Indian Valley Reservoir... v.LaborDayWeekend

[Tenny]

Anyone ever been here? I've never been, but I'm trying to get a group of friends to go. Is there any 4x4'ing around? My brother will also be there (5.9 GC, 3.5", 31's) so nothing hard, but just mostly there for relaxation / fishing. Will probably also bring some guns / targets, as it appears (from the links below) they allow target shooting / hunting (Just not within the camp site areas, obviously).

Also if anyone's been there let me know what it's like etc, also anyone else wants to come along the more the better!

(A few links I found about it)
http://www.sfboater.com/2008/04/19/indian-valley-reservoir/
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/indianvalley.html

 

[Mike1331]

I have spent many days and nights at indian valley, quite fun and quite dangerous and quite rough gettin out there (lots of washboard). Last time i went the lake was virtually all dry and you could mash for miles out on the dry lakebed. I found a lot of fun jumps out on the lake bed that the xj dominated. Lots of boars to hunt out there, their fricken brutes. I plan on going within the next couple weeks and take at least two rigs and my downhill mountain bike. One to drive me up the hills and one waiting at the bottom after we bike down em. The creek is dry and i'm sure the lake is almost dry and unaccessable unless you have a giant mud runnen truck that can make it through several feet of muddy lake bottom. It may be busy on labor day so be carefull, lots of crazy stupid people drunk out there. a year ago I went with my roomate and best friend, they both crashed into each other head on doing 45 each. Both rigs were totaled and they had to be lifeflighted out. We had just gotten done dialing in my friends 2wd ibeamed explorer to, that thing was a great prerunner....sad day

 

[XJensen]

I grew up pretty close to there and my Mom still lives in Lucerne. Wish I could meet you up there but we just made plans for our annual family trip to Six Flags.

If you go in from the Clear Lake side there are some sights to see along the way, if not Bartlett Springs Resort (1870-1934) is worth the drive from the lake to check out. I have a write up on my site as well as the full forest service map of Mendocino National Forest.

This was is not the shortest but the views are worth the drive. There is some moderate wheeling in the area and as Mike mentioned the lake is most likely very low due to Yolo irrigation rights. Driving in the lake bed is fun but the mud can be like quicksand, do not go in without help as help can be a long way off. On the North shore there are a few hill climbs that are fun including Service Road 16N06 which will take you to Split Rock and Lovelady Ranch.

Have fun...

 

[Tenny]

Hmm, so it's mostly dry by now. Well I don't think that will fly all that well with the friend of mine that wants to do some fishing.

Also considering Clear lake. If I were to go to clear lake, which campsite would you recommend? I am looking for cheap, so it kind of looks like Clear lake State park would be a good choice. It's also "kind of" close to South Cow Mountain. Then again, I am also considering just doing a "roaming" camp, hit up Cow Mountain for a night, then drive over to Indian valley. (Mostly depending on how many of my friends decide to go.)

 

[Mike1331]

You may find a spot around the lake to throw a small boat you can carry in, but don't plan on docking any thing as I’m sure the water is at least a mile from the dock. As XJesnson said watch out for mud patches on the lake bed. I flew into an unseen patch going around 45 and it stopped me within about 15 feet and I was buried. First time I had gotten stuck in a few years. The moderate hill climbs are fun as well. Don't go alone, its 10-15 miles from cell service and any main roads. I just hope the placed isn't trashed, I’ve come across a lot of disrespectful people out their.

 

[XJensen]

Indian Valley seems to be pretty empty right now. http://www.ycfcwcd.org/waterinfo.html

South Cow has a few fun spots and is not far from the State park at all. Camping is free in most areas of Mendocino National Forest and in South Cow although it would be more relaxing to camp at the State Park near the lake.

- Josh

 

[Tenny]

Alright so we've got a bit more settled now.

