Motherlode Dualsport's Favorite Trails Wiki (what is a Wiki?)
Our "home trail" is a series of dirt roads and trails between Colfax and Downieville. Although we're always looking for new routes, here's one way to get there. (Click image for larger map.)
From Colfax, ride out Hwy. 174. The highway takes 90-degree left turn at Rollins Lake Road; go left, not straight.
Photo: Google Earth image of Hwy. 174 and Rollins Lake Rd.
Just after Greenhorn Access, you'll find You Bet Road. Hang a right. The road winds up into the hills. There are quite a few homes up there, so be careful of blind corners and upcoming driveways.
At the junction of You Bet and Red Dog, go left on Red Dog Road. It will turn to dirt quickly. Keep going! This is what you're here for!
Shortly after you hit dirt, the road forks: left and down takes you to Greenhorn Creek. The Creek was closed in 2008, so don't bother trying to ride down there. Go right instead, to Chalk Bluff and Hwy. 20.
Greenhorn Creek is a nice detour. Normally, the water isn't too high. It's easy enough to ride through. The riverbed is full of gravel, and will test your riding skills. There are multiple routes to and from the creek, so it's a nice place to explore if you have an hour or so.
Photo: Ricky crosses Greenhorn Creek in winter.
Photo: Troy lays it down on a steep uphill climb from Greenhorn Creek.
If you just want to high-tail it to Downieville, keep going up Chalk Bluff instead. In the wet season, the road is full of mud and water. During winter, it's impassable due to snow. In the dry season, the clay turns to a fine dusty silt ... clouds of it hang over the trail. You'll need to change your air filter after one ride up this road!
Photo: Chalk Bluff Rd. after a good fall rain.
Keep going until you hit Hwy. 20. Take a left, and the second right: Alpha Rd. This trail winds its way down into Washington through the forest. Be careful of vehicles coming the other way.
Washington is a good place for a break. There's a small country store on the main drag where you can get good trail tips from the locals. In the summer, there are occasional street fairs and the town is packed with bikes, people and food.
There are multiple routes out of Washington. It's a frequent staging ground for pure offroad vehicles: groups of riders on quads and two-strokes. Check your map and head East on Washington Rd. After crossing the river, stay left. You're looking for Gaston Rd., where you'll hang a sharp right.
Ride like crazy! Gaston is a long, winding road with plenty of full-throttle sections. But don't go over any cliffs! Ride 'til you hit Meadow Lake Road and Bloomfield Road. Going right will take you to Bowman Lake (another excellent ride). But on this trip we head left into Graniteville. It's mostly gravel road through Graniteville. Slow down, because people actually live there.
After leaving town, look for Snowtent Springs. It's a hard right, and easy to miss. There are signs, but they're hard to see. Moore's Flat will also take you the right direction. If you end up in Malakoff Diggings, you've gone too far. Keep going North, and down. You're headed into the canyon and the Middle Yuba River crossing.
Snowtent Springs takes you down to the Middle Yuba River. This is another nice place for a break. Across the river, it's a steep climb up to the Lafayette Ridge OHV trail. Hang a right and head for Henness Pass Rd. Take a left on the asphalt, ride a few miles, and turn right on Old Galloway Ridge Road. Stay right and follow the road down along the power lines. It's STEEP here. First gear almost all the way down. The road kicks you out near the police station. Turn right, cross the Yuba River, and have lunch in Downieville. There's a great pizza place across from the gas station.
If you decide to take Hwy. 49 in either direction, be careful. It's a well-traveled highway. There's a very sharp right-hand turn just West of Downieville that can sneak up on you...
Photo: Ricky after a 4WD pickup rolled over his bike on the hairpin West of Downieville. The EMT's said his gear saved his life. Remember: Dress for the crash, not for the ride.
Photo: Ricky's bike after the crash. Doesn't look too bad, but it was totaled. Amazingly, John rode it back into town while Ricky was taken to the hospital.