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Garberville to Mad River via Alderpoint, Zenia, Van Duzen - all paved?

Hey, Seb, You gonna join the Northbay Weaverville run?
 
I managed to take a wrong turn and took Alderpoint all the way to Bridgeville. No dirt parts of Alderpoint before the missed turn (Zenia Bluff), and no pavement that scared me that much.

There were a couple parts of Alderpoint past the turn that were gravel, I believe for construction (they were very short).
 
Popping this thread back up, as I have to get back to SF from Lewiston (on Hwy 299, west of Red Bluff). Thought I'd stop overnight in Fort Bragg, since I won't leave Lewiston until after lunch...

Google Maps has me taking 3 to 36 to Van Duzen to Zenia Bluff to Alderpoint. However, I'll be on my big 650lb BMW K1200GT - much more of a smooth road sport touring bike than an ADV, and everyone says Alderpoint can be very goaty.

Given that, should I just take 36 to the coast and take 101/1 to Fort Bragg?
 
senpai71 said:
Popping this thread back up, as I have to get back to SF from Lewiston (on Hwy 299, west of Red Bluff). Thought I'd stop overnight in Fort Bragg, since I won't leave Lewiston until after lunch...

Google Maps has me taking 3 to 36 to Van Duzen to Zenia Bluff to Alderpoint. However, I'll be on my big 650lb BMW K1200GT - much more of a smooth road sport touring bike than an ADV, and everyone says Alderpoint can be very goaty.

Given that, should I just take 36 to the coast and take 101/1 to Fort Bragg?
Click to expand...

There's a closure on 36 near Bridgeville due to a slide. Not sure what the go-around would be. Alderpoint is an absolute blast on a supermoto. Probably not so much on your big BMW.

Division of Traffic Operations - Road Information - California Highway Information

roads.dot.ca.gov roads.dot.ca.gov
 
senpai71 said:
Popping this thread back up, as I have to get back to SF from Lewiston (on Hwy 299, west of Red Bluff). Thought I'd stop overnight in Fort Bragg, since I won't leave Lewiston until after lunch...

Google Maps has me taking 3 to 36 to Van Duzen to Zenia Bluff to Alderpoint. However, I'll be on my big 650lb BMW K1200GT - much more of a smooth road sport touring bike than an ADV, and everyone says Alderpoint can be very goaty.

Given that, should I just take 36 to the coast and take 101/1 to Fort Bragg?
Click to expand...
Alderpoint is goaty af. if you have a big pig like the k1200 why not just take 299 to 101 to fort bragg? (i cant believe i am recommending this :laughing) that’ll help
you avoid road closures.

you can bypass 101 for a while and take avenue of the giants as a nice diversion. i’ve ridden that section of 101 many times when i was making time getting to my moms place. it’s pretty so it has that going for it.

as i posted - banjo did ride his fjr on alderpoint and ruth zinnia but he’s… special.
 
HWY notifications still list 36 as a hard closure today. If I were on the 1200 today, I would probably take 299 to 101 to 1@ Leggett. 26 miles of freshly paved twisties to the coast, then stay on 1 to the Bay or 128 or ...,?
 
I’m headed that way this weekend in a SuperDuke GT.
I have been on Alrderpoint years ago. It was a chore avoiding rim bends. Going from Garberville would talking Dyerville loop to Ft Steward to Xenia to Mad River be worse than just taking Alderpoint the whole way?
 
NorCal Factory said:
I’m headed that way this weekend in a SuperDuke GT.
I have been on Alrderpoint years ago. It was a chore avoiding rim bends. Going from Garberville would talking Dyerville loop to Ft Steward to Xenia to Mad River be worse than just taking Alderpoint the whole way?
Click to expand...
dyerville loop is unpaved. Zenia is just as special as Alderpoint.
 
NorCal Factory said:
I’m headed that way this weekend in a SuperDuke GT.
I have been on Alrderpoint years ago. It was a chore avoiding rim bends. Going from Garberville would talking Dyerville loop to Ft Steward to Xenia to Mad River be worse than just taking Alderpoint the whole way?
Click to expand...
For the HoHo Rally last weekend I did Alderpoint Rd., Zenia Bluff Rd., and Van Duzen Rd. through to 36 on the Tuono. Super fun but real potential for a rim bend if you're not paying attention. Also a few short sections of unpaved road. Totally worth the almost empty 36. Not the worst road I've ridden but you do need your wits about you.
 
Thanks guys! Sorry to have missed the HoHo ride. Bad timing for other things and I came down sick anyway.
That’s the way we will go. I always wanted to see Ruth as a few pilot friends have landed there many times. There was mention on the county road conditions website saying they might open up 36 today but even if they do there are too many one way penalty boxes. That route seems to bypass most.
I put some Dunlop Mutant tires on, as the higher performance tires have far less tread for dirt roads and I think are thinner and have a higher risk of punctures as they wear out on bad roads.
 
