Los Gatos to Oregon border trip - looking for suggestions

jraugie1 · 06-15-2011, 02:17 PM

RonCes and I are planning a trip from my home in the Santa Cruz mtns up towards the Oregon border area and back. We have a week+ before Ron has to get a plane out of San Jose. We tried this trip last year when I moved here but a family tragedy canceled it so we are giving it another go. We have no definite destinations in mind but we want to see some BIG trees. We will be moto tent camping and on a budget. Ron is borrowing a DL650 from an ADVer (how cool you guys are!) and I'll be on my Trumpet Sprint so we need to stick to paved or not too gnarly unpaved roads. Anyone have suggestions on some cool roads and sites to visit? Camping info will be appreciated as well. The trip is planned the week before Labor Day. This is a big adventure for us to add to Montreal F1, BRP end to end, Mt.Washington, and numerous Daytona BW rides. I can't wait. Thanks all.

Human Ills · 06-15-2011, 10:21 PM

Hwy 3 between 36 and 299 is not to be missed.

Sport · 06-15-2011, 11:55 PM

The Lost Hiway loop from Ferndale to the coast and back to 101 near Weott at the Avenue of the Giants is a great ride. Pretty rough road in spots but paved...and the trees.....

BigT · 06-16-2011, 02:23 AM

Nothing too goaty, huh? Too bad, that rules out a ton of really great roads.

I spent the better part of last week putting together routes for a ride from San Jose to Cave Junction, Oregon, that never happened.

If it's big trees you're after, Highway 128 from Cloverdale to Navarro Beach is a blast and has lots of big trees to ride through.
Once you're on the coast, stay there and be sure to ride Highway 1 between Rockport and Leggett. Those are some of the tightest and best twisties in the area.

From Leggett I'd normally suggest Bell Springs and Alderpoint Road, but you said you wanted big trees, so I'd have to say stick to Highway 101 and hit "The Avenue of the Giants" AKA Highway 254.

20 miles north of the north end of Highway 254 is Fortuna, Ca. where you'll find the Riverwalk RV Park (not what it sounds like). It used to be a KOA, and you can get a tent spot for just $22.50 (AAA price) for the night.

Since you want to stay off the "rough stuff", I'd suggest Highway 36 out of Fortuna to Highway 3 north.

That's how I'd go if I wanted to stick to smooth but twisty roads to Oregon.

Eyes Shut · 06-16-2011, 08:04 AM

+ 1 on Lost Coast Hiway, and Hiway 1 between Rockport and Leggett.

You might also want to consider Hwy 96. It takes off north from 299 (east of Arcata) and then runs north and then east to intersect with I-5. As I recall, it was nice riding, very little traffic, with some nice curves. Be sure to get gas when you can, though -- not a lot of opportunities for filling up along this road.

TwilightZone · 06-16-2011, 09:25 AM

Hwy 1 to Leggett... awesome if you don't get behind tourists!

May I suggest... more back roads.

Turn east at Garberville... take Alderpoint Road... then north to Blocksburg... Bridgeville... and Hwy 36. Road is all paved except for some tiny gravel parts (in washouts).

Note that the Alderpoint road connects to several (paved) locations on Hwy 36. Bridgeville (36) (paved), Mad River (36) (paved), Ruth Lake (36) (paved), you can pretty much take your pick. (Alderpoint road = awesome riding).

Campgrounds on 36 west... Forest Glen (USFS), Hells Gate (USFS) and 1 Free Campground (Scott Flat) by Hells gate. Note, there are no stores near these campgrounds. The last 3 campgrounds have great swimming.

Ok, back on 36... take Hwy 3 to Hayfork (or go to Wildwood and take that road to Hayfork)... then onto 299. I think the curves on Hwy 3 from Hayfork to 299 are better than 36... beware of tar snakes though... and CHP.

299... go west on 299 a couple miles to Weaverville. Take hwy 3 north to Ft Jones. (great ride). (There are quite a few campgrounds on Hwy 3.)

