Awesome Moto Camping Spots

[cjymiller]

I enjoyed some moto camping last summer around Shasta and the Trinity Alps. What moto camping means to me is an FZ09 with Street Tires, $40 Soft cortech saddlebags off Craigslist, a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tarp, mosquito net and jet boil. I'll take the FZ down a fire road far enough where I'm out of sight and out of mind and camp out, pooping in holes and packing out what I brought in.

My next target is to find a nice lake up in the Sierras that I'd be able to do the same thing. Basically, camp out on undeveloped camp sites, BLM land, and enjoy being remote for a bit.

Has anyone had any moto lake camping experience that they could share with me?

 

[SFSig]

Faucherie Lake area

I’m interest too!

Most of my moto camping has been between Mammoth and South Lake Tahoe, but interested in quick weekend trips closer to the Bay too.

Check out Faucherie Lake area. Have only driven out there but totally doable on a moto with street tires. Keep going past Faucherie to Sawmill Lake and beyond.

 

[Eric B]

Levitt Lake comes to mind off the top of my head. The road is a bit rough, but it’s nice up there. Just stand up through the rough stuff. Bring a fishing rod. Plus it’s on 108 which is so fun.
Hells Half Acre off the Beardsley res turnoff, easy dirt. Again, Highway 108, and bring a fishing rod.
Keeping in the 108 theme, Little Walker campground. Down 108, south on 395 towards Bridgeport, look for dirt road soon. Camp among the Aspens, bring a fishing rod.
The last 2 are streamside camping.

 

[bpw]

Buckeye hot springs, near bridgeport.

 

[strictlyJDM]

Butano state park

 

[bmwbob51]

Lake Almanor area!

 

[FreeRyde]

Just go back to Trinity Alps, it's moar better there.

 

[norcalkid]

Lake Almanor area!

Rode up to Almanor last weak on 70, beautiful. OP, there is an absolute ton of camping and lakes between Almanor and Tahoe. High Lakes above Paradise, the whole area where the Sierra Trek is (Bowman Lake area). Tons of free camping and lakes. Only issue is they are kinda down dirt roads(fire roads) so you might be a little limited with a street bike. Just look at a map for the closer lakes and streams.

https://freecampsites.net/#!(39.38173,+-120.66946)

Last week at Almanor
IMG20180620124124 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

 

[cjymiller]

These sound like just the ideas I'm looking for. GPS coordinates are super helpful!

 

[cjymiller]

Only issue is they are kinda down dirt roads(fire roads) so you might be a little limited with a street bike.
https://freecampsites.net/#!(39.38173,+-120.66946)

Dirt fire roads is just what I'm looking for.

Down 108, south on 395 towards Bridgeport, look for dirt road soon. Camp among the Aspens, bring a fishing rod.
The last 2 are streamside camping.

Check out Faucherie Lake area. Have only driven out there but totally doable on a moto with street tires. Keep going past Faucherie to Sawmill Lake and beyond.

Both sound promising! Any GPS locations of spots/lakes/streams you know of specifically?

 

[bmwbob51]

Yellow Creek Campground in Humbug Valley near Lake Almanor is one of my favorite.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Utica Reservoir ...

Dropped Pin
near Utica Reservoir, California
https://goo.gl/maps/kowNafqJ4Y72

... there’s Utica/Union Reservoirs up off Hwy 4 near Alpine Lake ...
dispersed NF camping down easy dirt roads ...

... closer to home is Indian Valley Reservoir/North Fork Cache Creek
with dispersed camping along Bartlett Springs Road (dirt) ...

Dropped Pin
near Indian Valley Reservoir, California
https://goo.gl/maps/52BEwK9faiE2
(there’s a fire near here now ... )



Yellow Creek looks aWeSoMe ...

(... gotta be careful which stellar rider
is giving you tips ... Eric B could ride anything
up to Lake Leavitt ... )

 

[Eric B]

No gps coordinates. Im still on .MAP technology.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Here is a map into that part of the world, off Hwy 108:

Number 7 is the bridge on Hell's Half-Acre Road ...

I got this cool map from inmate marchyman on ADVrider ... and a link to this website ... the Sunday Morning Breakfast Club sounds like a fun group!

... here’s a map of Hells Half-Acre ...
I could get a streetbike down to the lake
easy but not so much on the other side ... arty

 

[matty]

Dillon Creek south of Happy Camp on 96 has a great swimming hole, it's a pay to camp spot.

There are some dispersed spots right outside of Strawberry on Frasier Flat road /4N13 that have some great swimming holes. Technically walk in... if you go, come from Strawberry not Cold Springs, the cold springs side has been all chunked up from the logging trucks.

Theres some nice looking spots off of Herring Creek road, just past the reservoir, that look like they are right on Herring Creek. But I didn't really investigate to closely.

Last time I went up to Hell's Half acre area, it was closed right past that camp turn off, so check at the Ranger station at Pinecrest, for any forest road closures.

... there’s Utica/Union Reservoirs up off Hwy 4 near Alpine Lake ...
dispersed NF camping down easy dirt roads ...

Hmmm, look at that, it looks like one can ride to Sword Lake (good swimming) from Spicer, that may be my next ride.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Hmmm, look at that, it looks like one can ride to Sword Lake (good swimming) from Spicer, that may be my next ride.

... I've never been out to Spicer/Sword, will have to check it out ...
the other places you mention, too ...

... here's a pin on where I think Eric B's Walker River camping is ...?
(there are several spurs that lead down to the river along there ...)

arty

 

[matty]

... I've never been out to Spicer/Sword, will have to check it out ...
the other places you mention, too ...

... here's a pin on where I think Eric B's Walker River camping is ...?
(there are several spurs that lead down to the river along there ...)

arty

I was wrong, zooming in I realized I was looking at a hiking trail , no riding to Sword Lake, sorry.

 

[Wrider]

Just did some of the same, Leavitt Meadows area off 108. Street bike and off-the-grid camping, leave no trace. It was awesome.

 

[solarae]

North of Almanor, North of Chester, Silverlake environs.