Central Valley Dual Sport Rides more fun good times

I'm also interested to know if Whitaker Forest Road is open between Badger and Quail Flat if anyone knows.

Don't know if those particular roads are open but can offer up the Sherman Pass road our of Kernville was opened up and the road heading north through Johnsondale and Ponderosa and out Springville was opened on Friday by the County. Just a small amount of snow in the deeply shaded areas at 7,500 feet.

The spot in the picture is near Whiskey Falls which is just east of Bass Lake about right here https://goo.gl/maps/oecCiWmiktstucRg9

I checked the FB central valley group but didn't find anything. The forest service road report always just says that the gate up there closes in winter, but they never detail the opening dates. McKinley grove road to Wishon just opened on 5/1, and there isn't much snow back there at all....

I have seen somewhere that its passable now.

Whos riding where and when is the first shuteye BBQ ?

Memorial Day weekend Shuteye BBQ? I'm good for any one of those 3 days...

I'd hope shuteye is clear by then. Depends on the year. I remember one year on July 4 running into a big snow drift at the very top (right before the rock "steps") where we couldn't get thru! Other years I've had the big north-facing rock face near the top snowed in and impassable.

it will be im sure with all these people off they have broken track by now Im sure.

I just checked out black rock road on google and It looks awesome, I think I am going to try for memorial day weekend and maybe do some camping near the reservoir. is there primitive camping nearby? I don't really want to go in a campground.

I would be down to help out with a bbq. I just don't know where any of these trails are, im pretty new to the area.

There are many great dual sport dirt roads in the mountains east of Fresno heading north and south. Some of them you can connect to make one big loop. If you are new to the area, I would recommend carrying a forest service map and not rely completely on a GPS.

I like riding to Shuteye Peak fire lookout and then to Cattle Mountain in the same day. Makes for a great day ride with some amazing views. Shuteye is more challenging than Cattle Mountain but both reward you with great views. You can see the back side of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Gondola buildings from Cattle Mountain and Mt. Tom Fire lookout which is above Huntington Lake.

If you start in North Fork and do this loop, it is about 130 miles total. There are many dirt trails all over the Bass Lake area with many other options than this one loop.

Here is the route:

Love both places...

wrk2surf, great pictures.
2on2off, thanks for the insight. ill try and scout out the area this week.

Seems EVERYONE wants to bring a bike, quad or SXS up today. I saw at least 30 trucks in one trip thru town today. I foresee many accidents in the coming years with this trend of people picking up riding (and driving) in the Sierras.

Todays rainstorm should make riding perfect by the weekend. We've had an inch and half since last night. More forecasted. Guess I need to get my 450x rideable.

I can confirm that Shuteye is accessible from the front side and backside on a dirt bike. I was up there two days ago.

shawn..
@dzrtracin

You coming up or what ?

I'll be up there for TG once again Hopefully no snowout like last year, that was crazy!

Come up any time for a day or two this year bud.

FYI: As of 5/17/20: Whitaker Forest Road from Hartland to Quail Flat is open. Black Rock Road is open from the back of Pine Flat Lake to Wishon. Swamp Lake trail is closed with a sign saying it opens July 1st. Wishon store will open tomorrow, 5/21. Access to Courtright is closed but I have heard it will open soon, maybe tomorrow. Recent storms may have closed these roads. All public bathrooms are closed in our local mountains.