Ft. Jones take the Scott Bar road to Hwy 96. Head a bit south to Happy Camp. Happy camp, take the 'Greyback' road to Cave Junction (199). (you're in Oregon!). - OR - Turn west at Etna and take the Salmon River road (Sawyers Bar/Forks of Salmon, Somes Bar) west to 96. This road is very narrrow down in the lower Salmon... if you're not comfortable with riding along cliffs, don't go that way. There are several campgrounds along the Salmon River. Take hwy 96 to Happy Camp.. then Greyback to Orygun.

More Alternative routes !

On Hwy 36, take FH1 north (Summit of South Fork Mountain, across from viewpoint). There are several free USFS campgrounds a few miles in... This road is really awesome... and paved. May be a must ride for the northern mountains. Spits you out on 299 at Berry Summit. Turn east on 299 and go 10 miles to Willow Creek. (There are USFS camps on 299 west of Willow Creek). Turn north on Hwy 96 and go to Happy Camp (camps on 96). Then north on Greyback Road to Cave Junction.

If you want to view the 'Lost Coast'... turn west of 101 in Redway, to Shelter Cove road... take the Ettersburg (north) road, and go to Honeydew. West at Honeydew to Lost Coast... and Ferndale. Campgrounds are before Honeydew on the Ettersburg road, the AW Way (county) campground on Lost Coast road, and 'Beach Camping' at Petrolia. IMHO on this road... about 1 mile of gravel on Ettersburg road to Honeydew. Lost Coast road is pretty rough (potholes, etc) on the north end... from Petrolia on, just need to pay attention.

Most of the USFS/BLM campgrounds are pit toilets, no showers, free campgrounds usually don't have running water...

jraugie1 · 06-16-2011, 09:48 AM

Some great suggestions. Keep em coming. As far as the roads go I don't mind gravel or even dirt as long as it is passable on a Triumph Sprint fully loaded. Ron will be on a borrowed weeStrom. I'm just not looking to break my bike or me out in the boonies somewhere where only the buzzards and coyotes will find my bones. :) Backroads are fine as long as they aren't too "goatey".

Ron_Ces · 06-16-2011, 11:09 AM

Jim, actually it is the 1000 that I am using.

I was looking at Chitown's RR and got a few ideas. Amazing.
Ron

Ron_Ces · 06-16-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jraugie1

We will be moto tent camping and on a budget.

My reputation precedes me...
Ron

jraugie1 · 06-29-2011, 12:43 PM

and I quote...."if it's free it's for me!"

K. L. Rocket · 06-29-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jraugie1

and I quote...."if it's free it's for me!"

If I gotta pay, take it away.

rockydog · 06-30-2011, 09:44 PM

AAA has north and south Cali campgrounds maps, good reference

Bob Tosi · 07-03-2011, 06:00 PM

Plumas and Lassen National Forests have lots of good roads if you want to cross the valley and get over near Chico.

foul plug · 07-03-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwilightZone

More Alternative routes !

On Hwy 36, take FH1 north (Summit of South Fork Mountain, across from viewpoint). There are several free USFS campgrounds a few miles in... This road is really awesome... and paved. May be a must ride for the northern mountains. Spits you out on 299 at Berry Summit. Turn east on 299 and go 10 miles to Willow Creek. (There are USFS camps on 299 west of Willow Creek). Turn north on Hwy 96 and go to Happy Camp (camps on 96). Then north on Greyback Road to Cave Junction.

TZ
Can you provide more details on FH1? looking at google, not sure of the start/finish/connections.
Tnx!!

jraugie1 · 07-06-2011, 07:29 PM

This is getting better and better. Thanks for the ideas. RonCes, we might have to go for another week!