NorCal Factory said:
Thanks guys! Sorry to have missed the HoHo ride. Bad timing for other things and I came down sick anyway.
That’s the way we will go. I always wanted to see Ruth as a few pilot friends have landed there many times. There was mention on the county road conditions website saying they might open up 36 today but even if they do there are too many one way penalty boxes. That route seems to bypass most.
I put some Dunlop Mutant tires on, as the higher performance tires have far less tread for dirt roads and I think are thinner and have a higher risk of punctures as they wear out on bad roads.
Click to expand...
I run Mutants on my SMR and absolutely LOVE them!!! So long as you pay attention you should be fine. I will say that taking Alderpoint to Zenia or Hoaglin might be a nice idea. You can get gas in Kettenpom, should you need it, although I am not 100% sure they will have premium. Their little store is nice, and you may be ready for a break at that point. There is also fuel near Ruth Lake.

If I remember correctly, Hoaglin was goaty but not AS bad as Zenia. Do expect some rough patches, no matter your route.

Have fun!

Possible route
 
two wheel tramp said:
I run Mutants on my SMR and absolutely LOVE them!!! So long as you pay attention you should be fine. I will say that taking Alderpoint to Zenia or Hoaglin might be a nice idea. You can get gas in Kettenpom, should you need it, although I am not 100% sure they will have premium. Their little store is nice, and you may be ready for a break at that point. There is also fuel near Ruth Lake.

If I remember correctly, Hoaglin was goaty but not AS bad as Zenia. Do expect some rough patches, no matter your route.

Have fun!

Possible route
Click to expand...
Thanks! The Alps have nothing on Hwys 36 and 3 and 96! I have the Mutants on for camping off dirt roads. Maybe even FS #1 which has its share of potholes but incredible views on the ridge.
 
Fri SJC via Hwy 1 Garberville, Sat Hwy 36 and 3 to Yreka ( Etna is preferred but sold out for a music event), Sun Hwy 96 Happy Camp, Hoopa- Willow Creek then decide how we feel. From there sometimes it’s back to Weaverville then 3-36 to Garberville, or go via 299 -1 past Eureka to Ferndale to Matole road again to Garberville. I was thinking of maby taking backroads east of Eureka if they are paved like Korbel, Maple Creek road and some or all Kneeland to 36 or Pickle Hill road to Kneeland to Wrigley or something. If you know if they are paved or not or super goaty it would be nice. I don’t want 20 miles of dirt roads for this trip.
 
NorCal Factory said:
Fri SJC via Hwy 1 Garberville, Sat Hwy 36 and 3 to Yreka ( Etna is preferred but sold out for a music event), Sun Hwy 96 Happy Camp, Hoopa- Willow Creek then decide how we feel. From there sometimes it’s back to Weaverville then 3-36 to Garberville, or go via 299 -1 past Eureka to Ferndale to Matole road again to Garberville. I was thinking of maby taking backroads east of Eureka if they are paved like Korbel, Maple Creek road and some or all Kneeland to 36 or Pickle Hill road to Kneeland to Wrigley or something. If you know if they are paved or not or super goaty it would be nice. I don’t want 20 miles of dirt roads for this trip.
Click to expand...
have you ever ridden greyback out of happy camp? or taken bald hill road out of weitchpec?

i can check with a friend from mckinleyville about those other roads. i dont know 100%. i’m pretty sure kneeland is unpaved for at least a ways.

maybe @Lonster knows?
 
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Kneeland is paved from the West End up over the top to where the fork in the road is by the airport. After that, you only get a couple of Switchback Corners before it turns to hard pack dirt, and then it will be dirt all the way down to Bridgeville or if you turn left to go back north. Either way, it can be traveled with regular tires, but it would be more comfortable and safe with some sort of Dual Sport type of tire. Beautiful Vistas and scenery too.
 
two wheel tramp said:
have you ever ridden greyback out of happy camp? or taken bald hill road out of weitchpec?

i can check with a friend from mckinleyville about those other roads. i dont know 100%. i’m pretty sure kneeland is unpaved for at least a ways.

maybe @Lonster knows?
Click to expand...
Bald Hill Rd is goaty from 101 to the top of the ridge, but has some incredible views.
And there is an approximate 5 mile section of dirt. I did it on a Tiger 1050 with Pirelli sportbile tires. But the payoff the section from dirt, down to the Klamath River.

Mark
 
mheinee said:
Bald Hill Rd is goaty from 101 to the top of the ridge, but has some incredible views.
And there is an approximate 5 mile section of dirt. I did it on a Tiger 1050 with Pirelli sportbile tires. But the payoff the section from dirt, down to the Klamath River.

Mark
Click to expand...
it’s fully paved as of last fall.
 
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