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Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
I'll definately toss up a 2nd on Hollister. It really is a good place to learn. The trails are pretty easy. Everything is rated up there. Stick to the green circles and it's like riding a dirt road. There are three of those. Next up from them are blue squares, then black diamonds followed by double black diamonds (MC only). Hollister is much more popular with the MC crowd but it seems to be getting more quads up there. If you go within a week of it raining (I believe it's going to this weekend) prepare to get muddy. When it rains they close about 1/3 of the park because it's like trying to ride on jello. Take a hose nozzle with you and you can wash off the really nasty mud at the wash racks.
I've been riding a lot up between Oakhurst and Yosemite at Miami Motorcycle Trails. If you are looking for easy stuff you can stick to the fire roads or take about one of 3 decently easy trails. The trails ratings need to be updated there. Some of the green stuff is increadibly nasty do to erosion issues. A note about riding on USFS land. Make sure you have a working spark arrestor. You also need to stick to level 2 forest roads. These are the ones with the vertical (wood) signs for the road like such:
6
S
4
1
As opposed to level 3 and 4 rds which have horizontal (metal) signs like such:
6S41
Here a link for Riding Areas in CA.
Bokasmo CA Riding Site
CA State Parks SVRAs
Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
Rescue: I'm heading over to Hollister 4/30-5/2 with my local buddies...unless they back out...again. Upper Ranch is for the big boys to play on (Jeeps, 4x4 trucks, etc.) Also have an area for Odysseys and Pilots. During special events they allow some use by Quads/MCs. Not sure what though.
The green circle trails are almost completely flat. A few little dips, slightly winding. There are 3 of them. One is in the Adobe Section and overlooks Cienega. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. The second one is Rancho Rd/Wood Camp Rd. Rancho is heading "out" to the back. Wood Camp is it's return road coming back almost completely across the park. The third rd. is Harmony Gate/Harmony Gate Return. Rancho/Wood Camp & Harmony Gate/Return are nice for easy rides through the trees. It's completely coverd in trees. Rancho / Wood Camp get nasty slick when it rains. So if you are in for some mud fun don't forget to hit it. Gets rough and whooped out something fierce when it starts to dry up. These trails are easy and wide. You can actually see the marks from the graders when they run them up there. I've been on Harmony Gate Return at 50MPH. It's dicey (went off once) but fun.
The Adobe Section is also flatter. The blue square trails are only slightly more difficult mainly as they are windier and narrower. But still easily handled. But watch for idiots going the wrong way or on crossing trails. This area has a huge amount of "Volunteer Trails". Trails that were made by people not following the rules of staying on marked trails. There are no black diamond trails over there that I know of. That is also where there is a hill for climbing if you are into that sort of thing.
The blue square trails are pretty easy. I've been riding less than a year and up at Miami (above Oakhurst) where I usually ride the green circles are insane in some spots. Quads can go on any trail at Hollister except for the double black diamonds which are single tracks or the designated areas (MX Track, TT Track, etc.) Some of the blue stuff is easier than others. High Rd. and Ridge Rd. for example are only slightly more difficult than the green rds. Some of the other blue stuff gets tougher because of steepness, narrowness and trail design (curves right after a "jump" (used to control water runoff)).
Some of the blue stuff is wide and fast (Ridge Rd.), but you need to keep your speed under control. I was running it in 5th and 6th. You know you're moving when you can pull a hill in 5th.
As for breaking, I started out that same way. Opposite brake to uphill. If something happens I follow that. But I've also started using my fronts more on down hills. The back end locks up and skids way too easy on hard pack with a dust cover. I prefer to have the front of the bike heading in the direction I'm traveling, not the rear.
I have a friend and his daughter (9y/o) was on an LT80 and it did just fine, considering the sloppy wet conditions. She only had one accident. She lost control going to fast down a slick downhill section. Scares the crap outta ya when you see a kid go flying by you outta control go almost off the trail, overcorrect and t-bone a tree. She walked away just fine and so did the quad. After that any downhill section we tethered her to him so she couldn't get out of control.
