Directions and Maps
to
VTR Ride Locations

Select this link for a printable version of this page without frames.

( Note: This section is still under construction. Although the title implies maps, or
links to maps, are here, they are, for the most part, not yet here. The webmaster
hopes to have this resoved soon...
Please take a critical look at the information on this page and forward comments
and or suggestions. We welcome corrections to this page's contents and or
additional information regarding riding areas. )

Clear Creek

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 101 south to Highway 25.
2. Exit Highway 25 and follow Highway 25 south to Hollister (This is the last big town, so you might want to gas up here.).
3. Continue south on Highway 25 to the turn off for the Pinnacles park.
4. Continue south on Highway 25 12 miles past the Pinnacles turnoff and turn left on Coalinga Road.
5. Follow Coalinga Road 16.4 miles to the entrance of the Clear Creek Recreation Area.
6. Turn left at the entrance, cross the river and turn right on the dirt road.
7. Follow the dirt road to the campground.

• Oak Flat campground is the first campground on the left. It's not that flat; you might want to bring extra leveling blocks.
• Staging Area #2 is 3.3 miles from the river crossing. Landmarks here include a dumpster, a brick bathroom, and a big rock.

Information:

Bureau of Land Management
P.O. Box 365
Hollister, CA 95024-0365
408-637-8183

Back to Top

Cole Creek

Information:

Amador Ranger Station

Eldorado National Forest

26820 Silver Road

Pioneer, CA 95666

209-295-4251

Back to Top

Elkins Flat [ N38° 35' 12.3" W120° 26' 27.0" ] ( Gold Note [ N38° 33' 58.8" W120° 30' 46.4" ] )

The Elkins Flat riding area has a seasonal closure from January 1 until March 31 each year.

Elkins Flat is about 120 miles from Livermore and takes about 2.5 hours at 60 MPH.

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 580 East to 205, and then follow 205 until it turns into I-5 North.
2. Stay in the right lane on I-5 and exit on 120 East.
3. Exit Highway 120 and go north at Highway 99.
4. Exit Highway 99 and go east at Highway 88.
5. Follow Highway 88 to and through the town of Jackson.
6. Go left at Omo Ranch Road, which will be approximately 27 miles from Jackson at 4900' elevation.
7. Turn right, at 0.7 miles from Highway 88, toward PiPi Campground. Although unsigned, this will be North-South Road.
8. Follow North-South Road approximately 5.5 miles to PiPi campground, bearing right after crossing the bridge. Stay on pavement.
9. Continue on North-South Road approximately 2.5 miles past PiPi campground to Elkins Flat on the left.

Information:

Amador Ranger Station

Eldorado National Forest

26820 Silver Road

Pioneer, CA 95666

209-295-4251

Back to Top

Foresthill (Sugar Pine Staging Area)

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take I-80 East past Auburn to the Foresthill exit.
2. Turn right on Forest Hill Road. At this point, you are 17 miles from Foresthill and 26 miles from the next turn at Sugar Pine Road.
3. Take Forest Hill Road past Foresthill, past Finning Mill Road (21 miles out), and to Sugar Pine Road.
4. Turn left on Sugar Pine Road, aka National Forest Road 10.
5. Follow Sugar Pine Road 2.5 miles and turn right to stay on Road 10.
6. Look for the Sugar Pine Staging Area on the left.

Information:

Foresthill OHVA
Tahoe National Forest
22830 Foresthill Road
Foresthill, CA 95631
530-367-2224

Back to Top

Fouts Springs (Davis Flat) [ N39° 21' 46.8" W122° 39' 14.2" ]

Davis Flat is about 175 miles from Livermore and takes a bit less than 4 hours at 60 MPH.
Take some cash along as there is a $5 per day use fee ($2.50 if you have a Federal Agency National Parks Pass.)

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take I-80 East to Highway 505 in Vacaville.
2. Take 505 north to I-5.
3. Take I-5 north to the Maxwell/Stonyford exit.
4. Exit and go West on Maxwell/Sites Road through town and out 10 miles to the settlement of Sites and Sites/Ladoga Road.
5. Go right on Sites/Ladoga Road 13.7 miles to the somewhat larger settlement of Ladoga.
6. Go right on Ladoga/Stonyford Road 7.7 miles to the town of Stonyford.
7. Go left on East Park Road at the Stonyford general store and drive two blocks to Fouts Springs Road (at the USFS Work Center).
8. Go left on Fouts Springs Road 9.8 miles to Fouts Springs, which is a camping area at the bottom of a hill. Cross the river and turn right.
9. Follow the road about 1.5 miles while it turns left, drops down to cross a bridge and then climbs up to the right.
10. Davis Flat will be on the left.

