Nor Cal Lost coast looking for some feedback

[Bimmer]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

Usual RD.

I'm lost.

What's "Usual RD"???

[subiesailor]

Usual Rd starts where highway 1 north of Fort Brag bends East and heads back to 101. Lost coast starts at this point ie lost coast no road passing through it Except for Usual Rd which is the old coastal wagon road. It's truly an old wagon road crossing creeks full of mud holes and washouts during the wet season. It runs right along the pacific in some spots you can simply pull out on the beach.

Shelter Cove is a remote and isolated town at the north end of Usual Rd from there its a very narrow rough paved road that cuts back inland through the redwoods to 101 again.

The Usual Rd section takes about 3hrs in dry conditions and passes right through the middle of the Thule Elk range land. Very popular trip for the Duel sport bike guys and for SUV types that use there SUV's for more than Soccer game bus duty. There are many off shoot dirt roads that cut up through the lost coast in this area also though many are pretty hard core 4X4 roads.

[Seabass]

Do you mean Usal RD? At least that's what google maps calls it. I'm gonna have to check that out next summer. It looks like an incredible drive! I'm checking out the Olympic peninsula this summer.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Seabass

Do you mean Usal RD? At least that's what google maps calls it. I'm gonna have to check that out next summer. It looks like an incredible drive! I'm checking out the Olympic peninsula this summer.

Shoot yes sorry trying to work and post sometimes it doesn't work so well. There is a camp ground on the southern end of Usal Rd 6 miles from where 1 cuts back east. It sits right on the beach in a flat area with a creek running through it. We drove the first 6 miles in the legacy GT early June a few years ago. Very wet but the first 6 miles from the south end are generally the easiest part of the road. Took us about 30 minutes to go 6 miles and arrived to a partially flooded camp ground with two families camping by the beach in the few dry spots and a Thule Elk herd was just chilling a few hundred feet away.

I did the ferry across to Whidbey island then across to the peninsula (don't miss the last ferry or your spending the night) and drove through the Olympic forest and hwy1 back to SF years ago. Awesome drive in Feb there is no one around. I ended up doing a little bush whacking with the old 4runner into a long closed and abandoned camp ground along a small river to crash for the night. Awesome trip

[Seabass]

I'm curious about whether the OB can handle the whole road and some of timber haul rd and Briceland Thorne rd.

We'll be driving around Puget sd instead of taking the ferry. It's about 50 more miles vs taking the ferry, but I'm about 15 miles from the ferry to whidbey island, so I'll plan that trip when we can drive around and spend a night or two there.

I'm going to attempt to plan the route so that we avoid Port Angeles and Forks out of spite for my wife forcing me to hear F(*&(*g Twilight audiobooks. Then we'll stay in a camp ground in Kalaloch on the beach.

[rvickery2]

So this road is dried out in July? I am leaving Healdsburg on Tuesday, August 2nd headed up the PCH towards Eureka and eventually Crescent City. Just looking for adventures in the area. Is it worth the drive to see this part of the coast? I will have 6 bicycles on the Subie so I can't get too crazy.

Randy

[Bimmer]

Originally Posted by rvickery2

... headed up the PCH towards Eureka and eventually Crescent City. Just looking for adventures in the area.

I can't speak for the Lost Coast, not having done it, but here are two other ideas:

1. Drive up the 299 east of Arcata to "Titlow Hill Road" and then up to the top of Horse mountain. On a clear day you can see snow in the Trinity Alps to the east and the ocean to the west.

2. Drive up the 199 east of Crescent City to the south fork of the Smith River. The scenery is stunning, and the views from Buck Mtn. or Red Mtn. should be great.

[AltaBrig]

Originally Posted by rvickery2

So this road is dried out in July? I am leaving Healdsburg on Tuesday, August 2nd headed up the PCH towards Eureka and eventually Crescent City. Just looking for adventures in the area. Is it worth the drive to see this part of the coast? I will have 6 bicycles on the Subie so I can't get too crazy.

Randy

Started on to it from the North end toward the Mattole River late last July. The fog was pea soup. Had to turn back because the vis was about 15 feet.

[106rr]

I have been in to Usal many times. The first part of the road which goes to the campground is easily passable by Subaru even when muddy. I made it in in 91 Nissan GXE (front drive with viscous limited slip) and again with a Diesel Rabbit. On week days in the spring, the campground is perfect for solitary camping. On holiday weekends, it is a substance abuse playground. You must bring your own water as the campground water is nonpotable. I strongly suggest that you go equiped to handle any and all situations since there is no hope of a police intervention. There are some very weird people in that area who use Usal for private transactions.
The road out the back of the campground is a 4x4 playground. The local 4 wheeling club (Lost Coast something) has regular runs. The first part of the road is sometimes torn up. As you proceed from south to north, the land on your right will be claimed by wilderness unlimited and is posted. It is sometimes patrolled by refugees from the movie "Deliverance" There is high brush on your left blocking the view. I suspect that the approach and departure angles may be an issue on outbacks at some times of the year. I would suggest that you come in from the north and visit the state park controlled areas.
I went all the way through from south to north in a heavy duty SUV with limited slip and good tires. It was a bore when I was there in the spring several years ago. The brush blocked the scenery. Huge potholes and deep mud were the only excitement.