BLM open Dec 2

[DVSride]

Finally happened; Tumey/Giswold/Panchoe Hills open on Dec 2. Let’s hope it’s not too muddy out there. Stay safe everone.
Link. https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bl...e-restrictions

[BiggyMcwang]

Thanks for update.

[Jel]

Has anyone been out to Tumey/Griswold/Panchoe Hills and have a conditions report? The graded roads are ok when it's wet but the other ones get slick as ice.

[ghilligan]

I went out to Tumey Hills last weekend.

Panoche road had some major mud puddles and ruts, which would be barely passable in a regular car. The off-road trails into Tumey Hills weren't too slick or muddy; the ground is so porous, most of the rain must've soaked right through. Still, there were plenty of hills and sections of trail that would be impassible without 4WD low and at least AT tires, if not mud tires.

Over the summer with the shooting ban, most of the junk got cleared out and the place looked clean and decent.

When I was there last weekend, just 5 weekdays after opening, some jackass had already littered the place with hundreds of shotgun shells. Way to go, shooting community!

[Jel]

Originally Posted by ghilligan

I went out to Tumey Hills last weekend.

Panoche road had some major mud puddles and ruts, which would be barely passable in a regular car. The off-road trails into Tumey Hills weren't too slick or muddy; the ground is so porous, most of the rain must've soaked right through. Still, there were plenty of hills and sections of trail that would be impassible without 4WD low and at least AT tires, if not mud tires.

Over the summer with the shooting ban, most of the junk got cleared out and the place looked clean and decent.

When I was there last weekend, just 5 weekdays after opening, some jackass had already littered the place with hundreds of shotgun shells. Way to go, shooting community!

Thanks for the info! Hoping to get out there soon. I don't know what is wrong with people not cleaning up after themselves out there. Grrrr.

[Jeffy1c]

How was it out there? I am thinking about making a solo trip out there soon. I just have a regular small car haha.

[ghilligan]

I was out there yesterday.

It's amazing how quickly the ground dries up. There's almost no mud on the trails, and the creek crossing inside gate 2 is totally dry. I'm worried that it's so dry, BLM might close it down soon. There are deep ruts in parts of the trails that were muddy a few weeks ago, so you'll need high ground clearance to drive through, although there are tire tracks going around most of these places.

The main road has some deep ruts left over from muddy conditions, but there's at least one hard-packed lane down the middle, and it's passable in a regular car. Most of the turn-outs off the main road between gates 1 and 2 are now closed off with a dirt berm... maybe to prevent use for target shooting, or maybe for "habitat restoration"?

And, of course, a month after opening, the ground is littered with shells and target trash in all the usual places.

[Jeffy1c]

Originally Posted by ghilligan

I was out there yesterday.

It's amazing how quickly the ground dries up. There's almost no mud on the trails, and the creek crossing inside gate 2 is totally dry. I'm worried that it's so dry, BLM might close it down soon. There are deep ruts in parts of the trails that were muddy a few weeks ago, so you'll need high ground clearance to drive through, although there are tire tracks going around most of these places.

The main road has some deep ruts left over from muddy conditions, but there's at least one hard-packed lane down the middle, and it's passable in a regular car. Most of the turn-outs off the main road between gates 1 and 2 are now closed off with a dirt berm... maybe to prevent use for target shooting, or maybe for "habitat restoration"?

And, of course, a month after opening, the ground is littered with shells and target trash in all the usual places.

Dang okay. I will need to check it out. I only have a civic, so i figure I would give it a try and stay on the dry land? lol

[Nebbiolo]

Made it to Panoche yesterday. Great time, beautiful place, nice people. Got to 525 yds.

We were trying to go to Tumey, but went the back way via Panoche Rd, and there was a water hazard that was 2-3 feet deep somewhere after the Little Panoche turnoff. Didn't want to risk it, so we turned back and did Panoche instead. Roads up to the shooting spots after entering Panoche were washboard, so it's slow going those few miles, 5-15 mph. It could've been done in a car (that you don't care much about), but definitely more carefully.

I5 is definitely the better path. Went back that way, and while 30 miles further, it was faster by ~15 mins.

Question since I haven't been to Tumey - if I took I5 straight to Tumey next time, could I take my car rather than my pickup? Car only has 5" ground clearance, and I wouldn't have wanted to take it to Panoche. Want to get out to 1K yards next time if possible.

[baodown]

Hello,

New firearm owner here and I’m planning on visiting Panoche Hills. As far I know, it’s still open for target shooting. Anything I should be aware of before heading out?

[citiliving]

Panoche will be open until April 15th. They have closed the bathrooms. I would stay away if the ground is wet. This info was as of 03/31.

[Nebbiolo]

Been back a couple of times now - great place - there yesterday and can confirm still open.

[Nebbiolo]

4-15 no more vehicle access - does that mean the first gate at the bottom of the hill is closed, or the gate at the entrance up by the bathroom is closed?

Is Tumey easier for a hike-in?

https://www.blm.gov/office/central-coast-field-office

[BiggyMcwang]

From memory, 1st gate is closed and it is roughly a few miles hike in.

Tumey Hills also has gates closed but is more reasonably accessible for shooting on foot.

[Nebbiolo]

Originally Posted by BiggyMcwang

From memory, 1st gate is closed and it is roughly a few miles hike in.

Tumey Hills also has gates closed but is more reasonably accessible for shooting on foot.

Thanks! That would be a ~4hr hike round-trip just to get to the short range stuff at the beginning... probably head out to Tumey in the next couple of weeks instead.

[ggong5150]

Went to Panoche Hills today and sign at gate says they are closed from April - October. Went to Griswold Hills too and was closed, probably due to Shelter in Place order.

[BiggyMcwang]

Originally Posted by ggong5150

Went to Panoche Hills today and sign at gate says they are closed from April - October. Went to Griswold Hills too and was closed, probably due to Shelter in Place order.

They close during fire season from April 15th to October 15th

[ggong5150]

Originally Posted by BiggyMcwang

They close during fire season from April 15th to October 15th

That’s what I figured they closed for but good to know! I’ve never been out to Panoche Hills before and last time I was at Griswold was a few decades ago!

[Nebbiolo]

Fire restrictions 5/15/20

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/fi...515_signed.pdf