06-15-2011, 02:17 PM	#1
jraugie1 ^OP How hard can it be? Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Smalltown, Catskill Mountains, NY Oddometer: 393	Los Gatos to Oregon border trip - looking for suggestions RonCes and I are planning a trip from my home in the Santa Cruz mtns up towards the Oregon border area and back. We have a week+ before Ron has to get a plane out of San Jose. We tried this trip last year when I moved here but a family tragedy canceled it so we are giving it another go. We have no definite destinations in mind but we want to see some BIG trees. We will be moto tent camping and on a budget. Ron is borrowing a DL650 from an ADVer (how cool you guys are!) and I'll be on my Trumpet Sprint so we need to stick to paved or not too gnarly unpaved roads. Anyone have suggestions on some cool roads and sites to visit? Camping info will be appreciated as well. The trip is planned the week before Labor Day. This is a big adventure for us to add to Montreal F1, BRP end to end, Mt.Washington, and numerous Daytona BW rides. I can't wait. Thanks all. __________________ jraugie1 searching for truth and chocolate Triumph Sprint ST, DR-Z400S I go way too fast to worry about my cholesterol. Stop Global Whining!

06-16-2011, 09:48 AM	#7
jraugie1 ^OP How hard can it be? Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Smalltown, Catskill Mountains, NY Oddometer: 393	WoW! Some great suggestions. Keep em coming. As far as the roads go I don't mind gravel or even dirt as long as it is passable on a Triumph Sprint fully loaded. Ron will be on a borrowed weeStrom. I'm just not looking to break my bike or me out in the boonies somewhere where only the buzzards and coyotes will find my bones. :) Backroads are fine as long as they aren't too "goatey". __________________ jraugie1 searching for truth and chocolate Triumph Sprint ST, DR-Z400S I go way too fast to worry about my cholesterol. Stop Global Whining!

06-16-2011, 11:09 AM	#8
Ron_Ces Aging Hacker Joined: May 2005 Location: Sunny Riverton, NJ Oddometer: 1,476	CA to OR Jim, actually it is the 1000 that I am using. I was looking at Chitown's RR and got a few ideas. Amazing. Ron __________________ Ride whatever makes you smile! Every bike has it's own issues, problems and annoyances... BMW R1150GS ADV KTM 300 EXC (plated)

06-29-2011, 12:43 PM	#10
jraugie1 ^OP How hard can it be? Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Smalltown, Catskill Mountains, NY Oddometer: 393	Reputation and I quote...."if it's free it's for me!" __________________ jraugie1 searching for truth and chocolate Triumph Sprint ST, DR-Z400S I go way too fast to worry about my cholesterol. Stop Global Whining!

06-30-2011, 09:44 PM	#12
rockydog just a guy Joined: Feb 2007 Location: okieland Oddometer: 593	AAA has north and south Cali campgrounds maps, good reference __________________ Two lane roads and two bit towns

06-15-2011, 10:21 PM	#2
Human Ills Useful Idiom Joined: Oct 2008 Location: here Oddometer: 19,485	Hwy 3 between 36 and 299 is not to be missed.

06-15-2011, 11:55 PM	#3
Sport Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: NorCal Oddometer: 336	The Lost Hiway loop from Ferndale to the coast and back to 101 near Weott at the Avenue of the Giants is a great ride. Pretty rough road in spots but paved...and the trees.....

06-16-2011, 02:23 AM	#4
BigT Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: SF Bay Area, California. Oddometer: 834	Nothing too goaty, huh? Too bad, that rules out a ton of really great roads. I spent the better part of last week putting together routes for a ride from San Jose to Cave Junction, Oregon, that never happened. If it's big trees you're after, Highway 128 from Cloverdale to Navarro Beach is a blast and has lots of big trees to ride through. Once you're on the coast, stay there and be sure to ride Highway 1 between Rockport and Leggett. Those are some of the tightest and best twisties in the area. From Leggett I'd normally suggest Bell Springs and Alderpoint Road, but you said you wanted big trees, so I'd have to say stick to Highway 101 and hit "The Avenue of the Giants" AKA Highway 254. 20 miles north of the north end of Highway 254 is Fortuna, Ca. where you'll find the Riverwalk RV Park (not what it sounds like). It used to be a KOA, and you can get a tent spot for just $22.50 (AAA price) for the night. Since you want to stay off the "rough stuff", I'd suggest Highway 36 out of Fortuna to Highway 3 north. That's how I'd go if I wanted to stick to smooth but twisty roads to Oregon.

