Save the date...

This will be a trip to Plumas County for a nice relaxed weekend. Last year we went no one was out there and the scenery is excellent.

More info will be posted as the date gets near (hopefully Dean will post some info). We will be doing either Stag Point or Cleghorn Bar. Both are easy trails and the camp spots at near a running river.

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Saturday Travel Itinerary:
9:00 Meet at Pleasanton McDonalds (exit Santa Rita Rd.)
11:00-11:45 Meet non-Bay-Area members in Marysville at Wal-Mart supercenter (right turn at Feather River Rd./Beale AFB exit 20A on Hwy70). Eat early lunch and refuel. Local fast-food: Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC
11:45 Depart Marysville and head toward La Porte
1:45 Pass through La Porte
2:15 Reach Cleghorn Bar trailhead
3:15 Arrive at campground

Here are some photos from our trip last year and additional links about the area:

Forest Service Info

Right-click and save as: Garmin .gdb file with routes, tracks, and waypoints

Heading down the trail towards the Feather River.


Cleghorn Bar Campground






River access next to Cleghorn Bar

River Access at Stag Point:

Of the two campgrounds, Cleghorn Bar is the larger, nicer one and is immediately adjacent to the river. There are large, slow-moving parts of the river there that would make a great place to canoe, kayak, or float on inner tubes or other pool toys.

At Stag Point Campground, it's about a 100-yard hike to the river, but there's a beautiful creek nearby. But when we were there last year, it was a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which nullifies its appeal as a campsite.

However, it did have an awesome swimming hole.

As Huey mentioned, last year we had the entire campground to ourselves- on Labor Day weekend! Although we can't count on having the place to ourselves again, there may be a good chance that it will be deserted. It's very remote.

Note: The trails to either campground are very steep and narrow, with many switchbacks. While they are not technically difficult, the steepness and the narrowness of the switchbacks can be intimidating.

We're in!

We've been going in to both of these sites for over twenty years! A couple of our favorites. There are a ton of trails to explore in that area including old mining sites, grave yards, a little town with a bordello (closed now, sorry Andy) and lots and lots of creeks and rivers with good fihing. If I can be of any informational service, say the word. We may try to join you as well.

I am sooooooooooo in.

The scenery is sooo nice.

But I'll be in Pismo for Labor Day, had reservation since March

Well, Ron and I would like to make it, if someone can meet us on Sunday morning as Ron will be working on Saturday until 8pm. Hint, Hint...

Christi, the 23-mile roundtrip from the campsite back to the highway would take about 2 hours. If you're really nice to someone, they might be willing to meet you. To be honest, the trail isn't that difficult. It's steep in some places, but doesn't require any spotting.

When we went last year, the toughest part was getting to the trailhead.

The first place it's easy to get lost is just after you pass through the town of La Porte. Make a right turn at this intersection. The main road ascends slightly uphill at this point, and the turn isn't clearly marked, so it's easy to miss. If you end up heading towards Little Grass Valley Reservoir, you've just missed the turn.

The Cleghorn Bar trailhead is a left turn at this intersection . Again, the turnoff is easy to miss, and occurs after a long left-hand sweeping curve as the road ascends.

While driving on the trail, stick to the main, more well-traveled road. The campground is located here .

Here\'s some shots of trips past
Another cool spot up that way is Poker Flat...beyond Howland Flat. The road to Howland Flat goes along side a tunnel through which part of the river was diverted for mining. The road also continues over this tunnel. It's a very beautiful road with a lot of history.

Got some GPS coords for those places? There's not much literature on the 'net for that region.

Got some GPS coords for those places?

Howland Flat 120 53.181 39 42.885
Turn off to Poker Flat 120 52.748 39 43.011
Poker Flat 120 50.61 39 41.657

Akio and I went to Poker Flat a few years ago.

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=48798

Yep. Huey is right, they did go to Poker flats a couple years ago - I know 'cause I was staring at them. Awesome views from our top-of-the world camp site. But the snow blocked one key trail run.

Is it worth revisiting (given that Cleghorn Bar is so close-by)?

Just my two cents...

The poker flats area has a lot of easy trails to explore, lots of great views and some interesting structures near the river. I remember Huey mentioning during a run that it would be a good destination to take 2wd X's. We had to double back out out of the prime 4x4 trail when it was blocked with snow. The area has its charm, depending on what you are looking for. As usual, the company really makes the trip. I would go somewhere else for pure wheelin'

I can't make the comparison to cleghorn bar, since I don't know it.

Cleghorn Bar looks like a great location. been wanting to head up there for years.

Question: would we be camping at the same location both nights? Or moving from spot to spot? And are kids going to be welcome on this trip.

Thanks

Same campsite for the entire weekend. Kids welcome.

Saturday Travel Itinerary:
9:00 Meet at Pleasanton McDonalds (exit Santa Rita Rd.)
11:00-11:45 Meet non-Bay-Area members in Marysville at Wal-Mart supercenter (right turn at Feather River Rd./Beale AFB exit 20A on Hwy70). Eat early lunch and refuel. Local fast-food: Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC
11:45 Depart Marysville and head toward La Porte
1:45 Pass through La Porte
2:15 Reach Cleghorn Bar trailhead
3:15 Arrive at campground

Sign up list for camping Sat 9/2 - Mon 9/4:
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1. Dean/Connie
2. Huey
3. Akio/Catherine
4. Patrick (patrickmb)
5. Ryan (slamson00)
6. Christi/Ron - Sunday/Monday only
7.
8.
9.
10.

Maybe if I bump this to the top, it will come sooner.

Hahah! Yeah, I can't wait either!

Is anyone able to extend the weekend trip and depart a day early (Friday)?

It turns out I get Friday off of work, and it would be nice to avoid the traffic that is sure to build up on 580/205 on Saturday, especially since the Bay Bridge is scheduled to be closed.

I could go Friday.

Anyone else interested in a 4-day trip instead of a traffic-snarled 3-day?