By Dave Boyer
(Please click on smaller images to enlarge)
On July 24th, I decided to meet up with Sportsmobile Forum member Steve (SteveInLA) and his wife Carmen at Yosemite Creek campground. He said they would be up there around mid day and hoped I could camp with them for a night.
Work had their claws in me so the best I could do was a quick visit to the park.
The 4,700 Foot Road
Location: Western Sierra Nevada Mountain range east of Sonora Ca.
Season open: Open all year, weather permitting.
Nearby Facilities & Camping: Dispersed camping at the beginning and end of the trail.
(Please click on smaller images to enlarge them)
Donnell Reservoir is located on the middle fork of the Stanislaus River just off Ca Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada’s. The dam sits in a very narrow portion of the river canyon and has a single access road (5N09X) sometimes called the 4,700’ road.
By Dave Boyer
Please click on smaller images to enlarge them.
A visit to a National Park can be an adventure in life that will almost always puts a smile on the face of any traveler. These extraordinary spots located throughout the United States have been made into a national park for some reason, usually because of some unique twist of Mother Nature or a man made wonder of some type. so the chances of seeing something spectacular is highly probable for the visitor. Whether a human marvel or a product of Earths ongoing natural changes, national parks usually pack in the masses. Unfortunately being around large groups can be less than pleasant at times for some of us. I know I’m that way. Ah…the typical tourist; you got to love them because at one time or another you’re one yourself. I’ve been to Yosemite National Park so often over my lifetime that I usually steer clear of the valley floor due to the overcrowding and traffic. Obviously I wouldn’t suggest avoiding Yosemite, or any other national park for that matter because of “zoo effect”. Seeing something spectacular for the first time often negates the hoards of sightseers bumping into you when you’re trying to get that perfect photograph. But there are times when it’s worth a visit even if it’s crowded. Maybe it’s a seasonal change such as when the trees turn color in fall, a desert flower bloom, or when the first snowfall arrives. With Yosemite it’s easy to figure that the prime time to visit the park is when the waterfalls are at their peak. Even though the major waterfalls are impressive throughout spring and early summer, sometimes the Park’s lesser falls put on a good show.
By Dave Boyer
The Wolf Creek Trail located just east of the Sonora Pass crest (Ca highway 108) is a class I off road vehicle route that offers scenic views of the Sierra Nevada’s close to the 108 corridor. Situated basically north of the Leavitt Lake Jeep route, this path is a much smoother route than most 4×4 trails and is generally 2WD friendly in good weather. It meanders through light to medium forested areas and high altitude shrub brush below the eastern slope of Sonora Peak and White Mountain which rest at the crown of the Sierra Nevada Range. The 4×4 road finally ends up passing through the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center located at Pickel Meadow. The trail supplies excellent views of the surrounding mountains and is scenic alternate to highway 108.
By Dave Boyer
Location: Central California east of Fresno.
Seasons open: Spring-Summer-Fall weather permitting.
Nearby Facilities & Camping: Several primitive camping spots along the Kings River. Limited dispersed camping along the trail.
(Please click on smaller images to enlarge them)
The Davis Flat Trail located in the lower Sierra Foothills of California is a fairly scenic non-paved forest service road that runs between Pine Flat Reservoir and Ca highway 180. It’s one route that connects the Kings River Canyon area to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In general, the trail is maintained well and is usually passable with higher clearance 2WD vehicles depending on the weather. Of course, as with any non paved route, it’s best to check trail conditions before running it. Several fairly steep switchbacks take you past the numerous vista points along the route making the drive quite memorable. It can be a great run for larger vehicles or for those who wish a more non technical drive. For people new to driving off road, this is a good trail to start off with.