06-16-2011, 08:04 AM	#5
Eyes Shut See no evil Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Oddometer: 1,707	+ 1 on Lost Coast Hiway, and Hiway 1 between Rockport and Leggett. You might also want to consider Hwy 96. It takes off north from 299 (east of Arcata) and then runs north and then east to intersect with I-5. As I recall, it was nice riding, very little traffic, with some nice curves. Be sure to get gas when you can, though -- not a lot of opportunities for filling up along this road.

06-16-2011, 09:25 AM	#6
TwilightZone Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Oddometer: 1,950	Hwy 1 to Leggett... awesome if you don't get behind tourists! May I suggest... more back roads. Turn east at Garberville... take Alderpoint Road... then north to Blocksburg... Bridgeville... and Hwy 36. Road is all paved except for some tiny gravel parts (in washouts). Note that the Alderpoint road connects to several (paved) locations on Hwy 36. Bridgeville (36) (paved), Mad River (36) (paved), Ruth Lake (36) (paved), you can pretty much take your pick. (Alderpoint road = awesome riding). Campgrounds on 36 west... Forest Glen (USFS), Hells Gate (USFS) and 1 Free Campground (Scott Flat) by Hells gate. Note, there are no stores near these campgrounds. The last 3 campgrounds have great swimming. Ok, back on 36... take Hwy 3 to Hayfork (or go to Wildwood and take that road to Hayfork)... then onto 299. I think the curves on Hwy 3 from Hayfork to 299 are better than 36... beware of tar snakes though... and CHP. 299... go west on 299 a couple miles to Weaverville. Take hwy 3 north to Ft Jones. (great ride). (There are quite a few campgrounds on Hwy 3.) Ft. Jones take the Scott Bar road to Hwy 96. Head a bit south to Happy Camp. Happy camp, take the 'Greyback' road to Cave Junction (199). (you're in Oregon!). - OR - Turn west at Etna and take the Salmon River road (Sawyers Bar/Forks of Salmon, Somes Bar) west to 96. This road is very narrrow down in the lower Salmon... if you're not comfortable with riding along cliffs, don't go that way. There are several campgrounds along the Salmon River. Take hwy 96 to Happy Camp.. then Greyback to Orygun. More Alternative routes ! On Hwy 36, take FH1 north (Summit of South Fork Mountain, across from viewpoint). There are several free USFS campgrounds a few miles in... This road is really awesome... and paved. May be a must ride for the northern mountains. Spits you out on 299 at Berry Summit. Turn east on 299 and go 10 miles to Willow Creek. (There are USFS camps on 299 west of Willow Creek). Turn north on Hwy 96 and go to Happy Camp (camps on 96). Then north on Greyback Road to Cave Junction. If you want to view the 'Lost Coast'... turn west of 101 in Redway, to Shelter Cove road... take the Ettersburg (north) road, and go to Honeydew. West at Honeydew to Lost Coast... and Ferndale. Campgrounds are before Honeydew on the Ettersburg road, the AW Way (county) campground on Lost Coast road, and 'Beach Camping' at Petrolia. IMHO on this road... about 1 mile of gravel on Ettersburg road to Honeydew. Lost Coast road is pretty rough (potholes, etc) on the north end... from Petrolia on, just need to pay attention. Most of the USFS/BLM campgrounds are pit toilets, no showers, free campgrounds usually don't have running water...

07-03-2011, 06:00 PM	#13
Bob Tosi Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Chico, Ca Oddometer: 1,592	Plumas and Lassen National Forests have lots of good roads if you want to cross the valley and get over near Chico. __________________ When you're lost in the wild and scared as a child. And death looks you bang in the eye, and your sore as a boil, its according to Hoyle to cock your revolver... and die. But the code of a man says "fight all you can" and self-dissolution is barred. In hunger and woe, its easy to blow... Its the hell-served-for-breakfast thats hard........Robert Service

07-06-2011, 07:29 PM	#15
jraugie1 ^OP How hard can it be? Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Smalltown, Catskill Mountains, NY Oddometer: 393	Awesome This is getting better and better. Thanks for the ideas. RonCes, we might have to go for another week! __________________ jraugie1 searching for truth and chocolate Triumph Sprint ST, DR-Z400S I go way too fast to worry about my cholesterol. Stop Global Whining!

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