ADV/DS ride Lake Berryessa/Knoxville OHV/Rayhouse Rd.

Cabrito

cabrón
Thanks Bill, Looks like the east side of 16 right. This isn't part of the usual ADV ride so I was confused.

Looks like a fun road though!
 

GB500guy

Well-known member
Is there a gate at the Arbuckle entrance as well? Btw, I just love your ride reports, so inspiring, makes me want to go investigate right now!

There never used to be a gate at the Arbuckle end but there might be one now since the washout. Someone needs to find out!

-Bill
 

johnkol

Well-known member
That gate went up after the really wet spring of 2018, not sure how bad it is. I was tempted to go around the right side where that concrete pillar is leaned over, but decided not to.

I was tempted to go around too, basically treating it like the eastern entrance of Reiff Rd, but eventually decided against it.

In your report you take Sand Creek Rd all the way to Arbuckle; isn't it possible to turn left on Green Rd instead, then take Spring Valley Rd to end up on Walnut Dr?
 

GB500guy

Well-known member
I was tempted to go around too, basically treating it like the eastern entrance of Reiff Rd, but eventually decided against it.

In your report you take Sand Creek Rd all the way to Arbuckle; isn't it possible to turn left on Green Rd instead, then take Spring Valley Rd to end up on Walnut Dr?

No actually I took Sand Creek to Cortina School Rd then a couple more jogs to end up on Walnut Rd, then crossed 20 to start Leesville Rd. (Click the map link in the ride report)

-Bill
 
Last edited:

johnkol

Well-known member
No actually I took Sand Creek to Cortina School Rd then a couple more jogs to end up on Walnut Rd, then crossed 20 to start Leesville Rd.

Yeah, I used "Arbuckle" for Cortina School Rd.

About a mile after Rd41 merges with Sand Creek Rd, there is a split on the road where one can continue right onto Sand Creek Rd (and end up on Cortina School Rd), or go left onto Green Rd, then after a couple of miles another left on Spring Valley Rd, which ends up on Walnut Dr.
 

GB500guy

Well-known member
Yeah, I used "Arbuckle" for Cortina School Rd.

About a mile after Rd41 merges with Sand Creek Rd, there is a split on the road where one can continue right onto Sand Creek Rd (and end up on Cortina School Rd), or go left onto Green Rd, then after a couple of miles another left on Spring Valley Rd, which ends up on Walnut Dr.

Yeah, the local Indian tribe has bought lots of land in that area and has closed off Spring Valley Rd so that is not an option anymore.

-Bill
 

johnkol

Well-known member
Yeah, the local Indian tribe has bought lots of land in that area and has closed off Spring Valley Rd so that is not an option anymore.

That's too bad.

I presume that Rd57 that starts from Guinda, moves N/NE, meets Sills Rd, and terminates at Wyer Rd SE of Arbuckle is equally blocked at both ends?
 

GB500guy

Well-known member
That's too bad.

I presume that Rd57 that starts from Guinda, moves N/NE, meets Sills Rd, and terminates at Wyer Rd SE of Arbuckle is equally blocked at both ends?

Rd. 57 is private and gated right after the Vernon Nichols County Park at cache creek bridge, not a county road but might have been at one time.

-Bill
 

johnkol

Well-known member
Rd. 57 is private and gated right after the Vernon Nichols County Park at cache creek bridge, not a county road but might have been at one time.

So it seems that Knoxville OHV and Reiff Rd are the only off-road trails one can find south of Hwy 20 these days?
 
Semi-related. Should one end up it lower lake, is there a way to get into Knoxville directly-ish from there without backtracking along Morgan Valley Road? I see roads that look plausible on maps, but I can't tell if I'll run into fences / gates. Adding a loop here is probably too good to be true.
 
have been paying attention to ride reports for that area for a long time, and I've never seen a report that people were able to make that loop.

which does not mean it can't be done ... guess it's one of those have-to-go-see deals. was having a campfire convo w/ someone recently who was telling me it could be done, from the road that leads down from the southern Knoxville BLM entrance, I think ... :dunno

anyway, not a righteous county road way to get from Morgan Valley to Knoxville that I know of from Hwy 29/Hidden Valley ... :blah
 
Yeah, seems like the way to do it would be to do camp a few nights at Knoxville and spend the days exploring with the expectation of lots of back tracking. Not the worst way to spend a long weekend I suppose!
 

D408

Active member
I just moved to the napa area and want to get on some dirt. If anybody is interested in doing this ride let me know. Im on a DR650.
 

dtrides

Well-known member
I am wanting to check out Knoxville ohv Park myself but will probably transport bike there as it is even less dual sport after I changed the gearing...lol
 

D408

Active member
I am wanting to check out Knoxville ohv Park myself but will probably transport bike there as it is even less dual sport after I changed the gearing...lol

I might be willing to meet out there sometime. Im actually considering selling the DR and moving to something more Enduro capable, and Knoxville will be my closest OHV area so I want to check it out before making the decision. When I lived further south there was a lot more DS options, and a lot of places that a plate was a necessity. Im not so sure thats the case up here any longer. Let me know if you want to check out Knoxville!
 

dtrides

Well-known member
Available most anytime as long as I have advanced notice..
I am about 1.5 hr away ( near Santa Rosa).
Waiting on my new boots but could wear my road boots for some light duty trail riding.
Shoot me a pm and we can exchange #'s if you like.
 
I'm definitely down to do this again with a little notice. DRZ could use a workout and it'd be fun to see what else Knoxville has to offer.

The ride from San Jose to Knoxville is a slog but you have Metcalf in your backyard. From SF Knoxville is definitely the closest and the ride is not bad, in fact Knoxille Berryessa rode is a blast on a dual sport.
 
Top