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Anyone Ride the Deer Valley Trail?

stratslingr77

stratslingr77

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Location
East Bay
Moto(s)
R1250 GSA
701 Enduro
While bopping around the Sierras this weekend, we came across the Deer Valley Trail connecting Hwy 4 to the Blue Lakes. The Hwy 4 side had some pretty gnarly rocks at the start of the trail--the hard-core rock crawler Jeep type of rocks. Not knowing anything about the trail and it being later in the day, we passed. But it got me curious. Anyone ride it? Is it rocky and gnarly the whole way through? Is it doable on a loaded 701?
 
Paging @WoodsChick to the courtesy phone. I have not been on that trail in more than a decade so no worthwhile input.
 
Road in this area a few years ago. Traveled from Red Lake to Blue Lake. Sounded like reasonable thing to do. Much of it is very easy to traverse. And then there's some chance you take a turn on a more challenging path. We were in our stock Toyota FJ. Still a very memorable day for my wife.

On the west side of 88 off Alpine Mine Road, find Crater Lake Road and take it to the top. Our own Crater Lake in California! Thought we really did some four-wheeling. Convinced a guy on a dirt bike to turn back, Two-wheels and a road full of boulders weren't a good mix for him. When we got to the lake, there was a pickup truck with a Lance-style camper at the shore. I was humbled.

Beautiful area then, don't know if/how the recent fires have affected the terrain.
 
BillSmith said:
Road in this area a few years ago. Traveled from Red Lake to Blue Lake. Sounded like reasonable thing to do. Much of it is very easy to traverse. And then there's some chance you take a turn on a more challenging path. We were in our stock Toyota FJ. Still a very memorable day for my wife.

On the west side of 88 off Alpine Mine Road, find Crater Lake Road and take it to the top. Our own Crater Lake in California! Thought we really did some four-wheeling. Convinced a guy on a dirt bike to turn back, Two-wheels and a road full of boulders weren't a good mix for him. When we got to the lake, there was a pickup truck with a Lance-style camper at the shore. I was humbled.

Beautiful area then, don't know if/how the recent fires have affected the terrain.
Click to expand...

I just googled Crater Lake California. Turns out there's two!
 
Thanks for mentioning this trail, I’d wanted to try it, but forgot about it for many years until you mentioned it.

I happen to be up in that area over the wknd with my trials moto, and when my Sunday afternoon freed up, I got my chance and headed to the trail head on hiway 4 at about 2 PM. I was riding solo, not really sure of my fuel range, not many tools, kinda tired and still had a long drive home so only rode to the first water crossing which was about 3.8 miles in of the 6.5 mile trail.

"Is it doable on a loaded 701?"

I don’t know your skill level, but I think for most, it would be too much, but if you’re up for a challenge, I’m sure it could be done!

The first ¾ mile or so (?) is a kinda rocky, sometimes rooty, sometimes loose, and uphill. Once you get past that it gets to easier double track with some occasional challenges. Uphills and downhills. The water crossing looked maybe knee deep or less w a smooth rocky bottom. I didn’t ride it. The nice jeepers I met (the only others I saw on the trail) said the 2nd crossing is a little deeper.

It reminded me of the rubicon I did on the KLR650 many years ago (but this is easier and shorter). I’d love to get the KLR up there for this challenge. Such a beautiful area.

I’ll try to post some pics
 
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