Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Albion, Idaho

Cotterel Mountain Road is an engaging, scenic ridge route near Burley, Idaho, perfect for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs seeking sweeping valley views. This unpaved track traverses the spine of the Cotterel range, offering drivers a mix of dirt paths, bumpy sections, and rocky cha...
Learn more about Cotterel Mountain Road

Travel along the California Historical Trail and pass by the Parting of the Ways. Turning off Yale Road and onto the two-track dirt road with some basalt outcrops, you can't help but imagine a wagon making its way across this landscape. Although it may look desolate from the interstate, there is qui...
Learn more about Oregon/California Parting of the Ways

From the old highway, you will start on an excellent gravel road lined with sagebrush and basalt rock, which will turn into a dirt two-track with some basalt rock. As you make your way along the fence line, you will get great views of the reservoir and the high desert. This trail runs right beside a...
Learn more about Ride to the Dam

A very well-maintained gravel road leads right to the lake through the bird refuge. Although this is a short trip off the main road, it gives you access to the lake, which is very limited due to the wildlife refuge. You would not know this area was here unless you took this trail to a shallow reserv...
Learn more about Lake View

Starting From the Raft River Side, you will pass by dry farms on a well-maintained gravel road as you make your way up the Sawtooth National Forest. As you make your way from the high desert and into more forest, full of aspens and pine trees, the elevation of the limestone mountains around you dras...
Learn more about North Heglar

This route follows the road past Oakley Reservoir. The gravel road around the reservoir is a little rough with many rocky spots as you follow the shelf road high above the reservoir. The final half mile of the trail is the most technical with some steep and very narrow sections around some juniper...
Learn more about Teepee Rocks

Starting from the Raft River Side, you will pass by dry farms on a well-maintained gravel road as you make your way up the Sawtooth National Forest. It quickly transitions from sagebrush into Aspens and Pine trees as you leave the high desert. One small creek crossing is effortless to make it throug...
Learn more about South Heglar Canyon

Tour the City of Rock National Reserve. This road takes you through the heart of the City of Rocks and through The Twin Sisters rocks, a landmark used by the emigrants while on The California Trail heading west, and also south towards the Salt Lake Valley. Plenty of opportunities for taking pictures...
Learn more about City of Rocks/Twin Sisters

The road to Bear Trap Cave follows the Minidoka-Arco Road. The road changes conditions frequently depending on weather and the amount of traffic. It is an easy road but can be muddy and washboarded at times. The trail begins where farmland ends and leads you through a southern Idaho desert landscape...
Learn more about Bear Trap Cave

Looking for a good bypass instead of taking the freeway? Well, this road is for you! Wake yourself up with a short drive through farmland, enjoy open views of the valley, and pass through cow gates and cow pies. The road can be very muddy when wet; some small sections have overgrown bush.
Learn more about Railroad Grade

If you're looking for an easy, scenic drive through the Sawtooth National Forest, then this trail is for you. As you drive through the little valley, beautiful views of the hills and ridges surround you. Time to complete depends if you take any of the connecting trails from off this one or simply go...
Learn more about Lake Fork

This easy dirt road starts at Sublett Reservoir, taking you around the Northern section of the lake, and leads to Sublett Campground. Other trails continue past that point. Beautiful views overlooking the reservoir. There are primitive camp spots along the shore of the reservoir, as well as towards ...
Learn more about Sublett

Seemingly leave Idaho and transport yourself into the terrain you would find in the Western Desert. Grey rock, grey sand, Juniper trees, and even cacti welcome you on this fun short adventure. Pick your adventure if you'd rather take the more difficult direction from south to north, or the easier, q...
Learn more about Slow Poke

This section of trail connects to a handful of other trails in the area. The northern half is more mountainous terrain as it winds its way up/down. There are mud ruts, erosion spots, and rocky patches here and there. Caution in the early seasons. The southern half is a wide-open, easy dirt road that...
Learn more about Heglar Canyon