I'll definately second the weight shifting. It makes a huge difference. And lean to the inside of your turns. If you go to Hollister stop by the ATV track and watch.
And as for hills, I'll go down em. But it scares the hell out of me going up. I have a fear of flipping over backwards or getting stuck 1/2 way up. Everyone else I know that has hill problems is opposite. They don't want to go down it. Hills always look steeper than they are.
And welcome to the sport.
Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
There's nothing wrong with throwing it in first and coasting down a hill. It's compression braking and that's how you do it in a car (but generally not those slow of speeds.) This is what's going on and steep downhill grades when you see signs that say "Trucks use lower gears." It is the RIGHT way to do it. Of course when it gets really steep or you get a run going you add your brakes into the equation. The lower the gear the more force it takes to push and compress each cyclinder. Staying in a higher gear and using only brakes is asking for trouble. FOr me it usually causes the back tires to break traction and decide that it wants to win the race with the front going downhill...again...NOT GOOD.
Rescue you are right on the trail names. The whoops and the drops and what not add a little excitement...especially at over 40!
"55 and Stay Alive" I don't think they meant quads on a trail......
Yeah the technicals do get you going. But it's also hard to do 120 miles worth of them in a weekend. LOL Though we did 30+ that day you cut the tire.
Posted by: SHOTGUN4918
Try Sugarpine, it's near the town of Foresthill, just outside of Auburn. Lot's of trail's and there is even a campground near Sugarpine Reservoir, if you want to stay a few day's. It's a good place to ride!
Posted by: powerstroke01
Hollister is cool if you just like to cruise around... But i prefer places like Miami Trails for Technical mountain trails.....
And yes im going to hollister at the end of the month wiht BlackandRed
Posted by: regor
The national forest sound just like the place for you. I would suggest eldorado forest, if you go straight up 88 to pioneer. Stop at the ranger station, they are full of info. Pipi valley would be a good place to ride, try trail 33, it's about a 20 mile loop, and has a little bit of everything, not real difficult.
Posted by: rescuediver
Welcome to the forumhere's Hollister that's about 1 1/2 hrs off hwy 152 over Pacheco Pass, Stanislaus Nat'l Forest above Sonora, same off of Hwy 4 near Dorrington. Stanislaus Co. has county run parks, LaGrange (old rock quarry) it's small. Then, there's Frank Raines Park west of Patterson, It's similiar to Carnegie, lots of hills. Right now only about 250 acres opened. Rest is closed for restoration after a huge wildfire. When you go to pismo, do search on here and read some of the old posts. A lot of good info if you've never been there. Lt. Dan
Posted by: rescuediver
Today was are first time at Hollister, nice park. We did stick to the green circle trails and my kids enjoyed it. That's the first time my daughters rode trails like that. Like to see them make the green circle trails connect at least at the Lower Ranch. My kids were talking about camping there soon. There was quite a bit of m/c there, but there was a few quads there.
BlackandRed, on the map for Hollister, there seems to be more circle green trails at the Upper Ranch, is that also open to atvs unless it's closed for special events? The booklet I picked up isn't clear on it. Also, how are the blue square trails for quads. Didn't venture on them due to the kids being with me. Thanks Dan
Posted by: rescuediver
bishbashers, They weren't steep enough that my daughters 14,11 and 8 wouldn't ride them, I did have to tell them to down shift while going down hill, that was just so, they could control their speed better and not soley depend on the brakes. We didn't venture off of the green circle trails, we'll save that for another trip.
