Graeagle/Downieville Aug 30 - Sept 3 |Trail Runs / Events|Forum|Gold Hills Posse 4x4

I'm interested. We were considering taking our new travel trailer up that way this week but decided to test it closer to home. I will take a look at my calendar and get back to you in a week or two. Snake Lake has one very difficult winch hill. It can be avoided if you don't go around the east side of the lake. Deer Lake is really nice and the Sierra Buttes Lookout is amazing but a steep, 20 to 30 minute hike to the top. It is well worth it as you can see Mt. Lassen, Shasta and the coastal range on a clear day. The Gold Lake 4X4 campground on the far side of the lake is a great place to camp.

Jeff, are you staying in Graeagle or camping? Will all these be day runs, overnight trips with camping or some combination? If others are interested in going, what is the plan? The Gold Lake 4X4 campground is a great place to stay. I made it there once in my stock f150 with minor damage to my sidesteps due to a major lightening storm that prevented me from boating over to the campground where my family had taken my Jeep. Not a good idea to boat across a lake in an aluminum boat in a major electrical storm. It was exciting since I was boating when it all started! It looks like they may now be offering or requiring reservations at the Gold Lake 4X4 campground. It used to be first come, first served. Kris can pipe in here since he knows this area well, but there is a fun route from Sierra City that goes up to the Sierra Buttes lookout and then down to paved roads that lead to Gold Lake, Graeagle and other nice spots.

Sierra Buttes Lookout is a must do in my opinion. The hike from the parking area may not be for everyone due to the altitude and slope but it is fine if you take it slow. The hiking trail has a lot of switchbacks due to the slope and their are like 100 steps on the stairs to get to the top of the lookout once you reach it. The view is amazing and you look down on upper and lower Sardine Lakes which are stunning. Kris organized a great run in this area years ago so I'm sure he will have some good advice. Given it is the Labor Day weekend, the campgrounds will be crowded so dispersed camping may be the best or only option.

The Gold Lake 4X4 campground has (or had?) pit toilets. There is a nice, small lake just above Gold Lake that is great spot for camping if Gold Lake 4X4 campground is full. If you are in a VRBO then the Gold Lake 4X4 campground could act as a good staging area for runs for those who camp their or disperse camp nearby. Most of the trails don't require 4X4 but it is a beautiful area to explore. At Deer Lake you have to park several hundred yards above the lake and walk down and then back up. This area has some good fishing.  This trip would be a great opportunity for those in our club who want to do some modest wheeling and a stock, high clearance vehicle should be fine. We ended up finding a reservation at a campground for our new travel trailer so we are actually headed up to that area later this week.