BACKCOUNTRY ADV – DESIGNATED ROUTES KEY TO SUCCESS

Designated "jeep-type" Route for Street Legal Vehicles Only

Eldorado National Forest

Backcountry exploration on Adventure (ADV) motorcycles continues to be a popular recreation activity on public lands that also creates a significant economic benefit.  Recent studies by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Outdoor Industry Association highlight that fact.  In addition, those reports are being supported by other research such as an economic study by the Backcountry Discovery Routes organization.

BDR Adventure Bike Study

https://www.americantrails.org/images/documents/BDR_Tourism_Whitepaper_0219.pdf

QWR believes it is important for new ADV riders - who are not familiar with “OHV” travel management programs on Forest Service lands – to be sure and download a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) before planning a big ride on your favorite National Forest.

Link to MVUM Maps

https://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml

According to agency information, the MVUM is a product of the Forest Service 2005 Final Travel Management Rule.  Those maps detail what routes have been designated for use by both street-legal and non-street legal motorized vehicles.

Travel Management Sign - Eldorado National Forest

The MVUM also displays allowed uses by vehicle class (street-legal vs. non-street legal, roads managed as trails for larger OHVs such as SxSs, vehicles less than 50 inches wide such as dirt-bikes/ATVs, and motorcycles), seasonal allowances, distance allowances, and provides information on other travel rules and regulations.

Backcountry Adventure Awaits - Eldorado National Forest

The MVUM is a black and white map with no topographic features and can be hard to read. QWR recommends that you have other information handy such as GPS tracks or a Forest Visitor Map that is more detailed.

ADV or dual-sport riding is a lot of fun and having good information on what routes are open or closed is an important key to a successful and safe backcountry experience.

Trails are Important Part of Life's Journey - Kyburz Interpretive Center

Kiosk at Kyburz Flat Interpretive Center

 

At QWR we believe “The Trails You Take on Life’s Journey are Important.”   Trails and forest roads can offer adventure riders a link to our past via interpretive centers often found along both well-traveled and less-traveled routes.

Station One: Kyburz Petroglyph

While participating in the 2013 Reno 200 Dual Sport Ride this past weekend,  I stopped at the Kyburz Interpretive Center to learn about what took place in this remote valley over the last 2,000 years.  This center is located on the Tahoe National Forest’s Sierraville Ranger District.

 

According to information at the kiosk, the valley was inhabited as early as 2,000 years ago by ancestors of the Washoe Indians who lived and hunted in the area.  At one of the three interpretive sites, there are rocks that contain cupules which are a form of petroglyphs.  Cupules are round pits that were etched into the rocks and are believed to be associated with various Native American rituals.  This site remains important to the Washoe Tribe.

Link to GPS Coordinates for Kyburz Flat Interpretive Center

http://goo.gl/maps/ykJv6

In the 1850s, emigrants began to travel through this area.  Henness Pass Road had a stagecoach stop in the 1860s at this site and the route also provided access to this valley for grazing and timber. Basques also ran sheep in this area starting in the early 1900s. 

                                                             View of Kyburz Valley

 

Next time you are in this part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just north of Truckee, California, take time to enjoy this information center and reflect on the many treasures that are part of our collective history.

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California North Coast Adventure Ride Report

QWR's Don Amador at Intersection of Bald Mountain Road

and Snow Camp Road

 

The coastal mountain range in the Eureka, California area offers the dual-sport or adventure rider a lot of high-quality backcountry experiences.  While on a recent 190 mile dual-sport trip with local off-roaders to review travel management issues on the Six Rivers National Forest, l had the privilege to enjoy many of the historic non-paved and paved road segments that circle north from Eureka and out through the old logging towns of Blue Lake and Korbel, south through sections of the Forest, and back west to Eureka via Highway 36 and the Kneeland Road.

Bald Mountain Road and Snow Camp Road Intersection GPS

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=D40jV/40.88027N/123.87090W

 

 

 

 

East Intersection of Chism Road and Hwy. 299

 

 

Leaving Korbel we took Bald Mountain Road east and turned left on Snow Camp Road to Lord Ellis Summit where we hit Highway 299.  After following Highway 299 east for a few miles, we turned left on Chism Road and stayed on that route until it joined up once again with Highway 299.  A short jaunt east on that highway took us to the top of Berry Summit where we turned right on Titlow Road. 

 

Forest Highway One

 

Route One GPS

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=D447K/40.86590N/123.73390W

 

After lunch at the world famous Burger Bar (located in a circa 1960s-era travel trailer) in Mad River, we headed west on Highway 36 where we gassed up at Dinsmore.  After gas, our journey took us west to Bridgeville (I think the entire town is still for sale!) where a right turn placed us on the Kneeland Road which is the mostly non-paved back entrance to Eureka.

 

Bridge at Yager Creek

 

We stopped at Yager Creek for a break and saw some pretty large trout in the steam below the bridge.  Not too far north of the bridge was the Iagua Ranch where supposedly some scenes were shot in a recent sci-fi movie.

Road Through Iagua Ranch

 

Many of you have journeyed on these routes before, but I wanted to share this info with the growing number of new riders who have joined the dual-sport/adventure family.  There are plenty of great hotels or campgrounds to stage from in the Eureka area.  The town also has a lot of cool places to visit including the Carson Mansion, Fort Humboldt, and the Samoa Cookhouse.

 

Carson Mansion

 

Be sure and stop by the Six Rivers National Forest HQ in Eureka and get one of their Forest Maps as there are lots of  two-track dirt roads to explore off of Route One.

 

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OHMVRD to Relaunch State Motorized Trail System?

Segment of the 90s-era CA Backcountry Discovery Trail on Six Rivers NF

 

It is no coincidence the Statewide Motorized Trail System (SMTS) was on the agenda at the recent meeting of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission in Redding, California.  Commissioners were informed that a multi-year formal statewide state/federal planning effort is needed to codify and implement SMTS.

 

In 2009, the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division published its Strategic Plan.  The document outlined a well-crafted long-term vision for operation of the Division and management of OHV opportunities in California. It also stated (pages 33-34) the Division… "anticipates increased interest in the statewide long distance motorized trail system and a need for places to pursue various types of multi-day sport utility vehicle (SUV) touring opportunities." 

 

 

 

Link to OHMVRD 2009 Strategic Plan

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/25010/files/ohmvr%20strategic%20plan.pdf

 

 

 

The concept of a formal statewide system of motorized adventure routes was first noted in the California Recreational Trails Act of 1974.  Over the years, subsequent SMTS-related legislation was passed and on-the-ground planning efforts were undertaken by Division staff, federal partners, and other stakeholder groups.

 

Unfortunately in the late 1990s, work on the partially completed route network was halted when the state was challenged by legal action filed by opponents of the plan.  They stated that a full EIR/EIS must be completed to implement and sign the statewide trail system.

 

It has been a dream of many OHV enthusiasts to have a formal network of non-paved backcountry routes that connect many of California’s scenic areas.  It is encouraging to note that motorized adventurists may be one step closer to that reality. 

 

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