Downieville Trails, Gold Lake camping, July 17-21, 2014

Discussion in 'West – California, the desert southwest & whatever' started by catfish, May 20, 2014.

  1. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    July 17-21, 4 Days of Downieville Singletrack! :clap

    Planning to camp at elevation in the Gold Lake area. I like cool evenings. Who knows which campground would
    be best for some shade & an afternoon swim?

    Most singletrack would be challenging for a large adv-bike, but there are MANY forest roads in the area also.

    Example's of blue-rectangle & black-diamond singletrack are below.


    <iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ng810a_Xgrc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    <iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8v_Ll35LN7g?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    <iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bEuzwfdV2Ug?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


    That's 3 of MANY Downieville trails! :ricky

    So, who wants to ride some cool singletrack & celebrate someone's 60th birthday? :freaky



    Catfish ...
    #1
  2. K. L. Rocket

    K. L. Rocket Big bouncy make big happy

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    Sardine Campground

    Sardine Lake Resort

    Sardine Lake
    [​IMG]
    http://analoggirlworld.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/campground-review-sardine-lake/

    Sand Pond
    [​IMG]
    http://kevingong.com/Hiking/200709SandPond.html

    <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=s_d&amp;saddr=Sardine+Lake+Resort,+Sardine+Lake+Road,+Sierra+City,+CA&amp;daddr=Sand+Pond,+Sierra+County,+CA+to:Sardine+Campground,+County+Route+S620,+Sierra+City,+CA&amp;geocode=Ff6AXAIdsWrP-CG8JUwnMkWPFinLSjbdYHGcgDG8JUwnMkWPFg%3BFcWAXAId2XXP-Ck9Dh9qYHGcgDELKZK7i165OA%3BFc6TXAIdr47P-CGFxArM8UoWgynHqxa63nOcgDGFxArM8UoWgw&amp;aq=0&amp;oq=sand+&amp;sll=39.614846,-120.62645&amp;sspn=0.01286,0.027466&amp;hl=en&amp;mra=ls&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;ll=39.619978,-120.617512&amp;spn=0.005347,0.013541&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=embed&amp;saddr=Sardine+Lake+Resort,+Sardine+Lake+Road,+Sierra+City,+CA&amp;daddr=Sand+Pond,+Sierra+County,+CA+to:Sardine+Campground,+County+Route+S620,+Sierra+City,+CA&amp;geocode=Ff6AXAIdsWrP-CG8JUwnMkWPFinLSjbdYHGcgDG8JUwnMkWPFg%3BFcWAXAId2XXP-Ck9Dh9qYHGcgDELKZK7i165OA%3BFc6TXAIdr47P-CGFxArM8UoWgynHqxa63nOcgDGFxArM8UoWgw&amp;aq=0&amp;oq=sand+&amp;sll=39.614846,-120.62645&amp;sspn=0.01286,0.027466&amp;hl=en&amp;mra=ls&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;ll=39.619978,-120.617512&amp;spn=0.005347,0.013541" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
    #2
  3. CRW

    CRW I dont want a pickle

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    I have always camped on the western side of the lake accessed from the south , but you need 4 wheel drive to get in....
    Shade all day.
    #3
  4. 1224R

    1224R Long timer

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    Ain't gonna lie looks like a hoot....
    #4
  5. 1224R

    1224R Long timer

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    Catfish, if we got camping near awesome swimming like the pics I am going to run this by the wife.... That's her jam as far as camping goes... Man I love it up there.... So beautiful.
    #5
  6. SFMCjohn

    SFMCjohn 13

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    Hey Catfish,

    Don't know about single-track but swimming, campfire and birthday celebration
    in the mountains sounds EPIC! :clap

    got the dates penciled in! :ricky
    -- SFMCjohn
    #6
  7. fletch123

    fletch123 Long timer

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    Are you tent camping or rv ? If your tent camping with a 4x4 there is a great spot to camp next to Tamarack lakes. Google earth it and you will see it. It has some section on the road up to it that put a stock 4x4 to it limit, but I believe it is doable and there are some cool spots along Gold lake that also require some serious wheeling in spots. Otherwise the regular rv spots just in from the highway on Gold Lake are not bad.

    Forget Sandpond to crowded and the campground is not right next to the pond. I live in Truckee so this is my backyard so I just might bring the boys by to sing you happy birthday.
    #7
  8. tarripn

    tarripn Adventurer

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    Thats a 'dirty' trick luring in a fellow biker with a see what yur gona miss video clip! So what are you EXACT dates... May have to RIDE the fucker there if no other options or girlfriends! Haha Looks awesome! And that was the first vid! Ken Tarripn
    #8
  9. K. L. Rocket

    K. L. Rocket Big bouncy make big happy

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    Evening soak...