Posted by: rescuediver
bishbanger, no problem, just remember when traversing a hill, use the brake that is on the uphill side. So, if your going down hill use the rear brake, if going up hill use the front brake. And remember to move your weight forward going uphill and backwards when going down hill. Happy riding
Posted by: rescuediver
BlackandRed, I'll put those dates on my calender and let you know if I can make it. I think your referring to the trail that is called Field and Lower Field Road? It parallels Cienega Rd. We didn't make it on that trail. You were right about the other trails though. My daughters did enjoy the Ranco Road/Wood Camp Road trial alot. There were a few moguls on them, not like Pismo though. Next trip, we will definately try more trails. Thanks for the information.
I also learned that it is cheaper for us to ride @ Hollister for a day then locally. $4 a day versus $17 locally. Only down side is the 1 1/2 hr drive. But it's not a bad driveLt.Dan
Posted by: HwyFlyer
There is some good riding trails like you mentioned off of Forebay Rd in Pollock Pines off of Hwy 50. The trails are all posted and not too crowded. The riding area is 11 miles in after turning onto Forebay Rd. Some spots are narrow so if pulling a trailer in just need to go slow on the turns in case someone eles is coming the other way. Has anyone else on the forum been to this location? Also as mentioned buy "Regor" some good riding at PiPi, just more crowded there.
Posted by: bishbashers
HI all,
New to the forum here. I live outside of SacTown and am looking for some new places to ride, within about 2 hours.
I have been to Carnegie (husband crashed quad and totalled it on first ride) and don't intend to return and have been to Prairie City several times. We have our training in May and are looking to stay in places that are very easy riding...ie; small baby hills, fire roads, and very easy trails.
Any ideas? A pismo trip is already planned for early June so we do know about that,
Also..if it makes a difference I ride a 250 Bayou and my husband rides a 360 Prairie 4x4 (both utility quads).
Thanks!
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks! I did know about Hollister...thinking of going there next weekend and doing some camping and riding :-)
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks Regor! I will definitely look into more of the forest areas...the PiPi one sounds like a good ride...we haven't done anything outside of an OHV park , but riding a loop (we've heard so much about them from dirtbike friends) sounds like it would be fun.
Has anyone every been up to Fouts Springs area riding? Is it any good for quads? We have some bike friends who are trying to drag us up there for a ride, but we're (well actually me cuz I'm new and being a wuss) are trying to stick to flatter lands.
Thanks all...I can tell that this forum will end up being one of my favorite internet areas for ATV info.
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks HWy and Shotgun...I'm compiling a list of all these places! So many places to ride..and yet so little time...dang midterms/finals always getting in the way on weekends.
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks Black. Our quads are only a month old so they do have the spark arrestors. And thanks for the tip on the signage! Will definitely remember that.
Posted by: bishbashers
Hey Diver,
So at Hollister were those green trails really easy? NO steep hills, steep drops, etc.? I'm trying to go real easy until I get my safety course done in mid-May, and my problem is that it is always MC riders telling me it's no problem..but for them a steep hill isn't a big deal :-)
Thanks for any info. you might have.
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks Diver.....the only reason I ask is because I'm still not that great with remembering which brake to use at which times, etc. I'm getting better every ride, but by no means am I even close to an intermediate rider.
Posted by: bishbashers
Thanks Diver!
Posted by: bishbashers
Wow Black!
Thanks for the great advice! I have been practicing really hard on my weight shifting and have it down pat on the uphill/downhill, and am getting better on the turns. I'm trying to tackle banks next...always want to turn into the turn but on banks it is a bit different ballgame...plus the whole feeling of being slanted scares the beejesus out of me.
Been down a couple of hills and just put it in first and kinda coasted down...I know not the best to do :-( Practice is required for everything and this is no exception...it would be like giving a 16 year a car and letting them drive without training...just not a safe thing to do!
Our training is May 15th (the soonest we could get in) at Carnegie (not my favorite place after hubby totalled a quad on our first ride) but we'll just stick to the flat areas.
Also..when I was on the phone with the training people they mentioned a training out by Antioch....is there an OHV park out that way?
