Easy Bay Area dirt roads?

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ScorpioVI

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Hi guys,

Looks like I'll be getting a Tacoma 4x4 Off-Road here in a few days. I'd like to put it through it's paces and get a feel for how it does off road. Any recommendations for some easy dirt roads? Not planning on any rock-crawling or fording rivers. Anybody been up La Gloria Rd recently? Any easy trails at Hollister Hills you can recommend?

TIA!
 

krzyboy2o

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I was able to do lot of the trails in my Subaru at Hollister. You should be ok mechanically. However there are some sections of the trail that narrows and pinstripping will happen. Good luck!




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ScorpioVI

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I was able to do lot of the trails in my Subaru at Hollister. You should be ok mechanically. However there are some sections of the trail that narrows and pinstripping will happen. Good luck!
Thanks dude, but I definitely don't want to F up the paint on a brand new truck.




Bixby Road near Monterey/Big Sur is rated easy here: – "Guide to California Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails" by Charles Wells, Matt Peterson.

Start reading it for free: http://a.co/enltQBx
I forgot about that book, I probably have a decade-old edition somewhere. I just bought a new copy off Amazon. Thanks!
 
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CalTexMex

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Hollister is a great place like krzyboy2o said. Lots of dirt trails to run around on with limited rocks. We just did a day run to Mendocino on sat and the M3 trail is something you can easily do.
 

BCBrian

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There are a few easy (green) and moderate (blue) trails at Hollister Hills that you can run without scratching up your brand new truck. I was there a couple weeks ago and drove most of the park with a group of 3 rigs. Here are some suggestions -

1. If the trails are dry, head into Hudner Ranch and run Hudner Pass (green) to Valley Vista (green) up to the parking area on the left. There is no overhanging brush at all on these trails as they travel through grasslands.
2. In the Upper Ranch, McCray Road (green) to the right turn on Garner Flat Road (green) is easy on wide roads without the risk of scratches.
3. Foothill Road (green) is a loop around the lower part of the Upper Ranch. There are a couple narrow spots but you can easily get through without scratches.
4. Most of the middle section of McCray Road (blue) is wide without brush but once you get to the intersection with the top of Fremontia Road, there are a couple rocky sections that can be challenging for a less experienced driver. The view from Hector Heights, the high point of the Upper Ranch, is a great reason to give this section a try. There is a slight chance of scratches in a couple spots but if you are careful you should be fine. 4 LO is a good idea on the section above the top of Fremontia Road.
5. Prospect Road (green) to West Trail (green to blue) and up to the Quarry is easy and wide. Above the Quarry West Trail (blue) has a couple rocky sections where 4 LO would be helpful. You can take this up to McCray Road (blue) turn left and come back down the hill easily.

Here is a link to the online map - http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1170/files/hollisterhillstext_upperranch_final.pdf.

Make sure to ask for a map when you pay your fee's in the Lower Ranch at the kiosk. There is a sign posted there that will let you know if Hudner Ranch is open or not. They close it when it is wet.

Good Luck with your new rig!
 

ScorpioVI

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BCBrian,

Thank you so much for that very detailed guide of Hollister Hills. I’ll be checking those out in a couple of weeks! Greatly appreciated sir!
 
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