Information:

Stonyford Ranger District
Ladoga Road
Stonyford, CA 95979
530-963-3128

Taped message: 530-934-2350

• For maps, stop by the Ranger Station which is on Ladoga/Stonyford Road, just before Stonyford.
• Alerts and Notices may be found here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices

Back to Top

Georgetown (Bald Mountain) [ N38° 54' 58.7" W120° 41' 51.6" ~ 4230' ]

Via I-80 & Auburn:

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take I-80 East to the Elm Avenue exit in Auburn. Note your odometer reading. It is approximately 6 miles to the town of Cool.
2. Exit at Elm Avenue and turn left (East) on Elm.
3. Turn left on Highway 49, which is also called High Street.
4. Follow Highway 49 out of down and down the hill to the American River.
5. Turn right and cross the American River, then continue 3.6 miles up to the town of Cool.
6. Turn left at the stop sign for Highway 193 in Cool, and travel 12.1 miles to Main Street in Georgetown.
7. Turn left at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
8. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you've gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
9. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you've gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
10. At 0.46 mile, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Via US-50 & Placerville:

1. From Sacramento, take US-50 East to Placerville. As you enter Placerville, turn left onto Highway 49 – this is also called Spring St.
2. Go 0.1 mile and turn left onto Coloma St. – this is also Highway 49. Continue on Highway 49 for 0.6 mile.
3. Turn right onto Highway 193 – this is also called Georgetown Rd. Continue for 1.8 miles.
4. Turn right to stay on Highway 193. Go 1.2 miles and then turn left to stay on Highway 193. Continue for 11.3 miles.
5. Turn right at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
6. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you've gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
7. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you've gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
8. At 0.46 mile, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Via US-50, Lotus & Marshall Road:

1. From Sacramento, take US-50 East toward Shingle Springs. Take the Shingle Springs exit and turn left onto Ponderosa Rd./South Shingle Rd.
2. Go 0.1 mile and turn right onto North Shingle Rd. – just north of the freeway. Continue on North Shingle Rd.
3. In 3.9 miles, North Shingle Rd. becomes Green Valley Rd. Go another 0.5 mile.
4. Make a slight left onto Lotus Rd. and continue for 6.7 miles. Make a slight left onto CA-49/Coloma Rd.
5. Go about 0.5 mile and turn right onto Marshall Rd. Continue for 5.5 miles and then turn right onto Black Oak Mine Rd.
6. Go 1.2 miles and then turn left onto Highway 193/Georgetown Rd. Continue for 3.4 miles.
7. Turn right at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
8. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you've gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
9. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you've gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
10. At 0.46 mile, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Information:

El Dorado National Forest
District Ranger
7600 Wentworth Springs Road
Georgetown, CA 95634
530-333-4312

• For maps, stop by the Ranger Station, which is on the right side of Wentworth Springs Road, 3 miles east of Georgetown.

Back to Top

Middle Creek (Penny Pines Campground) [ N39° 18’ 03.8” W122° 55’ 49.4” ]

Penny Pines is a small camp ground 6.8 miles past the large Middle Creek campground in the Mendocino National Forest, and is 202 miles from Livermore via 101.

1. From Livermore, take 580 West to 680 North.
2. Follow 680 North across the Benicia-Martinez Bridge -- stay to the left through the toll both.
3. Left on 780 toward Vallejo for 6.7 miles.
4. Right on 80 East for 2.8 miles.
5. West on 37 (Marine World Parkway) for 21.3 miles toward Napa.
6. North on 101 for 93.3 miles to Highway 20 (5 miles past Ukiah.)
7. East on 20 for 20 miles to Upper Lake.
8. Take the first left turn, which is Mendenhall Ave, and go 1 mile to the T in the road. The ranger station is at this intersection. Get a map if they are open.
9. Left on Elk Mountain Road for 7.7 miles to the Middle Creek campground.
10. Continue up the hill. The road name changes to M-1 and becomes steep and winding. Go 5.8 miles to the top.
11. Continue down hill for one more mile. Penny Pines is on the left.

