Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Ahwahnee, California

Select a location:

Chepo Saddle 6S13

This is a Sierra foothill road near Bass Lake, which is not visible on this trek. It is a clear dirt road with very little pinstriping. Some rutting but very manageable. There are several ways…
Learn more about Chepo Saddle 6S13
Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

The Rut

This is a lightly traveled trail with a dirt floor. Uneven, rutted dirt trail with erosion. Potential water crossings up to a foot deep, in the winter, and in some spots the rut is 3ft…
Learn more about The Rut
Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Deadman Pass

Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Obsidian Dome to Grant Lake

The trail is a good day ride with great views and nice lookout points overlooking June Lake and Grant Lake. Most of the trail up to the Junction is trails through pine forest, 2nd half…
Learn more about Obsidian Dome to Grant Lake
Total Miles
16.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Obsidian Dome

The Obsidian dome is one of the many places where one can experience the immensity and the history of the volcanic activity in the Mammoth Lakes area. The road starts out paved but quickly turns…
Learn more about Obsidian Dome
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mammoth Lakes Overlook

This is an incredibly scenic trail that takes you high above the town of Mammoth Lakes. The trail starts near the New Shady Rest campground and soon climbs in elevation. The trail starts off as…
Learn more about Mammoth Lakes Overlook
Total Miles
9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp

Hot Creek Geological Site

From Big Springs Campground, this is a fast and run route to an amazing natural hot creek! Complete with sizzling hot springs (careful, too hot to touch) that are a beautiful aqua color. Two-track roads…
Learn more about Hot Creek Geological Site
Total Miles
20
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

Copper Mountain

Climb along the side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains above Mono Lake on this beautiful SUV route. Check out views of the valley as well as Lundy Lake, and make time to visit an abandoned…
Learn more about Copper Mountain
Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Rowdy Cow

This is a lightly traveled dirt road with some ruts, loose rock, slight inclines, and narrow passages due to brush. Other challenges include snow in the winter snow and water crossings up to a foot…
Learn more about Rowdy Cow
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Dobie Canyon Run

This is comprised of primarily fire roads with plenty of 2 trackside trails and even single-track if you are on two wheels. Fast-paced, easy-riding with GREAT views and a cool old "ghost" ranch house. Elevation…
Learn more about Dobie Canyon Run
Total Miles
35
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Soda Creek Logging Camp

From Hwy 4 side the all-day adventure was on ungraded logging roads. They still log here on these roads so please drive slow and be aware of logging trucks possibly coming at you. You will…
Learn more about Soda Creek Logging Camp
Total Miles
17.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Eagle Meadows

This is an awesome out and back trail with amazing cliff views, creek crossings, beautiful trees and several great camping spots. Plenty of shorter trails splinter off the main roads, offering endless adventure. This route…
Learn more about Eagle Meadows
Total Miles
11.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

3S151 Side Spur Trail To Beach

A quick drive off the main trail to reach the beach and park on the shoreline. From there you can enjoy the beach and hike to see the beautiful Crowley Columns scattered throughout Crowley Lake…
Learn more about 3S151 Side Spur Trail To Beach
Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

3S151 Crowley Lake Trail

A scenic trail that winds it way from the North of Crowley Lake down towards the South-East section of the lake. This trail has side spurs to approach and park on the beaches of Crowley…
Learn more about 3S151 Crowley Lake Trail
Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bodie Ghost Town

This is an alternative, fun, backroad route to Bodie State Historic Park that starts north of Bridgeport. History buffs will enjoy remains of the Chemung Mine and the site of Masonic, as well as great…
Learn more about Bodie Ghost Town
Total Miles
22.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Holy Climber

This is a busy trail, with beautiful fall colors and great vistas. There are sections of loose, rocky terrain and sections with softer dirt that may be whooped out. Most are shallow and smooth, so…
Learn more about Holy Climber
Total Miles
28.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Old Tamarack

This trail was once known as "Tamarack OHV 4x4" and has been closed since 2014. The start of the trail is still open and leads to a dispersed campsite before it is blocked by many…
Learn more about Old Tamarack
Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Elephant Lake

This trail follows the South Fork of the John Day River and crosses a very remote area. It's a great area for camping and hiking. Destinations include Blacks Canyon, Izee Falls, and several historical sites.…
Learn more about Elephant Lake
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pine Tunnel

This trail is lined with pine trees and features a baby rock garden. It is no longer maintained by the Forest Service and ends where it is blocked by multiple fallen trees. Dispersed camping can…
Learn more about Pine Tunnel
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Sapps Hill

An easy trail with a few mud holes after a summer thunderstorm. There are plenty of places for dispersed camping along the route, and if you drive all the way to the end, you will…
Learn more about Sapps Hill
Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Bodie High Desert Highway

This route takes you from the high desert of Nevada to the chaparral of the Sierra Front Range. The Nevada side is dominated by wide, generally well-graded dirt roads, while the California side takes you…
Learn more about Bodie High Desert Highway
Total Miles
61.3
Tech Rating
2 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Airola Meadow Loop

Nice views along a graded in the begging logging road. The road becomes ungraded but really good all the way back. Some brush, nothing to pinstripe your rig. Early season, may want to bring a…
Learn more about Airola Meadow Loop
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Berdoo Canyon Road

This is a fantastic trail that can be run in either direction. The trail is relatively easy, but there are a few obstacles that can give you trouble if you don't have enough clearance and…
Learn more about Berdoo Canyon Road
Total Miles
23
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bailey Ridge

A 5-mile stretch of connecting forest service roads. It is a particularly useful trail if you are driving a non street legal vehicle and camping at Black Springs or off of 7N23. The trail features…
Learn more about Bailey Ridge
Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Buck Ranch

Easy graded logging road in the beginning 1st mile, then it becomes decent rocky terrain, some small climbs, nothing hard. Once you take off from the green route on OnX, this is a really easy…
Learn more about Buck Ranch
Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Masonic Mine

Ground clearance isn't much of a concern, but there are a lot of sharp rocks, so passenger car tires will not do. This is a good side trip to other trails in the area. Vehicles…
Learn more about Masonic Mine
Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Desert Creek Loop

Short loop following Desert Creek between Smith Valley, NV and Bridgeport, CA. Several campgrounds are located along the creek, and there's good fishing and hiking nearby. The road is mostly one vehicle wide along the…
Learn more about Desert Creek Loop
Total Miles
16.1
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa

Wellington Hills Road - 42778

This out and back, double-track, dirt trail mostly accommodates one-way traffic. It begins at Eastside Lane and gradually rises in elevation into the Wellington Hills, located in Toiyabe National Forest. There are vistas of Antelope…
Learn more about Wellington Hills Road - 42778
Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Seven Deer Trail

Beginning at the Lake Topaz picnic area the graded dirt road becomes narrower and is single-vehicle wide. Ascending to 5,971 feet this is mostly a packed gravel trail. There are some steep and very rocky…
Learn more about Seven Deer Trail
Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pistol Point Trail

Pistol Point Trail is one vehicle wide with places to pass on this double track dirt trail. The trail ascends from an elevation of 8,820 feet to a maximum elevation of 9,286 feet. There is…
Learn more about Pistol Point Trail
Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa