Where to wheel in the Bay Area?

[kdailey4315]

Anyone know of a spot to wheel in the Bay Area. Perferably down the Penisula in SF or North Bay? I'm dying to get my Jeep off road but I have no idea where to go.

 

[Boatwrench]

Closest LEGAL place that I know of is Hollister. 90 miles from San Francisco. There is also a place up north by Berryessa, think it starts with a "c" or a "k"; Rightseatsis had photos of it with the L.O.S.T. group but I don't recall the name.

Lake Pillsbury is about 140 miles north up 101, just a ways east of Ukiah.

Edit: It's called Knoxville.

 

[kdailey4315]

Closest LEGAL place that I know of is Hollister. 90 miles from San Francisco. There is also a place up north by Berryessa, think it starts with a "c" or a "k"; Rightseatsis had photos of it with the L.O.S.T. group but I don't recall the name.

Lake Pillsbury is about 140 miles north up 101, just a ways east of Ukiah.

Edit: It's called Knoxville.

That sucks. The closest LEGAL place is 90 miles away?

 

[Boatwrench]

Yep don't get caught on San Bruno Mtn, it's a $500 fine plus vehicle inpound. Been that way since about 1990. Marin headlands is worse.

 

[Bryan C.]

That sucks. The closest LEGAL place is 90 miles away?

Hollister is a great place to go wheel and mess around. Do yourself a favor, and the rest of us too, and keep it legit on wheeling locations.

Just think, get enough experience and build up your rig enough and run the Rubicon. Way better than any illegal spot or OHV park in California.

 

[kdailey4315]

Hollister is a great place to go wheel and mess around. Do yourself a favor, and the rest of us too, and keep it legit on wheeling locations.

Just think, get enough experience and build up your rig enough and run the Rubicon. Way better than any illegal spot or OHV park in California.

What do you consider built enough. I'm planning 3.5 Super ride, 31's and possibly 4:10's. Don't want to lock the axles. Is that built enough for Hollister?

 

[Boatwrench]

Stock is built enough for some of Hollister.

My 1/2 way done trail rig, is on RE 3.5's, (bought used on craigslist) stock axles opened on both end and until last week was riding on 225's (bought used in Moab). Come to the next meet and Greet or the next Hollister weekend and meet some folks. Start saving now to attend next years Fall Fling.

 

[Slonopotam]

That sucks. The closest LEGAL place is 90 miles away?

You live in Pacifica, maps show a few roads between Montara and Pacifica. I was interested in exploring them a couple of years back, when Devils Slide went down. A local woman in Montara told us she saw a truck going up one of those roads, the truck fell in the ditch later, so I guess some of these roads are not closed and present a challenge. Again, I never got to drive there.

Otherwise, some of the former 4wd trails are closed even for horse riders and some SF streets require 31" tires to get through with exhaust intact.

 

[kdailey4315]

I doubt those places between Montara and Pacifica are legal.

 

[Letterman]

I doubt those places between Montara and Pacifica are legal.

Some might be fine to drive on, but if they are then they are just dirt roads you could drive a honda civic on.
There is a few places not too far for a day trip, like Clear Creek, Hollister Hills, Knoxville, Carnegie, Cow Mt., Stonyford, Prairie City, Frank Raines and others.

Try searching the web for more info on the parks and here is some web sites to look at:
http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/
http://www.hollisterhills.com/
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/recreation/ohv.html

Hollister is a great spot to learn at, from stock to way over built buggies can find a spot that is the right level to play. I hear Carnegie has put in more to the 4x4 area, but I have only heard roomers.
Some good info sites:
http://www.treadlightly.org/
http://www.sharetrails.org/
http://www.ufwda.org/
http://www.cal4wheel.com/

Just PLEASE DON'T be that guy that drives offroad in illegal areas, just one photo of one asshat can make a lot of people HATE us.

:cheers:

 

[laxguru45]

I think that Carnegie has a wheeling area

 

[kdailey4315]

I think that Carnegie has a wheeling area

I went to CArnegie's website but it looks like they're just ATV/Motorcycle. I'll give them a call today and find out for sure.

 

[oo7ravisXJ]

Carnegie does have a 4x4 area, but it blows from what i hear, could be worth it though if your just trying to get offroad

 

[XJedi23]

Its a good place to get your feet wet. I took my rig there when It was stock just to see what it could do. That was a couple years ago. Better off going a little farther and hit up Frank Raines.

 

[toofarfromjune]

I went to hollister while stock and went on A LOT of the trails there without flinching. It was a fun experience, and I didn't break anything.

After throwing on the re 3.5 and 32mfg mt's I was feeling lazy but anxious so I drove the shorter 45 minute trip to carnegie to test it out.

It was fun, but avoid plowing through the mud pit if your alternator is stock and unsheilded *doh!*

After watching a few people get stuck I said "hah i can do that!"

Sure enough I made it through no problem(not a crazy mud pit), but 20 minutes later on the way home I started noticing some funky action on the dashboard and realized I had fried my alternator.

*Thumbs up* to the guy in the red nissan pickup who jumped/charged me to get far enough to cell phone reception area -even offered me a beer after the jump start!, and to my friend jeff for jump starting/charging me all the way back to the fremont area.

But really, drive the few hours and get to the sierras. I did one wheelin excursion up in the truckee area while stock this summer and it was an amazing time! Sorry, I don't remember the name of the trail, but there are plenty of great trails not as demanding/time consuming as the infamous rubicon.

 

[Kyle Horvath]

Wow. . . I was lucky.

All summer was spent wheeling around the Peninsula (sunol/livermore/milpitas area). I worked for a (major) utilities commission and was able to take full advantage to all the property owned by SF. Not to mention a fully equipped rig with solid axles.
Wait, I got paid for this. . . oh ya. Don't get me wrong, we worked our asses off, but we wheeled the crap outta the work truck! I'd post a pic, but I wanna keep my summer job!!!

 

[Kyle Horvath]

Found a random pic on the internet. . . really random. Dunno who the jackasses were who did that!

 

[Jes]

Hmmm... Out of the yard in San Bruno on El Camino, next to the KFC and OSH perhaps?

 

[Boatwrench]

Naw Jes, I am sure that's them clowns in Sunol...That photo sure makes me wish I ended up at the water department rather than MUNI.

Hey post #950 - woohoo!

 

[Slonopotam]

I went to CArnegie's website but it looks like they're just ATV/Motorcycle.

I've been there 2 or 3 years ago, just lifted. I wanted to see how jeep flexed, whether there was any binding, how much traction I had, so on. They have a very small area for 4wd, narrow corridor 300-500m long, that's all. It can not be compared to Hollister.

Andrey