We will be going to both South Cow Mountain and Indian valley reservoir. Heading up on Friday morning to South Cow Mountain. We will try and stay at the Buckhorn camp, but we'll see how that pans out once we get there. I think we are planning to stay there Friday night, and Saturday night. Then travel to Indian Valley Reservoir for Sunday night. Leaving Monday morning (most likely).


Only a few people are coming now. Myself and a buddy in my jeep. My brother in his 5.9 ZJ (3.5" lift, 31's), and the slight possibility of another guy in a expedition (he won't go on the trails though..) So in reality there probably won't be any hard 4-wheeling. It'll be all pretty basic, as this is pretty much my brothers first outing with his ZJ.

Anyways, if anyone is interested in joining us let me know.

 

[XJensen]

I will be on an annual trip to Six Flags that weekend. Have fun and if you want GPS tracks of South Cow I have them, just not up on the site yet.

Josh

 

[Tenny]

Nah I don't think I'll need the GPS tracks, thanks for the offer. Already taking a lot of stuff from your site as it is.

Is there a little like "entrance" to South Cow Mountain where they have a map of the area or anything? Also do you know how much it is?

 

[XJensen]

I have only gone in from the Lakeport side and there was not an information booth there. There is a County information center in Lakeport that has some maps. I have not been there in quite a while but they should have a map to buy for a few bucks. It is off the Lakeport Blvd exit on a hill. I do not know what they have on the West, Highway101, enterence.

There is no fee to enter the area and I don't believe it cost anything to camp either, but then again I have never camped there. Maybe some one else can enlighten us.

Josh

 

[Tenny]

Alright well I am about to leave. Everyone have a great & safe weekend.

Josh have a good weekend at magic mountain, thanks for all the help!

 

[Tenny]

Well... It didn't end up as planned. Brother popped two tires getting to the camp site. Used the spare / fix a flat. He was running 50psi :-\.

Second day we went to clearlake (brother got tires fixed... $100 for two spares... He drove home the next night and got 4 new tires at Sears for $700 (when the guy that did it for $100 said he'd do 4 new for $800)... So in the end it was the same...

Third day went to Indian Valley Res. Was an interesting trip...

Pictures:

Brothers Jeep and Clearlake

Brother caught a small fish:

Doggy catching food:

Clearlake:

Crazy ass tree:

Old bottle factory ( i think ):

Dried up lake:

Bad Times:

Aftermath (I was winched out):

Cleaned up here:

 

[XJensen]

Glad to hear you had someone with a winch. What do you think of the lake bottom mud now? Nasty stuff...

Josh

 

[Tenny]

Actually the guy that winched me out wasn't part of my group, just dumb luck he and his group (maybe 5-6 other trucks) saved me. I didn't think it was that deep, as I had driven over stuff that looked just like it multiple times before that. Plus it was like maybe 50 yards from the water! I def. learned to be careful though.

That mud is something else. It's like clay.

Oh well had a great time overall.

 

[SeansXJ]

Nice pictures, thanks for posting them up. I have lots of family in the Clear Lake area and love to hit all the trails up there. I'm jealous you got to get out there but atleast you got out for the Labor day weekend,was it busy at IVR?

Sean

 

[Mike1331]

that damn clay out there got me too, it was the first time I had gotten stuck with my current xj, after 3 years of driving it.

Very decieving

 

[SeansXJ]

Yeah I learned my lesson out at Camp Far West a few years back. The clay swallowed my 44" Boggers like they were 31" a/t's. Its decieving cause it feels hard on the top layer but once you break through its all over, its a bottomless pit.

 

[SeansXJ]

Yeah I learned my lesson out at Camp Far West a few years back. The clay swallowed my 44" Boggers like they were 31" a/t's. Its decieving cause it feels hard on the top layer but once you break through its all over, its a bottomless pit.

 

[Tenny]

Sean - I don't think it was very busy out there. There were a roughly 4 campsites of people camped out along the creek of Bartlett Springs Road, and it only appeared like 1-2 people camped actually at the lake.