How to Set Up Your Chevy Traverse for a Lake Clementine Fall Day Trip

October is your last real shot at Upper Lake Clementine this year. California State Parks keeps the Upper Lake area open on Saturdays and Sundays in October only until October 15, when it closes for the season. So the coming weekend is precious. The 2026 Traverse is well-suited to this exact trip, but you’ll want it set up right before you pull out of the driveway. We’ll walk you through the vehicle configuration, the access road reality, and the packing decisions that actually matter for a family day at the lake.

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What You Need Before You Leave the Driveway

Getting to Upper Lake Clementine from Auburn is easy on the paved part and plain demanding on the dirt, so you’ll want to respect both halves of the drive before you commit, because the map makes it look like a simple run and the last couple of miles tell a very different story. From Interstate 80, take the Foresthill exit, continue on Foresthill Road 5.5 miles, and turn left onto Upper Lake Clementine Road. The last stretch is where families get caught out. State Parks puts the descent at roughly 2 miles of steep switchback dirt road, in mediocre to very poor condition depending on washouts, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended. Lake Clementine Road is narrow, and you may encounter vehicles towing boats on trailers and bicyclists on the road. The posted speed limit is 15 mph.

Run your eye over this pre-departure reference for the 2026 Traverse before you load up.

There are no motorized boats on Upper Lake. Upper Lake Clementine is for day use only and motorized vessels aren’t permitted. Bring kayaks, paddleboards, or floats. Pack everything before you go, because there’s nowhere to reorganize once you’re on the descent.

Setting Up the Traverse Step by Step

Setting up the Traverse well is mostly about sequence, and doing it in your driveway rather than at the trailhead is what keeps the day smooth, because once you’re on the switchback there’s no good place to stop and rethink the load. Work through these steps in order before you back out of the garage.

Step 1: Decide your passenger count and lock in the seat configuration.

With second-row captain’s chairs the Traverse seats seven passengers, and with the second-row bench it seats eight. For a family of four or five riding with car seats, we’d point you to the captain’s chairs. They open a center aisle to the third row without asking anyone to fold themselves sideways. On the LT and above, standard Smart Slide second-row seats scoot forward on their track to allow third-row access without removing car seats from the outboard positions. If grandparents or extra kids are coming and you need all three rows, settle that headcount now, not in the parking lot.

Step 2: Stage your gear in zones before loading.

The Traverse gives you three distinct cargo zones to use intelligently. Behind the third row there’s 22.9 cubic feet; behind the second row you gain 56.6 cubic feet; with both rear rows folded the maximum cargo volume is 98 cubic feet. For a beach day with kayaks or paddleboards on a roof rack, you’ll likely keep all three rows seated and use the 22.9 cubic feet behind row three for a medium cooler, day bags, and towels. Longer gear goes on a rack up top. If you’re going just adults or older kids and can fold row three, that 56.6 cubic feet swallows a large cooler, a folding wagon, paddles, and PFDs without anyone playing Tetris.

Zone your packing. Dry gear rides on top of the cargo floor, and wet or sandy items go in a waterproof bin that slides in last.

Step 3: Use the sub-floor storage compartment for valuables.

One of the most practical details in the 2026 Traverse is the hidden sub-floor storage compartment beneath the rear cargo deck. Stash the items you want hidden and protected there, like keys, a backup phone charger, and a first-aid kit. Once you’re on the beach and kids are scattered, the liftgate is closed and nobody’s rummaging.

Step 4: Load wet and sandy gear in a lined bin staged for last-in, first-out.

Keep your Traverse’s cargo area in shape with a service visit before the season ends

Put a collapsible rubber bin or trash bags inside the cargo area near the liftgate. When you come back from the beach, sandy towels, wet neoprene shoes, and dripping water bottles go in there first, and they go in fast. The AutoSense Power Liftgate is standard on the 2026 Traverse, and it opens when you stand behind the vehicle with your key fob, giving you instant access to the cargo area when your hands are full of dripping paddleboards and a small child.

Step 5: Check tire pressure and confirm AWD engagement before the descent.

Why fuss over tire pressure before this descent? The dirt switchback to Upper Lake is steep, and that’s exactly where you want full grip. Check your tire pressure cold in the garage before you roll out. The EPA rates the 2026 Traverse AWD at 20 city and 24 highway mpg, and underinflated tires add rolling resistance and reduce traction on loose dirt. On the Z71, AWD is standard and always-on. On the AWD LT, verify the system is engaged and not in an override mode. Descend at 15 mph or slower, since the road has hikers and blind corners, and an SUV meeting a boat trailer coming uphill needs room to stop.

Step 6: Park, orient yourself, and leave room in the cargo area to re-load.

The parking lot at Upper Lake Clementine is limited to 150 vehicles. In October on a weekday you can arrive first-come, first-served; outside peak season, access is first come, first serve. But October weekends are still busy with hikers and late-season visitors, so earlier is better. When you pull into your spot, crack the rear windows slightly. In October the Auburn foothills are warm during the day (temperatures can climb into the 70s), and a sealed black cargo bin heats up fast.

Step 7: Establish a beach-to-car handoff system before you leave the parking area.

Assign one adult as “car-side” when it’s time to reload. They stand at the open liftgate with the wet bin open. Kids bring their own items to the car in one trip. The Traverse’s 22.9 cubic feet behind row three is enough for all the gear from a family of four or five, and the mistake that bites on a day like this is trying to reorganize in the parking lot with a tired toddler pulling in the opposite direction. Set the protocol at the start, not the end.

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Your Print-and-Go Day Recap

A short checklist is the difference between a calm launch and a driveway scramble, so run through this before you back out, and you’ll have your seats, cargo zones, sub-floor stash, and access window all settled before Auburn’s pavement turns to canyon dirt.

• Seat config locked in (captain’s chairs or bench, all rows needed?)
• Smart Slide seats adjusted for car-seat passengers in row two
• Cargo zones loaded: 22.9 cu ft behind row three (or 56.6 cu ft with row three folded)
• Sub-floor compartment: keys, charger, first-aid kit
• Wet/sandy gear bin staged near liftgate, open and ready for return
• Tire pressure checked; AWD confirmed engaged
• Reservation confirmed (first-come on weekdays; last weekend access Oct 14-15)
• Poppy Pass (if you have one) on the dash to cover the day-use fee

From Auburn, the route is I-80 west to the Foresthill exit, then Foresthill Road 5.5 miles, left on Upper Lake Clementine Road, and 2 miles of canyon descent at 15 mph or under. The financing options at Gold Rush Chevrolet include AWD Traverse trims like the Z71 that handle that descent without drama. If you haven’t driven the canyon road yet, budget an extra five minutes of mental margin. The road really is narrow and steep, and it’s worth every bit of it when you reach the bottom.

The tradeoff is worth naming. The 2026 Traverse earns its cargo flexibility and its seat-count, but it’s a wider vehicle than what the narrow switchback was designed for. Drive it slowly and it’s fine. The AWD Z71 trim adds confidence on the loose dirt, and the Traverse’s 121-inch wheelbase gives a stable, planted feel on rough surfaces. Where it earns its stripes is everything after the parking lot, from the liftgate that opens hands-free to the 22.9 cubic feet that holds a full day’s worth of gear without one bag on a lap and the Smart Slide seats that let a parent in row two stay buckled while a kid climbs into row three.

The Chevy Tahoe is worth a look if you’re towing a larger boat to Lower Lake Clementine year-round

This is the last easy weekend at Upper Lake until April 15. Set up the Traverse right, get there by 9 AM, and you’ll have a spot.

By the Gold Rush Chevrolet Team | October 2026