Mendocino National Forest weekend camping trip 11/18-11/20

[Izzy_C]

Hi y'all, welcome to the Mendocino National Forest weekend camping trip thread.

Two other riders and I plan on leaving early Friday morning (before 9AM? depends on some other riders) to get up there and set up camp before dark. Saturday will be mostly riding around trails and moving to the second camp ground.

If anyone knows some of the better trails or campgrounds up there, input is for sure appreciated.

I think a fun route would be to go 1 up to Jenner and then take 116 to 101. Another option is to continue on 1 to Fort Bragg and then cross over to 101 through Jackson State Forest on 20.

The smallest bike in the group is my KLX250S. We all have small first aid kits, and some tools along with our regular camping gear. I'm a noob, noobs are welcome, but so are experienced riders of course.

We are going to meet up at the Golden Gate bridge parking lot. This is the last exit before the bridge. Google maps link here.

There isn't a route set just yet.

 

[gurka]

coming

 

[dravnx]

A more phunner route is to slab it to Cloverdale on 101>128>1>Ft Bragg>Leggett>101

128 and the section of 1 from Ft. Bragg to Leggett will give you a woody if you like canyon carving.

 

[cloudy]

I've been up to Mendocino National Forest twice now. Definitely some good riding and camping up there!

My group included two Suzuki DL650s, a Triumph Tiger 800XC, a KTM 690 Enduro R, a Kawasaki KLR650, and a Yamaha WR250R.

Last time we went, we took Berryessa Knoxville Rd from Fairfield around Lake Berryessa to Lower Lake. We then went around the west side of Clear Lake to Upper Lake and took Co Rd 301 / Elk Mountain Rd into the national forest. Both Berryessa Knoxville Rd and Elk Mountain Rd are very scenic.

Once in the forest, there are tons of forest service roads and trails. There are designated camp grounds, but keep in mind that dispersed camping is allowed. We specifically camped in an elevated clearing off of Forest Rte 16N20 / Deer Valley Rd, not far off of Co Rd 301 / Elk Mountain Rd: Google Maps . This location is not too far from a vault toilet at Deer Creek Campground (by moto): Google Maps

Further north is Lake Pillsbury. There is a small air strip, designated camp grounds, and plenty of lake access on the north side. We went up around the west side on Co Rd 301D / Simmons Rd. Along this route is the Soda Creek Store, a little general store. They did not have gas when we last went through, but they did have food, water, and miscellaneous camp supplies: Google Maps

I'll post some additional locations if I figure out where they actually are.

I would recommend getting the OHV maps and the Motor Vehicle Use maps. These are available from the Forest Service office in Upper Lake: Google Maps. They were not open when we went through, so I called ahead and they offered to leave a set of the maps in the mailbox.

We have stopped for food at Renee's Cafe in Lakeport, Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake, and The Spot in Clearlake multiple times.

First image is from an overlook on Co Rd 301 / Elk Mountain Rd coming up from Upper Lake.
Second and third images are of the elevated clearing we camped in.
Fourth image is from Lake Pillsbury, between the lake and the south end of the air strip.
Fifth image is Lake Pillsbury.
Sixth image is a plane that was sitting at the air strip.
Seventh image is the damage to my engine guard skid plate after a single track trail got a little too technical.

Hope this help with your planning!

 

[oobus]

I may be heading across from Paskenta to Covelo this weekend. There has been snow in the last few weeks so I'm not sure if the pass is open or not, I'll find out.

Check weather conditions, as it can get cold this time of the year. If you are going as far as Fort Bragg, you MUST go to USAL beach. Had a great camp out there in August.

And gurka's camping name should be "hoser", or "penalty box".

 

[gurka]

Cloudy - thanks for that trip intel - will be of great help to us for sure!

Hoser is fine.

 

[NVR FNSH]

I think a fun route would be to go 1 up to Jenner and then take 116 to 101. Another option is to continue on 1 to Fort Bragg and then cross over to 101 through Jackson State Forest on 20.

Stewarts Point > Skaggs Springs Rd > Dry Creek Rd > Dutcher Creek Rd > 101.

Mountain View Rd from Point Arena to Boonville can be fun.

Hwy 1 from Fort Bragg to Leggett & Branscomb Rd from Hwy 1 to Laytonville are probably my favorite sections of road.

116 from Jenner to 101/Santa Rosa blows - I live in Santa Rosa.

 

[Izzy_C]

@cloudy, thanks for the write up. That is all very useful information for sure.

How did you guys manage the poor gas situation up there? You had a 250 with a small tank in your group... My bike also has a small 2gal tank, however I will be carrying another 2gal with me.

 

[SFMCjohn]

I've been up to Mendocino National Forest twice now. Definitely some good riding and camping up there!

Cool pics and great info about Mendo, cloudy, thanks! :ride
... there's also a cool watchtower
near the Deer Valley/Creek campground ... arty

 

[cloudy]

@cloudy, thanks for the write up. That is all very useful information for sure.

How did you guys manage the poor gas situation up there? You had a 250 with a small tank in your group... My bike also has a small 2gal tank, however I will be carrying another 2gal with me.

The WR may have had a larger tank on it at that point. I carry a 1 gal RotopaX, but have yet to need it. We filled up immediately before entering the forest and immediately after leaving. With the RotopaX and the ability to siphon gas from the larger tanks in an emergency, we were not particularly worried.

Another place in the forest that may have gas is Lake Pillsbury Resort, off Co Rd 301 / Elk Mountain Rd before the Soda Creek Store on Co Rd 301F / Kapronos Rd. They have a pump that requires a generator to be running. I think it is a seasonal thing.

I would not rely on either of the places I mentioned having gas or there being someone available to vend it.

 

[magyarbetyar]

You guys should take HWY 1 to Fish Rock Road to 128 to 253 to 101 then slab it north.

Ill be out of town that weekend

 

[wakked1]

Aww man, love this but can't make it, other plans for that weekend. Need to finish getting the Husky offroad-ized.

 

[oobus]

You guys still doing this? Looks like it may rain on my side of the costal range this weekend.

 

[gurka]

Yup - we are all set for Friday AM departure.

 

[budman]

Enjoy the ride / trip guys. :thumbup

Hope to see a pic or two to help inspire others to enjoy life like you are going too!! :ride

 

[gurka]

Thanks Budman - we plan to post pics as we go on Insta using this tag:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/advmendorun16/

 

[oobus]

Well? Are you dried out yet? Looks like lots and lots of rain on Sunday....

 

[budman]

Thanks Budman - we plan to post pics as we go on Insta using this tag:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/advmendorun16/

Well unfortunately not all of us are social media savvy.

Bummed to miss.. hope all was fun!

 

[Cabrito]

I think they might have aborted based on the instagram photos.. The few pictures looked wet...

 

[gurka]

Yup - we had to abort on Saturday. We got dumped on really bad and one of the guys got a lot of water in the tent. Got some decent pics from Friday's afternoon ride into the park. We decided it wasn't safe to try and camp up high with the imminent rain, so backtracked down to the camp site down at the entrance area. Was a very smart choice or we would have had a tough day Saturday getting out. We somehow ended up on a tight single-track Friday before turning back.

There's always another day...