mendocino national forest

This was less crowded and less touristy than the better know Redwood National Forest north of Eureka. The trees were just as impressive, and it was a beautiful drive.

My 8 year old son and I went camping with our legal off-road motorcycles. The Ranger came by our campsite and for unknown reasons called for "back up"... several Ranger and police cars quickly showed up and the officers jumped out of their vehicles as if there were an emergency... kind of freaked my son and I out as we had no idea what precipitated this. Both our motorcycles were legal... this was to be the first time my son would get to ride the new Honda 80 I had just bought him... the Ranger checked our paperwork and found that the last digit on my son's new bike was a"6" instead of the "7" marked on the bike itself. He said we couldn't ride it. I explained that I'd just purchased it and the dealer obviously gave us the wrong paperwork but that I had paid the registration and licensing fees... I gave him the phone number of the Vallejo dealer and he refused to call and check it out. When I told him I didn't think that was fair and that we'd been planning this Father/son trip for a long time, he threatened to confiscate my son's bike. Ruined our trip and gave my boy a bad impression of law enforcement. It was a long 4 hour drive back home. "Thanks", Stonyford Rangers "Good Ol' Boys".

My husband & I camp all over in NF and State parks. This was one of our least favorite experiences! Poor roads, filthy outhouses, noisy with motorcycles, not a Ranger in sight to get information! My taxes are supposed to be paying for something, but there is nothing in evidence here! Even the wildlife was sparse! Too bad, we visited here several times 30 years ago & it was thriving. We loved Letts lake for the trout fishing...they've even ruined that with bass! I won't be back!