Ready to hit the hills for the weekend? Want to get those new mud terrain tires a little muddy? Maybe pack up the camping gear and take the family on an exciting 4x4 adventure through the Sierra Nevada’s? Well here’s your chance! Here’s a list of some of my favorite 4x4 trails in and around the bay area, including camping accommodations and trail information. Jump in the truck and get in gear!
Hollister Hills SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) is located just outside the border of Downtown Hollister, Ca. A short drive through old town and your practically there. The SVRA park is divided into two sections, one for four wheel drive vehicles and another for motorcycles and ATV's. If your looking to take the 4x4 truck out for the weekend then you will make your way to the upper ranch. Located on an 800 acre plot of land, the upper ranch is a combination of fire road style trails, hill climbs, water/mud crossings, and even advanced trails/obstacles for the rock crawler community. Day use admission is $5, which goes to park maintenance. Campsites are available with fire pits and bathrooms, for $10 per vehicle per night. Trucks are allowed to run the trails from sunrise to sunset, night wheeling is prohibited. All in all this is a great park full of trails for beginner to advanced 4x4 enthusiasts.
Deer Valley trail is located just below Hermit Valley. The trail runs from Lower Blue Lake all the way to HWY 4. If your looking for a bit harder trail run then start the trail from the south entrance and head north, reason being is that the hill ascends with a large amount of boulders on the climb. The trail only takes about 3 hours to complete one way. Along the trail you will run across two water crossings which change in size based on the snow run off. Through out deer valley there are wilderness camping areas off the side of the trail. This is a wonderful trail, easy to access, and a stunning landscape all along the way.
Swamp Lake trail is located roughly 55 miles east of Fresno, tucked away in the Sierra Nevada’s. You can get to the trail head via route 168. Primarily composed of granite rock, this trails terrain ranges from large slabs of granite to granite steps to the usual boulder crawling. Along the trail you will eventually cross two lakes, Swamp Lake and Grouse Lake. Fortunately, both lakes have camping areas and are capable of holding up to 15 vehicles. The lakes have great fishing, home to rainbow trout, so bring the fishing poles and permits. Fires are allowed along the trail with a fire permit available at the local ranger station. During the winter months, the gates are closed due to extreme weather conditions. The Swamp Lake trail is a bit harder than some of the other mentioned trails. Make sure your truck is capable of handling the terrain before you make the trip out to the Fresno area. Overall, this trail is one of my personal favorites. Just remember to tread lightly.
I hope this article helps you on your next journey as a weekend warrior. Keep in mind, I’ve only mentioned three of the many 4x4 trails in the bay area. Get out, cruise some trails and keep the sport alive! Again, remember to tread lightly. Thanks!
