New Idria Camping & 4 Wheeling (April 2-5, 2023)
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2023 1:03 pm
I hope everyone had a good holiday and enjoys a happy and prosperous 2023. To let you know that I’m planning a 4 wheeling and camping trip to the New Idria area in central California, near Pinnacles from Sunday March 25 to Wednesday the 27th. All-in-all it looks like a very nice 4 day trip. The route is between the 5 and 101 about as high up as Fresno. The trail is easy to moderate, but mostly pretty easy. Any stock 4WD vehicle with off-road or AT tires should do fine.
The area around Clear Creek is a Wildlife management area (Condors’ I think) and a Vehicle Permit is required. Vehicles entering the Clear Creek Management Area, including the Condon Peak campground and trailhead, are required to have a Clear Creek Vehicle Permit. The permit is $5 per vehicle, available on-line at (https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermi ... gistration) and allows the vehicle to enter the Clear Creek Management Area for seven days from the date of entry. Each vehicle must display the permit on its dash while in the Clear Creek Management Area. So this is something we’ll have to take care of prior to the trip but it’s not expensive.
For some time the Clear Creek Management Area was closed, but has re-opened to the public. Once it was one of the most popular OHV parks in Central and Northern California. While the vast majority of the network has since been permanently closed, the unique geological workings that make up the San Benito Mountain area and New Idria mining district are still reputedly well worth visiting.
There are many interesting and historic mines, ranches and items of geological interest so it should be a very interesting weekend. The plan is to stay in the area on Saturday and be on the trail Sunday morning. Wednesday will take us over to Hwy 5 by mid-afternoon and then home. We may need to use established camp grounds as much of the land is private but there is some BLM land so maybe we can find disperse camp sites. If you want to join me and would like some map files email me and I'll send you a kmz or gps file (please specify file type you wnat).
If there is interest you I’ll send you additional information on the area as well as where to get the permits.
Remember this is a primarly a weekday trip the dates being Sunday March 25 to Wednesday the 27th . Hope you can join me it should be fun.
Robert
The area around Clear Creek is a Wildlife management area (Condors’ I think) and a Vehicle Permit is required. Vehicles entering the Clear Creek Management Area, including the Condon Peak campground and trailhead, are required to have a Clear Creek Vehicle Permit. The permit is $5 per vehicle, available on-line at (https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermi ... gistration) and allows the vehicle to enter the Clear Creek Management Area for seven days from the date of entry. Each vehicle must display the permit on its dash while in the Clear Creek Management Area. So this is something we’ll have to take care of prior to the trip but it’s not expensive.
For some time the Clear Creek Management Area was closed, but has re-opened to the public. Once it was one of the most popular OHV parks in Central and Northern California. While the vast majority of the network has since been permanently closed, the unique geological workings that make up the San Benito Mountain area and New Idria mining district are still reputedly well worth visiting.
There are many interesting and historic mines, ranches and items of geological interest so it should be a very interesting weekend. The plan is to stay in the area on Saturday and be on the trail Sunday morning. Wednesday will take us over to Hwy 5 by mid-afternoon and then home. We may need to use established camp grounds as much of the land is private but there is some BLM land so maybe we can find disperse camp sites. If you want to join me and would like some map files email me and I'll send you a kmz or gps file (please specify file type you wnat).
If there is interest you I’ll send you additional information on the area as well as where to get the permits.
Remember this is a primarly a weekday trip the dates being Sunday March 25 to Wednesday the 27th . Hope you can join me it should be fun.
Robert