• Penny Pines can also be reached by taking I-5 North to Williams, then 20 West to Upper Lake.

Information:

Upper Lake Ranger District
P.O. Box 97
Upper Lake, CA 95485-0096
707-275-2167

Back to Top

Minden, NV (End of Johnson Lane) [ N39.02° W119.69° ~ 5130' ]

Johnson Lane is about 180 miles from Livermore and takes about 4 hours at 60 MPH.

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 580 East to 205, and then follow 205 until it turns into I-5 North.
2. Stay in the right lane on I-5 and exit on 120 East.
3. Exit Highway 120 and go north at Highway 99.
4. Exit Highway 99 and go east at Highway 88.
5. Follow Highway 88 to and through the town of Jackson.
6. Continue on Highway 88 over the summit and down to Highway 395 on the north side of Minden, NV.
7. Turn left onto Highway 395 and go north about 4.6 miles until you reach Johnson Lane. There will be a traffic light at Johnson Lane.
8. Take Johnson Lane right and go about 3.9 miles until the pavement ends.
9. At this point there will be a hill to the left and a dirt road that crosses a gully on the right and then goes up a sight incline. Take this road on the right.
10. Follow this dirt road until you come to the power lines that run north-south.

Map: Johnson Lane.gif

Information:

The Carson Valley Inn, Minden NV, a Hotel, Casino and RV Resort, located about 7 miles south of Johnson Lane.

http://www.carsonvalleyinn.com

Quality Inn, 1795 Ironwood Dr., Minden, NV, 89423, 775-782-7766, about a block north on 395 from hiway 88.

http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-minden-nevada-NV101

Back to Top

Niagra (Barn Meadow Camp Area) [ N38° 17’ 30.54” W119° 51’ 22.2 ” ~ 7275' ]

Barn Meadow is a small unimproved camping area approximately 101.5 miles from the Highway 99 and Highway 120 (Yosemite Ave.) interchange in Manteca. The camp is about 5.7 miles in from Highway 108 on mostly paved roads and is at about 7275 feet above sea level.

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 580 East to 205, and then follow 205 until it turns into I-5 North.
2. Stay in the right lane on I-5 and exit onto Highway 120 East.
3. As 120 East approches Highway 99, move into the left lane and take the Highway 99 North exit.
4. Just after merging onto Highway 99 North, take the Yosemite Ave. (Highway 120) exit, and turn right onto Highway 120 East. Camp will be approximately 101.5 miles from this exit.
5. Follow Highway 120 until it joins Highway 108. Continue on the combined 108/120 route.
6. Stay on 108 when Highways 120 and 108 split.
7. On the East side of Sonora, when the Highway 108 bypass rejoins Mono Way, there will be about 38.6 miles to go to get to the Niagra turn off.
8. At approximately 14.2 miles past the Summit Ranger Station (also the exit for Pinecrest), and just one-half mile past mile marker 44, make a right turn onto route 5N01. Watch for the Eagle Meadow sign on the right as you approach the turnoff. This road, 5N01, is also marked with a Forest Service sign to Eagle Meadow & Niagra.
9. At 0.3 mile in on 5N01, take the right turn – do not turn onto 6N24 on the left leading to Niagra Creek Camp.
10. At 0.9 mile in on 5N01, after crossing a cattle guard, take the right turn – do not take the dirt road on the left which is 5N04.
11. At 2.8 miles in on 5N01, just after crossing the new bridge, there will be an OHV campground on the left. Continue past this campground staying on 5N01. Just up the hill, and 0.1 mile past the OHV campground (2.9 miles in on 5N01), turn right on 5N01 – do not go straight ahead on 5N09.
12. Shortly after the 5 mile marker on 5N01, the pavement ends at 5.1 miles in from Highway 108 and there will be a dirt road to the right with a sign to Barn Meadow (route 5N15X). Camp will be at the end of this road about 0.6 mile in from 5N01. As you take this last section of dirt road, go slowly – as the surface is uneven. At about halfway along 5N15X, there will be a fork in the road – stay to the left.
13. VTR signs should be posted.

