A number of famous people I associate with my (misspent) youth turn 50 this year. Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins turns 50. So does Vin Diesel. Yes, that’s right – Dominic Torretto is fifty years old. It was also fifty years ago that GM restyled their Chevy and GMC pickups into the ‘Action Line’, creating some of the best-looking trucks ever built.

Know what else turns 50 this year? An annual event on America’s west coast for off-roaders called Sierra Trek, being held this year from August 10-13 near Meadow Lake in California. What began as an overnight Jeep trip and cookout is now organized into a four-day festival featuring nearly a dozen great 4×4 and ATV trips which radiate out from base camp like splines on a Dana 60.

Ranging from guided historic runs through the California Gold Country to extreme rock crawling on the Fordyce Creek Trail, it’s billed as the west coast’s premier 4WD event. Off-road fans get the chance to wheel their rides through some of the best trails the American West has to offer.

READ MORE: Sierra Trek 50th Anniversary This August

The Fordyce Run is a highly technical trail with organizers requiring locking diffs and 35″ tires. A 3″ lift is highly advised. The same gear is required for Friday’s River Run. The Outer Limits Run features a route suitable for stock 4x4s plus a more challenging trail for slightly modded 4x4s.

Every year, the Sierra Trek team builds the Summit City tent camp, complete with a Wild West Saloon replica and chuck wagon-style kitchen (with much better food than what Cookie whipped up on the trail). A dance hall featuring three nights of live music provides entertainment after a day of four wheeling and, naturally, there will be a bonfire in the middle of it all.

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This year will also feature a special Saturday trail ride for Wheelers for the Wounded with a homecoming parade in Base Camp, after which organizers will raffle off more than $30,000 in gear from vendors BFGoodrich, 4Wheel Parts, ARB, Raceline Wheels, and Warn.

Interested? Registration is open until July 28th and includes four days of hearty meals, one run, an optional free run, plus camping and entertainment. Not bad for $175 per person. Head over to their website or Sierra Trek’s Facebook page for more details.

Off-Road.com will be attending the 50th Sierra Trek, so be sure to come back and read about our experience at the event.