Posts
1457
Joined
5/31/2017
Location
Grass Valley, CA
US
NorCal 50+
6/30/2017 11:52am
6/30/2017 11:52am
I am new to California and I brought along my 2004 RM250 (see bike rebuild forum). I want to do some light riding to get back into the swing of things since I now have a full hip prosthetic. So I don't really want to go rip an MX track my first time out after five years off (with an 85 rider jumping over my head on the first lap etc.).
I know the red sticker/green sticker rules but I see some NorCal public riding areas are year-round. I live in Grass Valley and want to ride Tahoe Forest. The ranger said you need red/green sticker but didn't know if I can ride Yuba River District trails year-round with red sticker, or I need a green sticker (ranger did not know). Here is the map of where I am talking about.
Anybody know my best options around here with a red sticker bike and spark arrestor? And where are there some good medium-challenging hare scramble races? I know I can ride Prairie City, but only in red sticker months.
And if any friendly NorCal bros want to show a new transplant some good trails, please let me know!
I know the red sticker/green sticker rules but I see some NorCal public riding areas are year-round. I live in Grass Valley and want to ride Tahoe Forest. The ranger said you need red/green sticker but didn't know if I can ride Yuba River District trails year-round with red sticker, or I need a green sticker (ranger did not know). Here is the map of where I am talking about.
Anybody know my best options around here with a red sticker bike and spark arrestor? And where are there some good medium-challenging hare scramble races? I know I can ride Prairie City, but only in red sticker months.
And if any friendly NorCal bros want to show a new transplant some good trails, please let me know!
There's a lot of options off-road. Forresthill's nice and Elkin's flat. Many more too that are red-sticker year round. http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/california_list.htm
Elkins Flat
http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/california_12313/ride_13…
Foresthill
http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/california_07571/ride_0f…
The Shop
Here is the listings:
http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1234/files/2007%20carb%20revised%20riding…
Awesome day period.
Prairie City has a vet track thats pretty cool just to cruise some laps on and get back to riding. Smaller track and smaller jumps so you don't have to worry about getting landed on.
Also, E-Street in marysville has a vet track out back that has the practices broken up on between the Mini kids. So thats an option. Next door to that track is MMX and they have a mellow sand track thats cool. No big jumps either so thats a plus.
What is confusing is that list doesn't include Yuba River district under Tahoe Forest. Page 1 of the Yuba River District map shows some seasonal restrictions (top right), but mainly Jan.-Mar.: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3800935.pdf
So I guess I am good on those Yuba River district trails with red sticker pretty much year-round. Which is freaking awesome.
MMX sand track is pretty good right now, nothing but table top type jumps..we raced their last weekend and it was really good. Now that Riverfront is opening this weekend, that should relieve some pressure off of PCMX, E Street and MMX. Looks like Zeb has stepped up Riverfront so all the heavy hitter will be out there....just my opinion.
If you live in GrassValley then your and you want to ride NF land, head up on 49 then jump on SR20....there is a really nice riding area in the NF that is Tahoe Forest called Burlington Ridge, it's off 20 just outside of Nevada City.....But don't tell anyone about it! Ha! It's a very well maintain area, but trail maps are kind of confusing but there are some nice loops. The Nevada County Woods Riders support that riding area.
The area you outline is a red / green sticker area, primary Downieville area...it is open area. Haven't been up that way in years....so can't really remember much about it...other than it's rockier that shit up there.
Your best bet is Georgetown or Elkin's Flat....be prepared for dusty trails. The other option is come out and get in some practice with the OTHG or Sierra Old Timers, then you really don't have to worry about some kid on an 85 jumping over you...
Good Luck! Hope this helps.
Your closest real trail riding is Forest Hill and Georgetown. Head towards Downieville and Tahoe for more. Downieville has some real challenging and fun single track. In the Mendocino Ntl Forest you have Stonyford (Grindstone district) as well as Penny Pines/Middle Creek and BLM land Cow Mtn in Lake county a couple hours away also have fantastic single track trail riding and are very large areas. Worth a weekend trip to ride.
Check out the Thumpertalk regional section and Bayarearidersforum.com (Barf) in the dirty section if you are looking for folks to meet and trail ride with. We will have a group camping at Penny Pines wknd of Aug 11 and a very large group with a wide range of abilities at Stonyford the wknd of Sept 28th. Or grab a plated bike and join us in Baja this January.
D36 has a number of Harescrambles this fall, or try an enduro. Hollister Hills Offroad Riding Association (HHORA) also puts on 2-3 harescrambes a year that I usually attend. Low key and fun races.
Welcome to NorCal and enjoy!
Check out blancolirio on youtube. He post all kinds of videos from up near you.
It works for the people that don't work for a living...
Pit Row
Carnegie SVRA in my esteemed opinion is absolutely the best do it all place ive ever ridden, Depending on your MX standards they have a decent dedicated MX track and the trail riding throughout the park is phenomenal!!!! It ranges from basic fire roads to quadruple black diamond stuff and has the highest. Concentration of gnarly hillclimbs (per capita) office officers place I've ever ridden otherwise, it has no equal.
I.grew up riding there every weekend when riding was in season. From the time I was 5 years old in 1986 up till I turned 21 and moved to Socal for school in 2001. I go back and try to ride it once a year during the holidays and reminding my old riding buddies who's still the king of those hills LOL. By the time I was 15 I had claimed every hillclimb that exists in that place and have the fondest memories of riding with my dad there.
Another place worth mentioning is Schaads (Lake) aka Wylseyville up by Mokulme Hill.
I've been dreaming of riding in Cali for a good chunk of my life, so I am looking forward to doing some roostin'.
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