Information:

Summit Ranger District

#1 Pinecrest Lake Road

Pinecrest, CA 95364

209-965-3434

Back to Top

Twain Harte (Crandall OHV Area) [ N38° 9' 39.36" W120° 7' 30.96" ~ 4890' ]

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 580 East to 205, and then follow 205 until it turns into I-5 North.
2. Stay in the right lane on I-5 and exit on 120 East.
3. As 120 East approaches Highway 99, move into the left lane and take the Highway 99 North exit.
4. Just after merging onto Highway 99 North, take the Yosemite Ave. (Highway 120) exit, and turn right onto Highway 120 East. Camp will be approximately 64.4 miles from this exit.
5. Follow Highway 120 until it joins Highway 108 in downtown Oakdale. Turn left and continue East on the combined 108/120 route.
6. Stay straight on 108 when Highways 120 and 108 split.
7. On the East side of Sonora, when the Highway 108 bypass rejoins Mono Way, there will be about 20.3 miles to go to get to the Fraser Flat Road turn off. Turn left and stay on highway 108.
8. As you continue up 108, you will pass an exit to Long Barn on the right. The Fraser Flat exit will be about 6.4 miles past this exit. As the divided road ends, there will about 2.2 miles to go before the Fraser Flat exit.
9. As you approach the Fraser Flat Road exit, you will see a sign, on the right side of the highway, for Spring Gap and the Fraser Flat and Sand Bar Flat Campgrounds. At the Fraser Flat Road exit on the left, there will be signs, on the right side of the highway, for Jenness Park and Camp Hi-Sierra. The Crandall OHV parking area will be about 7.2 miles in from highway 108.
10. The road down to the Fraser Flat Campground is paved – stay on the paved road until you reach the campground entrance. There is an up-hill road to the right, with a sign to Strawberry, just before you reach the campground – stay straight (left) at this intersection. The Campground entrance is 3 miles in from highway 108.
11. Pass by the entrance to Fraser Flat on the paved road which is now 4N42. It will turn into a dirt/gravel road in .2 miles. At 2.3 miles from the Fraser Flat Campground entrance, the road will fork, with 4N01 going down to the left and 4N42 continuing up to the right. The roads are signed and there will be a sign on the right that points left to Crandall OHV Parking. Take 4N01 to the left.
12. At about 1.2 miles along 4N01, you will see an unmarked road to the left. Stay right on 4N01. This narrow unmarked road on the left does lead into the Crandall OHV parking area, but it may not be suitable for RV's and large trailers.
13. At 1.7 miles in from the junction of 4N01 and 4N42, 4N88 crosses 4N01 at a narrow angle. It comes in from the right side behind you and crosses over to the left ahead of you. Continue to the left on 4N88. Note that 4N88 is unmarked in this direction but 4N01 is marked on the road to the right.
14. As you take 4N88 to the left, the road bends to the left. In just about 500 feet or so (about 1/10 tenth of a mile) you will come to an intersection of roads and trails. Take the uphill road just to the left and you will arrive in camp.

Twain Harte (Deer Creek)

1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take 580 East to 205, and then follow 205 until it turns into I-5 North.
2. Stay in the right lane on I-5 and exit on 120 East.
3. As 120 East approaches Highway 99, move into the left lane and take the Highway 99 North exit.
4. Just after merging onto Highway 99 North, take the Yosemite Ave. (Highway 120) exit, and turn right onto Highway 120 East. Camp will be approximately 64.4 miles from this exit.
5. Follow Highway 120 until it joins Highway 108 in downtown Oakdale. Turn left and continue East on the combined 108/120 route.
6. Stay straight on 108 when Highways 120 and 108 split.
7. Exit Highway 108 at Twain Harte and follow the old highway into the main part of town.
8. Go left on Joaquin Gulley, which takes you under the big sign and through town.
9. One mile later, the road becomes Middle Camp Road.
10. Go left and the Y and take South Fork Road. (You will pass Sierra Pines golf course). The road turns to dirt.
11. Continue on the dirt road and cross the Stanislaus River, which is about 5.3 miles out of town.
12. After you cross the river, turn left on Italian Bar Road and travel 3.2 miles to Cow Camp.
13. At Cow Camp, turn right on the dirt road, which doesn't look like much of a road. This is marked with the letter P on the map. (If you travel to the cement bridge, you've travelled to far.)
14. Follow the dirt road and look for pie plates or the club sign. We'll be camped along this road.

Information:

Stanislaus National Forest

19777 Greenly Road

Sonora, CA 95370

209-532-3671

Mi-Wok Ranger Station

Mi Wuk Village District

24695 Highway 108

Mi Wuk Village, CA 95346

209-586-3234

Back to Top

Select this link for a printable version of this page without frames.