what are you favorite fire roads?

[Dante]

subscribed

 

[MotoMatthew]

Subscribed..and in SF if any of you want to get out and dual sport. I only take my RXV to Carnegie and Hollister so far. Wouldn't mind doing a real "dual-sport" ride. Although my butt would be hurting on that seat!

 

[newrider2]

Not really a fire road, but I drove some great dirt roads around the Carrizo Plain this week. Elkhorn Grade Rd is just a mile or so west of Maricopa off 33/166, and connects you after a few miles to Soda Lake Rd, which runs all the way up to 58 (50 miles or so), and is dirt most of the way. Some nice switchbacks on Elkhorn Grade, got to practice my [lack of] autocross skills...

There are lots of side dirt spurs you can drive, ride, but watch the signs carefully, there are rangers frickin everywhere. And the flowers! Jesus...

Google

 

[fasteddie_rr]

Mammoth Bar, Auburn CA. - Turn right off hwy 80 onto Auburn/Foresthill Road, go approximately 2 miles, turn right on Old Foresthill Road and follow to entrance. 1,200 acres (hills), No. Fees. Open year round, Hours: Winter; 8am-5pm, Summer; 8am-8pm. Temperature: Winter; 30°-68°, Summer; 80°-100° Auburn State Recreation Area, P.O. Box 3266, Auburn CA 95604, (530) 885-5821 or (916) 885-4527. MC,

Loved this area as a kid and it is still fun.

 

[Lovedoc]

White Rock Road out of Le Grand opens up miles of southwestern Mariposa County gravel and dirt roads meandering through the foothills. Lots of pasture, forest, creeks, wildlife even the ghosts of the miners if you stay too late on a summer night.

No gates no fees, no traffic, a house or two, that's about it

 

[9rPilot]

Have any of you tried Coast Ridge Road, Coast Ridge Trail, Lost Valley Creek, North Coast Trail above Big Sur (Tees off of Hwy1 before Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd)?

Coords: 36.12725 -121.55300 (then zoom out to see the connecting roads)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...21.549896&sspn=0.011352,0.018861&ie=UTF8&z=16

I rode up there with TomD from Moore and Sons KTM a while back and I was more focused on trying to keep up then where we actually were... I know it was a great route along that ridge. I think this is (part of) it.

 

[GAJ]

Cavedale Road from Sonoma to Trinity Road, which then connects to the Oakville Grade which drops down to 29 in the Napa Valley.

A reasonable amount of traffic to be ready for on this often 1 lane only pockmarked road.

 

[flying_hun]

Cavedale Road from Sonoma to Trinity Road, which then connects to the Oakville Grade which drops down to 29 in the Napa Valley.

A reasonable amount of traffic to be ready for on this often 1 lane only pockmarked road.

Paved or not?

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[9rPilot]

Paved or not?

My experience with Google Maps is if it is yellow, it's paved. If it's gray then its dirt/gravel. Now, only if Google would show if it's gated or not... that would be useful.

This particular road, I do not have first hand knowledge.

 

[GAJ]

Paved or not?

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Well, what passes for paving on Sonoma County back roads...only 3 times worse!

So yeah, paved...mostly one way wide...with 2 way traffic and, at times, sloooooooooooooow bicycles chugging uphill.

Some beautiful views...you can see the Bay.

 

[ntula]

Very few dirt roads around here that are legal to ride on. But if anyone posts about any that I don't know about, I'm now subscribed...

As soon as it warms up a bit more, I plan to take some regular trips across the Central Valley to the Sierra foothills to ride some of the dirt roads there. Anybody with a dual sport would be welcome to join me in exploring those rodes.

yes, very good point. i found out from a local rancher i was asking directions to a fire road which was on a google map showing it like a regular goat trail, to be careful when the fire gates are left open and not to think they are open for non-emergency usage just because the gates are open. he also told me it was a $5000 fine and he knew of numerous persons who got tickets for using them when the gates were open. he was speaking mainly of cars, but it is the same law for any motorized vehicle.

so usage of these roads may vary depending on the county you are in and the designation of the land. some blm land it legal to ride on and it will be posted usually what is permitted and if it is not, you are probably in a remote enough location that it is fine.. but check first when you plan your ride.. iron gates suck and most of them make it so you cannot get a moto around them and have to turn back... , but state and nat parks, you are asking for an expensive day ride, as there will almost always be a sign telling you not to do what you are thinking..

google maps you can sometimes zoom in the sat view to see if the road is paved and sometimes even see if it is gated if it is off a main road doing the street view. i usually use a big atlas when planning rides to remote locations on unpaved roads. it will show elevation, seasonal access info, and type of road.

 

[HiggyB]

Cavedale Road from Sonoma to Trinity Road, which then connects to the Oakville Grade which drops down to 29 in the Napa Valley.

A reasonable amount of traffic to be ready for on this often 1 lane only pockmarked road.

I lived on Trinity Road for a few years (7th grade through end of high school) and spent those years going up Trinity then down Cavedale to ride my dirt bikes (motos) "into town" (down in/near Agua Caliente) to blast through vineyards and shit with friends.

Cavedale is paved with lots of goaty/rough spots, often with only one lane, but it's worth a ride if you have the time and inclination.

 

[boney]

yes, very good point. i found out from a local rancher i was asking directions to a fire road which was on a google map showing it like a regular goat trail, to be careful when the fire gates are left open and not to think they are open for non-emergency usage just because the gates are open. he also told me it was a $5000 fine and he knew of numerous persons who got tickets for using them when the gates were open. he was speaking mainly of cars, but it is the same law for any motorized vehicle.

so usage of these roads may vary depending on the county you are in and the designation of the land. some blm land it legal to ride on and it will be posted usually what is permitted and if it is not, you are probably in a remote enough location that it is fine.. but check first when you plan your ride.. iron gates suck and most of them make it so you cannot get a moto around them and have to turn back... , but state and nat parks, you are asking for an expensive day ride, as there will almost always be a sign telling you not to do what you are thinking..

google maps you can sometimes zoom in the sat view to see if the road is paved and sometimes even see if it is gated if it is off a main road doing the street view. i usually use a big atlas when planning rides to remote locations on unpaved roads. it will show elevation, seasonal access info, and type of road.

An open gate is an open road unless otherwise posted.

 

[GAJ]

I lived on Trinity Road for a few years (7th grade through end of high school) and spent those years going up Trinity then down Cavedale to ride my dirt bikes (motos) "into town" (down in/near Agua Caliente) to blast through vineyards and shit with friends.

Cavedale is paved with lots of goaty/rough spots, often with only one lane, but it's worth a ride if you have the time and inclination.

Ever get into any "situations" on those challenging roads?

I'm guessing that training was invaluable for you and resulted in a quick ascent of the learning curve.

 

[HiggyB]

Ever get into any "situations" on those challenging roads?

Being as I started riding Cavedale on my Yamaha MX80 (first dirt bike!) at the ripe old age of 12 (1983), yeah, I survived more than a few "situations". I did brave Trinity road a few times but that always drew the wrong attention. Nobody on Cavedale cared about me scootin' along, but folks on Trinity didn't like me zippin' up and down the road and everyone on that hill knows each other so I'd get home and find my folks waiting and pissed off.

I'm guessing that training was invaluable for you and resulted in a quick ascent of the learning curve.

I learned a *lot* in those first months/years of riding various dirt bikes in that area.