Just got back Friday night from the Tahoe Backcountry Discovery Trail:
- 8/26/23-9/1/23
Camptonville to French Meadow Reservoir. We skipped the loop that goes to North Fork Campground due to time spent at lakes.
Day 1 - San Diego to Rocklin via 5
Day 2 - Rocklin to Camptonville to Meadowlake and stayed for 2 nights. Great campsite right on the water, great lake!
Day 4 - Meadow Lake to Bowman Lake - Rough last 2 miles into bowman lake. Campsite okay, above the lake quite a bit, near boat ramp. Windy
Day 5 - Bowman Lake to 20 to 80 to French Meadow Resevoir. Once again slow 2 mile bumpy ride out of bowman lake then down from the dam. One switchback turn with some big holes but no problem for stock Jeep JKU and Ford Raptor. Slow in 4WD Low. Skipped the loop past North Fork campground and falls and went straight up the 80 to Soda Springs then to French Meadow Reservoir
Day 6 - Stayed a 2nd night at French Meadow Reservoir. Nice site a little above the lake. Got a bit windy mid day both days. Campsites were mostly open when we arrived 8-30 to 9-1 but were about to all fill up starting 9-1. We left before it got packed and as it started to rain
Day 7 - Wanted to leaved quickest route possible to head back to San Diego. Tried to drive 96 out and found the gate locked afree driving about 30 miles. Backtracked and took Hwy 22 from the French Meadow Reservoir Dam to Georgetown. Decided to loop the trip and not take the 5 back so went Hwy 50 to 88 to 89 to 395 for a long windy 12 hour drive back to San Diego.
Overall Epic Trip! Best time for me was Meadow Lake.
- 8/26/23-9/1/23
Camptonville to French Meadow Reservoir. We skipped the loop that goes to North Fork Campground due to time spent at lakes.
Day 1 - San Diego to Rocklin via 5
Day 2 - Rocklin to Camptonville to Meadowlake and stayed for 2 nights. Great campsite right on the water, great lake!
Day 4 - Meadow Lake to Bowman Lake - Rough last 2 miles into bowman lake. Campsite okay, above the lake quite a bit, near boat ramp. Windy
Day 5 - Bowman Lake to 20 to 80 to French Meadow Resevoir. Once again slow 2 mile bumpy ride out of bowman lake then down from the dam. One switchback turn with some big holes but no problem for stock Jeep JKU and Ford Raptor. Slow in 4WD Low. Skipped the loop past North Fork campground and falls and went straight up the 80 to Soda Springs then to French Meadow Reservoir
Day 6 - Stayed a 2nd night at French Meadow Reservoir. Nice site a little above the lake. Got a bit windy mid day both days. Campsites were mostly open when we arrived 8-30 to 9-1 but were about to all fill up starting 9-1. We left before it got packed and as it started to rain
Day 7 - Wanted to leaved quickest route possible to head back to San Diego. Tried to drive 96 out and found the gate locked afree driving about 30 miles. Backtracked and took Hwy 22 from the French Meadow Reservoir Dam to Georgetown. Decided to loop the trip and not take the 5 back so went Hwy 50 to 88 to 89 to 395 for a long windy 12 hour drive back to San Diego.
Overall Epic Trip! Best time for me was Meadow Lake.
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