FJ Cruisers of Northern California
Early January Run - Red Rocks Canyon State Park
Red Rocks Canyon State Park is located 25 miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14, near Cantil. Signage indicating the turnoff is clearly visible on Highway 14. Temperatures during the day around 50's going down to 20's at night. Camping is available but other accommodations are close in Mojave about 15 miles down the road.
Red Rocks Canyon State Park
When: January 8 - 10. 2010
Trails from Wells Book
Bonanza Gulch #73 - Moderate
Time: 5 hours
Distance: Entire route covers 27.6 miles. Shorter trail is 15.7 miles
The first half of the route through Bonanza Gulch is easy. Second half crosses remote, mountainous terrain where the trail is narrow and rocky in a few places. Route finding is complex so pay close attention to directions. Suitable for most stock SUV's with high ground clearance and low range gearing. DO NOT go alone.
Opal Canyon #74 – Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 20 miles
One section of Opal Canyon is very narrow, steep and rocky. Part of Last Chance Canyon follows a sandy wash where you’ll need to air down. Trails suitable for stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Remote location: DO NOT go alone.
Rand Mountain #75 - Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 17.2 mile loop
Lower portion of the trail is easy, but as you climb higher into the mountains, the trail becomes narrow, steep and rocky in places. Suitable for aggressive stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Not for wide oversized vehicles. Light brush may touch vehicle. Use caution: many open mine shafts are located throughout the area. Route finding is complex with many crisscrossing roads at the top of the mountain.
All these trails are Moderate. Your vehicle should at least have a 3" Lift, Skid Plates and All Terrain Tyres, Lift Jack and First Aid Kit.
Update 12/28/09
Accommodations - We drove through Mojave today on the way back from Las Vegas and there are quite a few hotels around. They are between 20-30 miles from the trails we are going to be doing. California City is closer and it seems like there are plenty of hotels there as well although we have not seen those.
There was a little snow at 4000 feet coming over 58 but didn't see any that would be a problem.
Update 1/4/10
OK, Here's the plan.
We're going to head down early Friday morning to secure the Sears Cabin which is about 8 or 9 miles in the Bonanza Gultch trail. Looks like a cool place to base camp and according to Spertierra on So Cal it's the best cabin. 6 cots and sleeps more on the floor and it has a wood stove.
Here are the co-ordinates of the Sears Cabin
35.447093, -117.880629
We then could meet up with others mid day, in Mojave or where ever, to do one of the shorter trails that afternoon and everyone could meet up at the cabin that evening and finish Bonanza Gultch on Saturday.
Expressed Interest so far, let us know if and when please.
CowboyCEO
BZ
The gunslinger1999(aka Ryan)
Munkay
Studovich
potatomutato
Sonof40
MOTORDRIVE
So Cal Interest.
Mtnmauler
expatoz
spertierra
FJ-Piper
Update 1/5/10
If for some reason we can't get the Sears Cabin we'll try to find an alternate and post it up.
If anyone wants to show up Saturday AM let's say 10:00 am meet up and 10:30 am departure from Wells Book, #73 Bonanza Gulch Trail, way point 03, 35°25'59.50"N 117°53'23.10"W, this is the intersection of EP 15 and EP 30.
For Friday meet up let's say 12:30 on the west end of Mojave off the freeway right at the edge of town, there's a gas station or a hotel where FJ's will be obvious. Depart at 1:00 pm for a short afternoon run and back to the cabin in the evening.
CB Ch 31
FRS Ch 7/31
Red Rocks Canyon State Park
When: January 8 - 10. 2010
Trails from Wells Book
Bonanza Gulch #73 - Moderate
Time: 5 hours
Distance: Entire route covers 27.6 miles. Shorter trail is 15.7 miles
The first half of the route through Bonanza Gulch is easy. Second half crosses remote, mountainous terrain where the trail is narrow and rocky in a few places. Route finding is complex so pay close attention to directions. Suitable for most stock SUV's with high ground clearance and low range gearing. DO NOT go alone.
Opal Canyon #74 – Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 20 miles
One section of Opal Canyon is very narrow, steep and rocky. Part of Last Chance Canyon follows a sandy wash where you’ll need to air down. Trails suitable for stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Remote location: DO NOT go alone.
Rand Mountain #75 - Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 17.2 mile loop
Lower portion of the trail is easy, but as you climb higher into the mountains, the trail becomes narrow, steep and rocky in places. Suitable for aggressive stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Not for wide oversized vehicles. Light brush may touch vehicle. Use caution: many open mine shafts are located throughout the area. Route finding is complex with many crisscrossing roads at the top of the mountain.
