Drive #16: Knoxville BLM

Date Driven: 12/15/07

Length: 21.2 miles

My Drive Time: We were there for 6.5 hours, but that was mostly geocaching, lunch break, etc.

Start: Southern entrance to Knoxville on Berryessa-Knoxville Rd, N38º 49.479′ W122º 21.277′

End: Northern entrance to Knoxville on Morgan Valley Rd., N38º 51.668′ W122º 24.706′

GPS Track: GPX or KMZ format. (right click -> Save As)

Source(s): Not listed in any of my guidebooks, but a very minimal PDF map can be downloaded from the BLM site.

Summary: Offroading in the Knoxville BLM lands. We went with a group and spent the day there, mostly geocaching. Generally easy trails for 4x4s and SUVs.

Description: Officially named the Knoxville Recreation Area, this 17,700-acre BLM-managed land hosts offroaders, mountain bikers, and hunters. There used to be a public shooting range here as well but it’s been closed. There are several first-come, first-served campsites available at the Lower Hunting Creek campground..

Most of the area is comprised of small hills and is covered in scrub brush and some trees.There’s a main trail that runs through it, with side trails of various sizes. The main trail is an easy one, but the side trails can be a little more challenging.

I was there with several other vehicles, and besides driving the trails we were also there to hunt down a bunch of hidden geocaches. We met up just outside the southern entrance, and then spent most of the day driving around, geocaching, and having a good time. The GPX tile of my track includes everywhere we went in vehicles and on foot.

Here’s the photo gallery from our visit.

Disclaimer – This information is provided from the best of my recollection and is necessarily subjective. GPS data is from a personal device inside my vehicle, so coordinates will not be exact. Use of any of this information is at your own risk and responsibility – period. Conditions change (especially in winter), vehicles and driver skills vary, etc. and I have no control over these things. Don’t let anything written here override your own personal common sense or safety.