Overlanding ideas near Tahoe/Plumas/Lassen?

The girlfriend and I are doing a last-minute 5-day trip up to this area from San Diego. We're leaving SD on my birthday (10th) and plan to get back home on the 14th. Anyone's welcome to join us mid-trip if you're nearby.

We've been up here once a year ago to do mostly tourist stuff (visit the park in Lassen and hike up Lassen Peak). This time around we'd like to do some of the same but also hit some better camp spots AND trails. The only one I've read about on here is the Poker Flat area, which seems totally doable in my Tundra (SC'd, 40s, 6" bracket lift, sliders, bumper, skids, high-clearance cuts)..





Are there any other things to do that you NorCal guys can recommend? We're open to trails, hot springs, hikes, tourist attractions, niche restaurant stops, and so forth.

 

i enjoy Cravings in Chester for a breakfast stop. Otherwise go check out Juniper Lake on the other side of Lassen. There's quite a few trails all around the area with good lookouts since you're in that area.

Also if you are hitting the Lassen Park i recommend the Kings Creek Falls hike in the park.

 

If you want a nice dirt drive on the way up once you get into Chico if you are taking 99 take cohasset to ponderosa. Cohasset turns to dirt road and then turns into ponderosa. It will take you all the way to the intersection of hwy 36 and hwy 32 just east of lassen.

The road goes through the ishi wilderness area and has some great views along the way

 

we just opened poker flat last weekend. you should be ok on the water crossing. the climb out north is a bit hairier than lasy year but some other groups should go through before then. you cant do the sketch drives down to the feather, but there are a few easier to get to camp sites on that river. some other lakes and camp sites with roads open all around there, but a lot of landslides here and there.

 

Thanks! Cravings looks pretty good. Definitely going to have to stop by. Juniper lake looks pretty awesome, too.

Thanks. I hope these views offer a lot of snow to be seen.

Awesome! Thanks to helping to open it up. It really is one of the spots I want to hit for sure. I hope I don't run into anything too sketchy but I am somewhat prepared recovery-wise.

 

Went out with @jAndyMendo and a few other NorCal peeps over the weekend and did poker Flat among other trails; you should be OK to run it, might be tight in a few places in the Tundra.
Theres a lot of exploring of gravel roads around Tahoe/Plumas NF if you just want to get out into the mountains and explore and stop at lakes/streams.
I also recommend the area around Gold Lake just north. And you can possibly make it up to the Sierra Buttes as well which would be a great view (might encounter snow drifts at high elevation). Bring lots of spare fuel, our group ran down to the fuel lights at one point but we all had at least 4 gallons extra on board just in case.
Also some nice exploring around the west side of Reno too, namely Dog Valley, Peavine mt, Hunter Lake Trail and even out around Hungry Valley and Moon Rocks on the north side(this is near my house, go out around there a lot)

 

Also, if you're near Reno/Sparks at some point during the week, swing by the shop and say Hi Kris!

 

Hopefully my sliders and high clearance will get me around and over these tight spots. I'll have my new 45-gallon auxiliary gas tank with me so fuel shouldn't be an issue (probably only going to carry 20 gallons in it for both weight purposes and to test out the new tank cautiously). I'll take a look at those spots you mentioned for sure! We're thinking drive as far as we can Monday and camp at the hot springs by the East Fork Carson River (38.76944, -119.71507). From there, for the 2nd day, we'll mostly take the 395 onward and then West toward Sierra Buttes and Gold Lake. So for sure we should be able to stop by the shop for a bit! And maybe you can do some measurements for a rear bumper!

 

Man, there is a ton of stuff on the north side of Lassen if you find yourself by Hwy 44. Prospect lookout is awesome and drive-able. Tons of fire roads into the edges of 1000 lakes wilderness, hiking, backpacking, Battle Creek Reservoir (fishing), Lost Creek, Hat Creek, the Caves. Again, tons of trails.

-Jon

 

Another question.. if you locals had a choice, would you..

A) do the Sierra Buttes fire lookout trail and then onward to Gold Lake to camp, which I believe is a easy/moderate trail from point to point

B) do the trail from Downieville to Poker Flat (I believe there's a fire lookout on the way, too) and camp there

C) Do the Sierra Buttes fire lookout trail since it's not too far off the 49, head back to the 49 and go West to start the Poker Flat trail from Downieville.

..which has a more fun trail, better camp spot, and/or better views? The general estimate is that we'd start either of these options around noon and would like to take no longer than 4-5 (maybe 6) hours of fun so we can set up camp.

 

I would personally vote A.
The poker Flat trail was a lot of forest road mixed in with some rougher sections, but expect 15ish miles of gravel road on either end of Poker Flat trail(which is rather short on it's own). Poker Flat itself is cool, but the way in/out is nothing to write home about. The higher areas to the north will yield better views and some awesome mountain lakes. The Gold Lake area is one of our go-to spots for a weekend getaway, lucky to live only 2hrs from the area.

 

Thanks, Eric! By the way, I think we can swing a quick stop by the top Tuesday around 10a, if that's okay with you and your team. We're gonna gas up at the Costco in Carson and then shower at a 24 Hour Fitness near your shop beforehand. After your shop, we're gonna head West to hike Love Falls and then head to Sierra Buttes and Gold Lake (maybe see what other attractions there are near that area, too).

 

Pictures from up around Lassen off the 44.

 

Im a SoCal guy so forgive me lol but I just spent 8 days on an overland trip through NorCal and our first night was spend in Caribou Wilderness area just north of Lassen off the 44. There are hundreds of miles of fire roads and they are all smooth and maintained they were amazing for picking up some extra speed on. Its a ghost town out there with nothing but back roads and wilderness. Check out Silver Lake or Caribou Lake right next to each other and you can dispered camp anywhere or theres a campground by the lakes

 

Great place.

 

No advice, but sub'd for routes and such

 

Big fire in that area right now, I'd check the CDF website before planning that route (update the fire is south so it won't be affected) . The Lassen Park road isn't open yet so access to the park is somewhat limited.

+2 on Cravings.

 

If you do Poker Flat, and more specifically the creek crossing, post pics. We were there about 2 weeks ago and the water was higher than my threshold of pain. Your truck looks legit but I've been way too close to hydro-locking to mess with my 15'.

 

we did it two weekends ago, it didnt go over my 33's. hood didnt even get wet at all.

 

They let you drive a big truck like that and your not even 10 yet? You must be big for your age and really trustworthy. And How old is your girlfriend?... jj... following...