All these trails are Moderate. Your vehicle should at least have a 3" Lift, Skid Plates and All Terrain Tyres, Lift Jack and First Aid Kit.
Update 12/28/09
Accommodations - We drove through Mojave today on the way back from Las Vegas and there are quite a few hotels around. They are between 20-30 miles from the trails we are going to be doing. California City is closer and it seems like there are plenty of hotels there as well although we have not seen those.
There was a little snow at 4000 feet coming over 58 but didn't see any that would be a problem.
Update 1/4/10
OK, Here's the plan.
We're going to head down early Friday morning to secure the Sears Cabin which is about 8 or 9 miles in the Bonanza Gultch trail. Looks like a cool place to base camp and according to Spertierra on So Cal it's the best cabin. 6 cots and sleeps more on the floor and it has a wood stove.
Here are the co-ordinates of the Sears Cabin
35.447093, -117.880629
We then could meet up with others mid day, in Mojave or where ever, to do one of the shorter trails that afternoon and everyone could meet up at the cabin that evening and finish Bonanza Gultch on Saturday.
Expressed Interest so far, let us know if and when please.
CowboyCEO
BZ
The gunslinger1999(aka Ryan)
Munkay
Studovich
potatomutato
Sonof40
MOTORDRIVE
So Cal Interest.
Mtnmauler
expatoz
spertierra
FJ-Piper
Update 1/5/10
If for some reason we can't get the Sears Cabin we'll try to find an alternate and post it up.
If anyone wants to show up Saturday AM let's say 10:00 am meet up and 10:30 am departure from Wells Book, #73 Bonanza Gulch Trail, way point 03, 35°25'59.50"N 117°53'23.10"W, this is the intersection of EP 15 and EP 30.
For Friday meet up let's say 12:30 on the west end of Mojave off the freeway right at the edge of town, there's a gas station or a hotel where FJ's will be obvious. Depart at 1:00 pm for a short afternoon run and back to the cabin in the evening.
CB Ch 31
FRS Ch 7/31
Views: 61
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by manoweb on
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I will probably be on my Honey Moon at that time, otherwise I would have joined - for sure.
I was thinking to do the Mojave road "solo" at Thanksgiving and I've been to the Death Valley not too much time ago. Definitely worth it.
I don't know your idea exactly, but a couple of observations:
- 3 days (including probably the time to go back to the bay area) will in my opinion be sufficient to have just a little grasp of a small part of the Death Valley or the Mojave. I would not try to visit both.
- Unless you stick to the warmest places of the DV, I wouldn't be surprised to find below-freezing temperatures, and possibly a lot of snow
I will post a link to some pics in case somebody is interested.
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Permalink Reply by TOE 4X4 on
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I will keep that in mind. I have a couple of different trails in mind depending on the interest. Send pics as they are always good to see.
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Permalink Reply by DivnGirl on
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I'm in the preliminary planning stages of a National Parks road trip this summer, including the Mojave on my way to the Grand Canyon and beyond. If you end up going, I'd love to see pics!
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"Mojave" and "Summer" in the same sentence... make sure you are prepared!!!
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So this first trip to DV was: saline valley - lippincot pass - racetrack - ubehebe crater - scotty's castle - stovepipe wells
http://www.manoweb.com/alesan/viaggi/deathValley200811/
This second trip was: eureka dunes - steel pass - hot springs - lippincot pass - racetrack - hike to ubehebe peak - cucomungo canyon (we had to go back because of the snow)
http://www.manoweb.com/alesan/montagna/DeathValley-20090213/
The third trip: ballarat - pleasant canyon "loop" with hike to porter peak - goler canyon - mengel pass - butte valley with hike to striped butte. The second night we stayed at the "geologist cabin"
http://www.manoweb.com/alesan/montagna/DeathValley-2009/
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Permalink Reply by A.J.Cruiser on
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Wow...i bet it was a nice experience for you guys...too nice
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Permalink Reply by magicthechemist on
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I love DV...I will try to make it.
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Permalink Reply by MOTORDRIVE on
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Just returned from there last week and should be up for another run by Jan. Did the Pleasant canyon loop started in Balarat and back down thru South Park. Videos to follow. Whats your game plan Bozly?
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Hey I did exactly the same. People were scaring us with that narrow part with the cliff at the side but at the end it was nothing special, but surely scenic! The main problem in my opinion was the jungle in Pleasant Canyon that could scratch the FJ...
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