Georgetown – Bald Mountain stage

Coordinates: 38°54’58.7″N 120°41’51.6″W  Map Link

Elevation: 4,200′

Description:  Georgetown – as we call it – is the Rock Creek OHV area. It is about 150 miles from Livermore, and will take about 2.5 hours to drive there with a trailer in tow.  Georgetown has two staging areas that the Club uses: Bald Mountain and Mace Mill.  Bald Mountain is further east and at a higher elevation, but has a nicer, more open stage area for camping and day use.  The Club will default to Bald Mountain unless weather drives us to the lower Mace Mill stage area.  Learn more about the Rock Creek OHV trails and services in the area at the Forest Service site or at Rider Planet.

Directions to Georgetown Bald Mountain stage – via US-50, Lotus, and Marshall Rd (most RV/trailer friendly):

  1.   From Sacramento, take US-50 East toward Shingle Springs. Take the Shingle Springs exit and turn left onto Ponderosa Rd./South Shingle Rd.
  2. Go 0.1 mile and turn right onto North Shingle Rd. – just north of the freeway. Continue on North Shingle Rd.
  3. In 3.9 miles, North Shingle Rd. becomes Green Valley Rd. Go another 0.5 mile.
  4. Make a slight left onto Lotus Rd. and continue for 6.7 miles. Make a slight left onto CA-49/Coloma Rd.
  5. Go about 0.5 mile and turn right onto Marshall Rd. Continue for 5.5 miles and then turn right onto Black Oak Mine Rd.
  6. Go 1.2 miles and then turn left onto Highway 193/Georgetown Rd. Continue for 3.4 miles.
  7. Turn right at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
  8. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you’ve gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
  9. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you’ve gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
  10. At 0.46 miles from the last turn, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Directions to Georgetown Bald Mountain stage – via I-80 and Auburn:

  1. From the San Francisco Bay Area, take I-80 East to the Elm Avenue exit in Auburn. Note your odometer reading. It is approximately 6 miles to the town of Cool.
  2. Exit at Elm Avenue and turn left (East) on Elm.
  3. Turn left on Highway 49, which is also called High Street.
  4. Follow Highway 49 out of town and down the hill to the American River.
  5. Turn right and cross the American River, then continue 3.6 miles up to the town of Cool.
  6. Turn left at the stop sign for Highway 193 in Cool, and travel 12.1 miles to Main Street in Georgetown.
  7. Turn left at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
  8. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you’ve gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
  9. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you’ve gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
  10. At 0.46 miles from the last turn, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Directions to Georgetown Bald Mountain stage – via US-50 and Placerville:

  1.  From Sacramento, take US-50 East to Placerville. As you enter Placerville, turn left onto Highway 49 – this is also called Spring St.
  2. Go 0.1 mile and turn left onto Coloma St. – this is also Highway 49. Continue on Highway 49 for 0.6 mile.
  3. Turn right onto Highway 193 – this is also called Georgetown Rd. Continue for 1.8 miles. (This is steep and windy as you traverse the American River gorge.)
  4. Turn right to stay on Highway 193. Go 1.2 miles and then turn left to stay on Highway 193. Continue for 11.3 miles.
  5. Turn right at the stop sign for Main Street in Georgetown. This will become Wentworth Springs Road in 0.5 mile.
  6. Go 10.5 miles on Main St./Wentworth Springs Rd. to the turnoff for the Bald Mountain Staging Area on the right. If you miss the turnoff, you will know you’ve gone too far when you come to Quintette – about 0.75 miles past the turnoff.
  7. After turning right at the Bald Mountain turnoff, you will be on 12N71. As you continue on, you will pass to the left and below the camping/staging area when you’ve gone about 0.35 mile from Wentworth Springs Rd.
  8. At 0.46 miles from the last turn, you will come to the intersection of 12N71 and 12N72, which is on the left. Stay right on 12N71, and go only about 100 feet to the entrance to the staging area, which is on the right. The camping area is about 700 feet up this road.

Hotels in area:

Other Information:

El Dorado National Forest
District Ranger
7600 Wentworth Springs Road
Georgetown, CA 95634
530-333-4312

For maps, stop by the Ranger Station, which is on the right side of Wentworth Springs Road, 3 miles east of Georgetown.