Good drives around Lower Mainland?

[tonydca]

Getting ready to post this topic to BC4x4.com too, but thought I'd try here first.

Finally made the plunge to get an L400 in November from my mate Mardy at AAI. Looking forward to it. Big time. (understatement!)

So never having had a vehicle with real 4x4 capability before, I'm looking to break-in the family (wife plus two boys 9 and 5) to the joys of going off the beaten track, without breaking the vehicle too badly (for now!)

So I'm asking for experiences/suggestions forum-folks have had with good day-trips and overnighter weekend camp trips originating in the Vancouver area. Good gravelly, dirty, bumpy stuff is great to exercise the rig, maybe not so much rock-crawling or other truly punishing terrain unsuitable for a stock suspension and tires.

So have at it - anybody got any gems they are willing to share? Anybody do this kind of stuff themselves and interested in another vehicle to tag along?

Thanks in advance,

Tony.

[Meanman]

You can get your feet wet out at Stave Lake.....there's gravel roads, mud, more mud, even more mud, some technical rock areas, some not so used trails. Some campers on weekends with atv's , dirtbikes and hard core mud buggies. Good day drive or overnighter.

[delicat]

Agree, and another very good place to "play" is Vedder mountain in Chilliwack. Lots of safe fun there!

And Chilliwack in general:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/chilliwack-a ... tml#p27078
http://www.delica.ca/forum/camping-hope ... ht=camping

If you want closer to Vancouver try the power line in Coquitlam:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/playground-i ... tml#p31337

[marsgal42]

There is a network of forest service roads in the hills above Squamish with some pretty good views. I've driven the Mamquam FSR and seen some pretty good stuff, starting right by the turnoff for Stawamus Chief.

If you don't have a copy of the Backroads Mapbook, get one. Those things are worth their weight in gold.

...laura

[Paule]

Think about Callaghan Lake, south of Whistler.

Not too hardcore, but great scenery at the end.