Overlander's Guide: Mendocino Backcountry Discovery Trail

The Mendocino Backcountry Discovery Trail was the first segment dedicated to the California Backcountry Discovery Trail network in 1996. The current iteration of the trail is 167 miles long, starting in Upper Lake and ending near Covelo.
Route Guide & GPX Files
For the complete route guide and downloadable GPX files, please visit
www.Overlandtrailguides.com
About Overland Trail Guides
Overland Trail Guides features thousands of miles of curated overland routes throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.

[@annakickan]

Thank you for this. I am putting this at the No 1 spot on our list of trails to try.

[@wrldismyn]

Glad I found this channel. I'm new to overlanding and most of the info I find is for the hardcore experienced crowd with $100k set ups. This channel is great for us who are looking for a more realistic adventure

[@ZekesView]

What an epic trip. Looking forward to adding this one to my adventure log.

[@wheeltogetoutthere]

Love these areas! So much more to explore in MNF!

[@FiveAngelsOutdoor]

CA is so far from FL. I look forward to getting out that way at some point. Enjoy all of your videos.

[@Zt3v3]

This is my backyard. I rode to the top of Goat Mountain yesterday. Almost hit a bear, closest I've ever been on one.

[@mattiasherrera1]

What a nice trail! Thanks for posting

[@annmariebarsanti1906]

Wow! Well produced video! Love the MNF, specifically Penny Pines, PilIsbury, and Hull. Love to Moto in the area. I never realized there was an established BDR in MNF. I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

[@stog9821]

That was well done. I used to be all over those mountains as a kid.

[@danielevans3932]

Was hoping you'd get to the yolla bolly's. It's a super rugged area north of where you ended this video. The views are amazing in that region. Cheers to someday seeing you out there.

[@overlandfamilyman]

Well done!

[@truoutdoors]

Great video! Thanks for covering whether the trails can be traversed with a AWD SUV. I find it difficult to figure out just how rugged a lot of these backcountry roads are and whether my RAV4 can handle them or not.

[@dadaking]

subbed! Great video

[@johnwatt7688]

So M1 trail Indian Dick Rd. Towards hell hole trail I believe Bar Creek the road is gone impassable it’s in your video just an FYI for future runs. Tried doing the BDR couldn’t complete darn!

[@ZEVONLIN]

Beautiful area! On the list! What time of year was this trip?

[@DylanPankow]

Fun times had again. Did you toss in some pre burn video of Hull Mtn?
Have you consudered getting an external antenna for your hand held radio? Your Tx and Rx power and quality will go way up for very little money.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Some of the drone footage is courtesy of a friend that predated the fire by only a day (next day is when the lightning storm hit). I'll be putting in a GMRS/FRS unit into my truck soon enough :)

[@johngray9702]

Thank you , that was Awesome. Can't wait to take the wife up there.

[@johnnynephrite6147]

Jade country!

[@andresdurstenfeld7364]

Great video, as always, Ben! I’m new to your channel, but a quick study, and subscriber. I’m gearing up my 4X4 Tundra for BDT adventures to come, but I wanted to ask you if the trails you’ve identified would also welcome dual sport adventure bikes? Putting together a bike and gear for such, but I’m not an enduro guy, and BDTs looked like a nice option. Thanks, AD

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Funny you mention that, we started adding info for ADV bikes about a month ago! We're in the process of adding the relevant info like bike recommendations dm distance between fuel stops to all of the existing routes. But for the most part, I would say any route that has a peak technical rating of three or less can likely be done on a big bike, including the Mendocino BDT.

[@HellaAdventures]

Hey Andres, have you done this trail since you last posted? I have a Jeep Wrangler, but a Subaru Forester Wilderness will be tagging along. Any rough spots besides going up Hull Mountain?

[@bryblanch]

Freakin Sweet!

[@paulaflowers1]

How can i find a group to go the trail. Do you know of a overland group

[@guadalupezambrano418]

What time of the year were you out there?

[@aHondaAccord]

okay sweet now let’s see how my honda accord performs 😎 wish me luck overlanders

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Don't say we didn't warn you...

[@jonluchessi1643]

I know that camp spot!!!!👍

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Jeep it in the DL!!

[@motomikebuilder]

Awesome to see all the cool spots I know so well. There is a dirt road that connects Indian Dick road to Anthony Peak but the A@@hole pot growers blocked it off a while back. I was driven off by a woman with a rifle. Ruined my Howard Lake to the Peak ride and it was a killer climb and decent.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Are you referring to Espee Ridge or the fall line trail that runs down Anthony Peak to M1? I'm pretty sure the second one is indeed private property at the bottom. Gaia GPS shows a number of private inholders on their private property layer.

[@infinion3]

any chance you would share this route in a kmz file? I want to do this route in my taco. i beeen up hull mtn lookoiut 8 years ago in a atv,. i hope to drive this and through to covelo some day

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

GPX and KMZ files can be found on our website.

[@XJapanGonnaGiveItToYa-cd4xj]

I have 7.5 inch clearance and AWD. I am really interested in trying this.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

You should be fine, just make sure you have some decent all terrains and skip the trails to the top of Hull Mountain.

[@XJapanGonnaGiveItToYa-cd4xj]

@@OverlandTrailGuides Thanks!

[@williambarton2529]

how windy is it on top of bald mountain?

[@DylanPankow]

Any of those peaks frequently get very windy. There are very few trees to block the wind.

[@howweroll7]

If you take out that half mile out and back how would you rate this trail for an absolute beginner? It seems fairly easy. Recommended tire pressure?

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

I assume you're talking about the trail up to Hull Mountain. It's about a 4 using OnX's 10 point scale. But there's a go around if you take the left that skips the rock garden towards the top that's the most "technical" section.

[@howweroll7]

@@OverlandTrailGuides you assumed right lol. Thanks for the info! I’m headed that way very soom

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

@@howweroll7 hope you’ve got a snowmobile. Expect snow up on hill through at least mid May.

[@howweroll7]

@@OverlandTrailGuides I’ll turn around at that point lol

[@richardmoore2003]

Could I tow a 12’ off-road trailer with my Jeep on this trail?

[@DylanPankow]

An Opus Trailer could make on on all of the trails. Does the Jeep have the tow capacity to haul "It" (the trailer) on the trails is the next question. Some sections are a long haul up, some vechiles would over heat. You'd have a hard time turning around at the peak of Hull Mtn but you could at Anthony Peak.

[@richardmoore2003]

@@DylanPankow totally understand. Mine is a JLU Rubicon 3.0 eco diesel and trailer weighs about 2k loaded with 15” of clearance. I’ve used it in Utah exploring and camping.

[@jonluchessi1643]

I’ve done most of that route and just recently purchased a 12 foot teardrop trailer that I’m towing with my jeep and I’m pretty sure the route can be done, heading up Mount Hull before you get to the top one year I was in my jeep and it was deeply rotted out I think you could make it but not sure if I would want to take the chance, I think that would be the only situation you could not make it but the year after the road was repaired, I would get advice from Upper Lake Ranger District and they could probably update you, you can take that route all the way into the Yolo bolly Wilderness, It’s pretty awesome

[@richardmoore2003]

@@jonluchessi1643 cool thanks for that insight.