Hooligan
Xtreme wheeler of the web
This trail runs from 50 to 88, and is generally thought of as an easy beginner trail. Which I would agree with…up until the Caldor Fire. It had like 3 or 4 (maybe 5) if you include the gate keeper obstacles, within the first mile or so. After that it was a pretty easy 2wd capable forest service road to the Strawberry Pass summit and down to 88.
Think 4wd Cliffhangers of Vacaville has adopted this trail.
The summit overlooks Caples Lake and Kirkwood resort, it has awesome views. The trail itself is in very dense forest with a few water crossings. A nice not too demanding day, even for me in a fool size double cab truck.
I ran it last year for the first time, by myself, it was nice not another vehicle on the trail (yah, yah, don’t go alone). Too bad I didn’t get many pics last year.
Well, what changed? They have bull dozed the road on account of the fire. Doesn’t appear to be heavy fire damage in the area, perhaps it was bull dozed for fire equipment, don’t see any logging activity. Basically, there are no more obstacles. Yep, all plowed away.
The two gate keeper pics are different views, truck is looking back to start of trail, the other is looking into the trail. The pic with the truck, there are bushes on driver side, forcing travel into the rocks as the gate keeper. Picture on the bottom sort of can’t see, due to the tree, but the left side of the trail has no more bushes, gate keeper can just be driven around.
Gate keeper, July 2021
Gate keeper June 2022
The trail, or more the “road” now, had so much water running down it in spots. If stream crossings are bad for water quality, don’t show them what the forest service did here. Road is now easily doable in a Subaru. There are rough sections, but that is due to water damage and wash out exposing rocks. Without intervention, I could see in a year or so the trail having some obstacles again as erosion occurs.
Is it worth the drive? Sure, still a nice road, and the summit view is worth it. Would I take a beginner here to try out their vehicle, nope, nothing challenging.
Here are some pics of June 2022, in order of driving from 50 to 88.
.
Two views of the same spot, first is looking up trail.
This small stream is only challenging for my fool size due to the off camber and tight turn. I’m normally a “clean the trail dont make a bypass” person, but my 18” saw wouldn’t compete against that size down tree.
While it was neat to look at, I don’t see this level of erosion being good for use long term.
Think 4wd Cliffhangers of Vacaville has adopted this trail.
The summit overlooks Caples Lake and Kirkwood resort, it has awesome views. The trail itself is in very dense forest with a few water crossings. A nice not too demanding day, even for me in a fool size double cab truck.
I ran it last year for the first time, by myself, it was nice not another vehicle on the trail (yah, yah, don’t go alone). Too bad I didn’t get many pics last year.
Well, what changed? They have bull dozed the road on account of the fire. Doesn’t appear to be heavy fire damage in the area, perhaps it was bull dozed for fire equipment, don’t see any logging activity. Basically, there are no more obstacles. Yep, all plowed away.
The two gate keeper pics are different views, truck is looking back to start of trail, the other is looking into the trail. The pic with the truck, there are bushes on driver side, forcing travel into the rocks as the gate keeper. Picture on the bottom sort of can’t see, due to the tree, but the left side of the trail has no more bushes, gate keeper can just be driven around.
Gate keeper, July 2021
Gate keeper June 2022
The trail, or more the “road” now, had so much water running down it in spots. If stream crossings are bad for water quality, don’t show them what the forest service did here. Road is now easily doable in a Subaru. There are rough sections, but that is due to water damage and wash out exposing rocks. Without intervention, I could see in a year or so the trail having some obstacles again as erosion occurs.
Is it worth the drive? Sure, still a nice road, and the summit view is worth it. Would I take a beginner here to try out their vehicle, nope, nothing challenging.
Here are some pics of June 2022, in order of driving from 50 to 88.
.
Two views of the same spot, first is looking up trail.
This small stream is only challenging for my fool size due to the off camber and tight turn. I’m normally a “clean the trail dont make a bypass” person, but my 18” saw wouldn’t compete against that size down tree.
While it was neat to look at, I don’t see this level of erosion being good for use long term.