Closest good single track

[karadragon]

Hi,

I am interested in hitting up some single track but am new to the area and not sure where the closest decent trails are when it comes to single track near San Jose. I have been to Hollister and Metcalf.

 

[stangz]

For closeness, those are your best options. Carnegie is sligtly further away. If you are willing to drive further then your options are cow mountain, stonyford, middle creek, penny pines. All of those are up north and will be 3-4 hours for you. Technically doable for a day trip but more time in the truck than riding. Note: those places are definitely much harder than Hollister or metcalf. Hollister/metcalf blacks are the others easy blues. So be careful.

On a different note, you should come out to the stonybarf weekend in stonyford. Look for details in the stonybarf 8 tread.

 

[karadragon]

yea...

That's a shame My offroad experience has been mostly single track so the gnarlier it gets, the more interesting it is for me. I used to live an hour away from good single track in the forest. I don't have a truck or car, my only means of transportation is my DS so 3-4 hour rides one way are a stretch if it's for one day. I am good with deep sand, ruts, rocks, but I really have a passion for good flowy single track. Was just recently checking out the trails leading from 130 to 152 and am not sure what to make of that. Anyone know anything about that area?

 

[Butch]

I have lived at the bottom of 130 for a long time and do not know of any legal routes to 152.

The closest singletrack is the Fingers etcetera at Metcalf anf Troll Trail at Hollister. I guess Carnegie is a little closer than Hollister, but I don't know my way around there very well.

 

[OaklandF4i]

Its the drawback of living in a large metropolitan area.... There isnt any real legal single track in the bay area on public land close to you other than Carnegie, Metcalf, and Hollister. Its not that folks are keeping it secret... there just isnt any now like there was 30 years ago. As already mentioned, Hollister has the Renz property and Troll. Both Carnegie and Metcalf have a little bit, but not a ton.

If you want real challenging stuff, Cow Mtn up north more than just about any other place. Middlecreek/Penny Pines, or Stonyford are good too as is Foresthill. But Cow has the most challenging IMO. Most folks make a weekend of it when travelling to these places.

Get a motel in Lakeport for a wknd and I'd be happy to show you around Cow Mtn or Middlecreek/Penny Pines sometime. Both are within 15 minutes of Lakeport. :thumbup

 

[byke]

Barf Cow trip please CJ!

 

[OaklandF4i]

Barf Cow trip please CJ!

I'm thinking about it Mike..... after the rains subside and before it gets hot in July. Camping isnt great at Cow and big campers rvs are pretty tough to get up the Mtn... leaving only the west side thats got a water crossing to get in through (with all this rain... no beuno) and no facilities on west side. Camping is nice, and cool at Penny Pines but getting a big RV up there... leaving the bottom at Middlecreek. Camping is good but the ride up Sled Ridge might leave more than a few folks cursing me...... I think its a no brainer..... but some folks find it to be too much. :ride

I've got to figure out my schedule for the next few months. A couple of Harescrambes, StonyBarf, a Trials event (going to be my first - fat old circus bear on a tiny bike is how I envision it going), trip to JawBone next month.... just got to fit it all in.

Will figure it out. Perhaps smaller group might make logistics easier. If we stage out of Lakeport or its only a few folks crashing at the Chateau de Redneck... could be an epic wknd riding both areas.

 

[byke]

As long as I can get the 'burb in, I'm good, but I see the quandary. Is there easier stuff accessible from Middlecreek? As in, if the ride up Sled Ridge is too much, will folks still have an easier area to ride, or do you pretty much have to head up the ridge to get to anything?

Where's that trials event at?

 

[karadragon]

Thanks OaklandF4i, would be great to do a quick trip. Let me know if you are planning something.

If anyone is thinking of doing some single track during the week let me know, I may be up for it. Haven't checked out Renz property yet

Butch, I found an open gate without any trespassing/private signs East of the observatory that leads to some double track. Not sure what to make of that, but on google maps those roads lead down to 152. Plenty of area to ride unless someone starts shooting

 

[Mistico]

Of the local ones(Hollister, Carnegie, Metcalf), Carnegie will have the most challenging trails. The one catch is that you need to know where they are or look for them. I rode there a lot before hooking up with a group of guys that have been going there for 25+ years and they know every little trail. They are not marked and some you can't even see the entrance. It gave a new perspective on what Carnegie has to offer.

Now if you can hook up with someone with a truck, go to other places mentioned above. You'll have even more options once the snow melts.

 

[OaklandF4i]

As long as I can get the 'burb in, I'm good, but I see the quandary. Is there easier stuff accessible from Middlecreek? As in, if the ride up Sled Ridge is too much, will folks still have an easier area to ride, or do you pretty much have to head up the ridge to get to anything?

Where's that trials event at?

Lots of good flowing single track for all abilities up the ridge at Penny Pines, but no real way to get there without a plated bike other than Sled Ridge from the Middle Creek campground. I ride it as part of my solo cruise loop midweek on occasion to dust off the cobwebs. But I have also witnessed first hand some complete meltdowns on it with new folks riding it. I'm told I am a terrible judge of difficulty..... and trying to learn that. :laughing

There are a couple of Trials events over the next month. Copperopolis 3/4, and Prairie City 3/18. I should have the TLR200 project done this coming week... but not sure I can shake it down before Copperopolis. So Prairie City is most likely weather permitting. Hate to drive all that way and not actually have shaken down the bike. let alone never riding a trials bike before. :x Should be some good humor.