This section of trail is one continuous, long hill climb/descent depending which direction you're going. (West to East is uphill). There are some loose rocky patches scattered throughout and a few small mud ruts here and there. The summit of the trail offers amazing views of the surrounding mountain...
Learn more about Sheep Canyon 1

This curvy and windy section of Sheep's Canyon hugs alongside the slope of the mountainside, offering beautiful views of the surrounding Sawtooth National Forest. There are loose rocky patches, especially around some of the corners. Mud ruts exist here and there. Caution of standing water/mud holes,...
Learn more about Sheep Canyon 2

Pole Canyon Road is an easy, beginner-friendly dirt route in southern Idaho near the Black Pine Mountains, ideal for high-clearance all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicles, SxSs, and dirt bikes looking for a scenic drive. The trail begins near Interstate 84 in Juniper Valley, starting along 900...
Learn more about Pole Canyon Road

This route follows FS Road 533, which was completely washed out in 2021 but has since been repaired and reopened. The gravel road is well-maintained and quite wide in the newly restored sections. However, it can get very dusty due to heavy use. You can access the trail either from the South Hills or...
Learn more about Trapper Creek - FS533

This route follows War Eagle, then branches off to the south. It goes down a little bit of an incline, and then follows a spring through the valley and eventually meets back up with Black Pine Canyon Trail. There are a couple of "water crossings" throughout the trail, but it's just crossing the very...
Learn more about Black Pine Spring

From the frontage road, you head up into the Sawtooth National Forest on a well-maintained gravel road. The road will become narrower and a little more washed out, but it is still very passable with a 4x4. In the spring, water can run down the road as a small stream and overflow from the banks. The ...
Learn more about Indian Springs

Cotterel Mountain Road is an engaging, scenic ridge route near Burley, Idaho, perfect for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs seeking sweeping valley views. This unpaved track traverses the spine of the Cotterel range, offering drivers a mix of dirt paths, bumpy sections, and rocky cha...
Learn more about Cotterel Mountain Road

Travel along the California Historical Trail and pass by the Parting of the Ways. Turning off Yale Road and onto the two-track dirt road with some basalt outcrops, you can't help but imagine a wagon making its way across this landscape. Although it may look desolate from the interstate, there is qui...
Learn more about Oregon/California Parting of the Ways

From the old highway, you will start on an excellent gravel road lined with sagebrush and basalt rock, which will turn into a dirt two-track with some basalt rock. As you make your way along the fence line, you will get great views of the reservoir and the high desert. This trail runs right beside a...
Learn more about Ride to the Dam

A very well-maintained gravel road leads right to the lake through the bird refuge. Although this is a short trip off the main road, it gives you access to the lake, which is very limited due to the wildlife refuge. You would not know this area was here unless you took this trail to a shallow reserv...
Learn more about Lake View

Cotterel Mountain Road is an engaging, scenic ridge route near Burley, Idaho, perfect for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs seeking sweeping valley views. This unpaved track traverses the spine of the Cotterel range, offering drivers a mix of dirt paths, bumpy sections, and rocky cha...
Learn more about Cotterel Mountain Road

Travel along the California Historical Trail and pass by the Parting of the Ways. Turning off Yale Road and onto the two-track dirt road with some basalt outcrops, you can't help but imagine a wagon making its way across this landscape. Although it may look desolate from the interstate, there is qui...
Learn more about Oregon/California Parting of the Ways

From the old highway, you will start on an excellent gravel road lined with sagebrush and basalt rock, which will turn into a dirt two-track with some basalt rock. As you make your way along the fence line, you will get great views of the reservoir and the high desert. This trail runs right beside a...
Learn more about Ride to the Dam

A very well-maintained gravel road leads right to the lake through the bird refuge. Although this is a short trip off the main road, it gives you access to the lake, which is very limited due to the wildlife refuge. You would not know this area was here unless you took this trail to a shallow reserv...
Learn more about Lake View