    Sierra Hot Springs


    [​IMG]
    http://www.trailerlife.com/rv-trailer-news/hot-springs-spas-are-the-perfect-place-for-rvers/


    [​IMG]
    http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sier...k3vEqfJzzmZXyzvKznyclA#qP0Wl9KRfZr_9fYLRp7Z6g


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  10. joefromsf

    joefromsf Dark Happens Supporter

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    Subscribed. Going to keep an eye on this. Sounds like fun, except for that singletrack stuff. :lol3
    #10
  11. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    Whooa! Look at the replies!



    Nice looking swim holes! :clap That would be an expensive CG for 4-5 nights! :eek1 Shame the CG is not near the water!



    And that's right at the water! Thanks for the suggestion!


    Its a gorgeous area I've ridden thru (street ride) for years. Never could get my local riding buddies to drive this far north to ride dirt. Its time!

    I want to camp NEXT to a lake that I will swim in after riding each day. Many nice lakes up there that I've not camped at, so that's why I'm asking who knows the area.

    Too busy today to get to the rest of the replies. I'll get to those tomorrow!


    Catfish ...
    #11
  12. K. L. Rocket

    K. L. Rocket Big bouncy make big happy

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    A two bird/track alternative:


    Henness Pass


    Mendodave's RR: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=630994


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    #12
  13. joefromsf

    joefromsf Dark Happens Supporter

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    Hi Sharon,

    Been on Henness Pass Rd many times, along with a lot of other fun stuff in TNF between 80 & 49. However, very little north of 49 yet.

    Have been wanting to check out the 4WD accessible campsites along Gold Lake.
    #13
  14. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    Good luck losing the eraser on that pencil John! :wink:



    Thanks for your local info! I'll probably tent camp instead of brining my trailer. Tamarack Lakes look
    VERY COOL in GE! Probably no pit toilets back there, huh? We may just go to the Gold Lake CG so
    everyone who wants to come are not limited with vehicle choices to camp.

    I look forward to meeting you & your singing boys! :lol3



    Hi Ken! I KNEW you would be hooked on the 1st video! :evil I'll drive up on Wednesday (16th) or
    Thursday (17th) morning at the latest. I want to ride at least 3 days, and maybe 4! :ricky I'll
    probably break camp & drive home on Monday ... UNLESS someone else wants to stay longer
    & ride Monday also! :clap


    Catfish ...
    #14
  15. visualizerent

    visualizerent Raconteur

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    Hey! "I know that dude...." that's me! (chimney rock vid)

    Here's another one of my 'award winning' videos of the local trails....

    World Class Singletrack, Downieville CA.

    http://youtu.be/0TJpjLc_Qeo


    Lets light this candle! All 60 of 'em!
    i can't think of a better way to celebrate. I hope I'm able to at 60

    subscribed, see you there.
    Juan
    Nevada City
    #15
  16. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    Nice find Sharon! :clap We'll look at some DS routes to there & back! :ricky Are you going to join us?


    There are more COOL-ASS DS routes in the area than you can cover in 3-4 days. For example ...



    Just off Henness Pass Road is Forest City & its old Dance Hall. I'll provide some cool waypoints in a couple of weeks.


    Catfish ...
    #16
  17. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    Juan, THANKS for the great videos! :clap I like that Baja video also.
    We were down there riding Bill Nichols singletrack in March also! I noticed that kkug
    character in a photo. Say Hi! to Ken for me. Do you ever get him this far north for a ride?

    It would be GREAT to meet & ride with you. I hope you can make it!

    Catfish ...
    #17
  18. catfish

    catfish Squidicus Adventurous Supporter

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    #18
  19. K. L. Rocket

    K. L. Rocket Big bouncy make big happy

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    Hope to. Let us know where you'll be after you get a campground reservation, or if you decide to try for a lakeside dispersed campsite.

    I've fly fished a lot around there, but would like to check out the Sierra Buttes Lookout:

    [​IMG]
    http://russmease.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-85-sierra-buttes-fire-tower.html

    [​IMG]
    http://johnklebes.blogspot.com/2012/07/mon-july-30th-sierra-buttes-lookout.html

    [​IMG]
    http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/downieville-sierra-buttes-lookout-tower-729799.html

    [​IMG]
    http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sier...BjXBtB7uMVst7VfHjLyd3Q#6Vl_o-thzLpmzSM1DYMN4w

    [​IMG]
    http://kevingong.com/Hiking/SierraButtes.html

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  20. mongox

    mongox ARRRRGH!!!

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    I am assuming that all the single track is open to green stickered bikes. Do you know if there is access from the camp ground to the trails for a stickered bike? I wants to get my new wr450f out for some nice sierra trail riding.
    #20