The TLR should be fine for a novice like me doing easy line twin shock trials. If I take to it I'll get cracking on the Beta 250 Techno project in the garage. Or mod the hell out of the TLR. Some folks go crazy with these vintage twin shock trials bikes. I'm trying to keep mine simple, fun, and cheap to see if I even enjoy it. Plus its a great bike for folks to learn on when visiting me or riding through neighbors back yards when the sheriff tries to take my Jager away - so win win. :ride

Got put some thought into the Cow Mtn or Penny Pines thing. Cow Mtn really is the place for folks looking for a challenge. Just have to have the right group and circumstances.

Thanks OaklandF4i, would be great to do a quick trip. Let me know if you are planning something.

If anyone is thinking of doing some single track during the week let me know, I may be up for it. Haven't checked out Renz property yet

Butch, I found an open gate without any trespassing/private signs East of the observatory that leads to some double track. Not sure what to make of that, but on google maps those roads lead down to 152. Plenty of area to ride unless someone starts shooting

If we do a Barf ride at Cow, it will be posted. Otherwise, PM me. Happy to ride during the week anytime. Wknds need planning further out.....

Of the local ones(Hollister, Carnegie, Metcalf), Carnegie will have the most challenging trails. The one catch is that you need to know where they are or look for them. I rode there a lot before hooking up with a group of guys that have been going there for 25+ years and they know every little trail. They are not marked and some you can't even see the entrance. It gave a new perspective on what Carnegie has to offer.

Now if you can hook up with someone with a truck, go to other places mentioned above. You'll have even more options once the snow melts.

So true.... it was my main riding area for a number of years and can make Hollister seem like kindergarten. Especially if you enjoy stuff that does up AND down. :thumbup

 

[HadesOmega]

I'm not a big fan of singletrack but if you can make it out to Stonyford, it has some pretty good ones and easy ones also. If you can make it out there there's some good ones. My little kids bike eats them up for breakfast. I dare not do it on my DR650. You're the opposite of me I shy away from the tough stuff haha.

Here's my favorite singletrack at Stonyford this is a green trail

youtu.be/ppcTtneg_i0

We rode this one last year this is a blue trail at Stonyford

youtu.be/hYaJBtki4PM

I don't even want to try a black diamond singtrack at stony...

 

[Butch]

I have not ridden Frank Raines! Next week if it dries up!

 

[elemetal]

There are a couple of Trials events over the next month. Copperopolis 3/4, and Prairie City 3/18. I should have the TLR200 project done this coming week... but not sure I can shake it down before Copperopolis. So Prairie City is most likely weather permitting. Hate to drive all that way and not actually have shaken down the bike. let alone never riding a trials bike before. Should be some good humor.

I'll be up there as will undertheoaks and the toecutter. Would be fun to see you out at an event, you'll have a great time. The Copperopolis event is the first of the year, lots of folks show up and you can sign up with PITS for the year ($40 or $50), you need an AMA card too. It may be wet (rainy), was last year which made it a real blast. Even if you don't compete there's a pretty big area to play around and you can see what folks are riding. Many get a hotel in Angels' camp then drive 15 mi to Copper for the event.

Prairie city is good as they have lots of logs but I think Copper is a better ride. Event at Carr is the third and maybe closer to you, it's just outside of Chrome and absolutely beautiful.

Come say "hi" if you make it up; I'll look for the white rig in your avatar.

 

[2strokeYardSale]

I've got to figure out my schedule for the next few months. A couple of Harescrambes, StonyBarf, a Trials event (going to be my first - fat old circus bear on a tiny bike is how I envision it going), trip to JawBone next month.... just got to fit it all in.

<cough>Moonrocks<cough>Pineapple<cough>

 

[karadragon]

I have not ridden Frank Raines! Next week if it dries up!

I have been there but not ridden there. All I saw was some double track. Is there any good single track there? I may be up for it either way next week. Let me know if you are heading that way.

 

[karadragon]

Hey,

Thanks for sharing those videos, it gave me a good idea of what to expect. I am kind of looking for some tighter single track if possible. Below are some examples of the stuff I like:

I would consider this to be good challenging single track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TFk7jwgmLg

This is the kind of relaxing fun riding I enjoy:
https://youtu.be/ZmIHTHWRvDg?t=13s


Anything similar to this around here?

I'm not a big fan of singletrack but if you can make it out to Stonyford, it has some pretty good ones and easy ones also. If you can make it out there there's some good ones. My little kids bike eats them up for breakfast. I dare not do it on my DR650. You're the opposite of me I shy away from the tough stuff haha.

Here's my favorite singletrack at Stonyford this is a green trail

youtu.be/ppcTtneg_i0

We rode this one last year this is a blue trail at Stonyford

youtu.be/hYaJBtki4PM

I don't even want to try a black diamond singtrack at stony...

 

[Butch]

Frank Raines Map
http://www.stancounty.com/parks/pdf/frank-raines-ohv-trail-map.pdf

 

[karadragon]

Thanks Butch, looks like it could be a fun day. Hope those trails are 1 way only. Wouldn't want to meet a buggie coming around the corner head-on at 60mph :laughing

 

[thedub]

I'm not a big fan of singletrack...

Then in that second video you posted:

This is fun!

Whooohooo!

This is fun, like it!

Yeehaww!

That was fun!...

I think you might, in fact, be a fan of singletrack.