Drive along abandoned railroad beds where thousands labored to lay the first tracks across the continent. Follow the route taken by the Pony Express and Overland Stage.

Access the best locations for backcountry camping, hiking, snowmobiling, mountain-bike and trail-bike riding , hunting and fishing.

[Max Smiley]

thump, can the fiddys sneak on the ride too or would we get run over by cars (*cought*cops*cough*)? :confused

[thump]

Originally posted by Max Smiley
think this book is good for dirtbikes too?

http://www.4x4books.com/can4wd.htm

http://www.4x4books.com/images/can4wda.jpg

it sure sounds like great adventure / exploration!!!

It sez- "for anyone with a sport utility vehicle."

I spend quite enough time dodging SUVs on the road. I'm not sure I'd want to be dodging them on the trails too!

but... might be good. Do you have a copy or were you suggesting I buy it and then you look at it!! :laughing

I'll see if I can get it from the library and note any promising looking trails.

[thump]

Originally posted by Max Smiley
thump, can the fiddys sneak on the ride too or would we get run over by cars (*cought*cops*cough*)? :confused


Have you got a green sticker?
Doesn't that entitle you to ride the road in daylight?

Correct me if I'm wrong please, I'm new to this California thing.

And I'm sure if we tied you to Big D or Chainlash or rb929rr you'd keep up- kind of!! :laughing

Thump

[DRZ]

Thump, what is this trail, is it a dirt road, trail, could I ride the DRz?

[thump]

Originally posted by DrZ
Thump, what is this trail, is it a dirt road, trail, could I ride the DRz?

Um, yeah. A drz would be just fine!!
Probably better than my motard.

Yes, it's a dirt road. I've ridden the blue line and I'm going back to try out the piece I marked in red. Looks straight on the map, but I assure you it isn't!!

I'm planning on spending the next couple of weekends finding challenging roads and then posting a group ride sometime in May.

Wanna play??
Thump

[DRZ]

I do on Sunday but im not sterrt prepped. Id have to truck it to..?is there a spot for me to safely off load?

[thump]

I don't know. I haven't thought about unloading.

I don't have a truck or trailer so I ride to wherever I want to ride. If that makes any sense.

It's the middle of nowhere but I did meet the sherriff coming the other way when I was up there last Sunday :laughing

But it is a public road, so wouldn't you need to be street legal for that?

[Max Smiley]

green sticker is for OHV parks, the xr is not street legal :/

I don't worry too much about sharing the roads do that already on the streets but I suppose off-roads cages can be alot worse and wanton? about slamming bikers. sand dunes probably the worse, only have those little flags and you can't see those till you crest the top or something?

will try to find that book at barnes to check it out. it does mention trail bikes in the blurb! :burnout

we need some dirt smileys.

[pelikan]

oh yeah, count me in for some dual-ssport dirt roads anytime! the license plate & turn signls on my bike have to good for something :)

[thump]

Originally posted by Max Smiley
think this book is good for dirtbikes too?

http://www.4x4books.com/can4wd.htm

http://www.4x4books.com/images/can4wda.jpg

it sure sounds like great adventure / exploration!!!

Hi Max-

Had a look through the index pages on their web site and it look like most of the trails are way up north, in the sierras or out yosemite way.

I'm going to keep on tootling around the backroads in the santa cruz mountains to see what I can find.

Oh, and doing dumb things like pulling up alongside parked Rangers and Sherrifs cars, waving my map at them and asking straight out 'Are there any unpaved roads around these parts that I can ride?' It's worked out OK so far....

I'm going out Sunday morning to do a recce too- route attached!!

Thump

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/026/636/395294-sunday_test_loop-_small.jpg

[rsrai]

the first map shows your route starting where it intersects highland rd, which you can follow to eureka canyon, which si the route i was telling you about if you want to check that out. :thumbup

[thump]

Okay- I'll plan something around that for my next recce trip. Thanks for the tip.

Andrew

[rsrai]

im not promising anything, but stop to look at the views at some of the pts. hope its as fun as i thought it was.

[Matt.Lai]

Thump:

Hey, next trip give me a shout or PM me! My Dr350 is getting lonely and needs some dualsport action! Me too!

Thanks, Matt

[JoeBar]

Hey Andrew,

You should check this out:
http://members.aol.com/slogdog/moto/ds_cruz.html

Pierre

[thump]

Okay- I'm on his case!!

Thanks :)

:thumbup Thump