Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Big Bend, California

While the trail is an easy dirt road the real story is the river. The Lower McCloud River flows approximately 12 miles from Lake McCloud into Lake Shasta. It can have an emerald green color,…
Learn more about McCloud River 38N53

This is a fun drive up through the mountains that will require 4x4 high clearance. However, it does not require lockers. Bring a lunch and enjoy the backcountry, with some great views of valleys and…
Learn more about Jack's Backbone

The Dill Scenic Trail is an out and back at Shasta National Forest in California. There are great views of Mount Shasta as well as the surrounding mountains. This trail is not difficult by any…
Learn more about Dill Scenic Trail

This is a wide-open easy trail from the Chappie staging area, past Mammoth Mountain, to a lunch spot. It's easy for all riding abilities, with a ton of overlooks along the way. During the spring,…
Learn more about Mammoth Mountain Trail 1

This trail begins at Highway 44, travels through Lassen National Forest into Lassen Volcanic National Park, and concludes at Butte Lake. The trail is not technical, but can be eroded and present long stretches of…
Learn more about Butte Lake

Willow Lake Road takes you to Willow Lake Campground where there are opportunities for fishing, hiking, hot springs, geysers and wildlife viewing. The road in is doable in any high clearance vehicle. When approaching the…
Learn more about Willow Lake Road 29N14

This route takes you through mostly wide gravel roads. There is a lot of moon dust/thick powder near the town of Westwood. You will be traveling through one of the largest burn scars in California,…
Learn more about Buffalo Chips

The trail is wide with nice gravel. The entire route has road signs, so you can't really get lost. Up by the actual lake, the gravel road gets steep, but some pavement has been put…
Learn more about Crater Lake

This is how you will get from Spaulding Tract out to county road A1, also known as Eagle Lake Road. The route is dusty and a bit rocky, but not hard. Trees will be down…
Learn more about A1

This is segment one of the SW Oregon Overland Adventure Loop. This segment is an easy gravel road between the Mount Ashland Ski Resort and the historic McKee Covered Bridge. It passes by two fire…
Learn more about Siskiyou Pass

This is a great run from Wagner Creek through parts of Siskiyou Pass to Maple Dell Gap. From Maple Dell Gap you can continue on to Squaw Lake or head north and reconnect with Siskiyou…
Learn more about Wagner & Siskiyou

This trail begins just off Highway 395 south of the village of Likely, starting on BLM land before transitioning in and out of Modoc National Forest. The first stretch is a recently graded dirt road…
Learn more about Mount Lively South Fork Mountain Road

Mix of fire roads and old logging roads. The area has been scorched by fire recently. There are a lot of downed trees that cross the trail, be prepared with a chain saw or chain/rope.…
Learn more about Happy Valley Ridgeline

This is a connection road between the back side of Talent, OR and the Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forests. The road leaves an area of homes and farms and climbs to about 4,200 feet before descending…
Learn more about Long Way to Little Applegate River

The trail has smooth flowing sections, loose, rocky climbs, and hardpacked rocky roads with seasonal low water crossings. The road up to the lookout is steep with loose rock. Leading up to and past Taylor…
Learn more about Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop

Anderson Butte Road is exceptionally scenic and can be run in most seasons. There are not many obstacles, though there are a couple of off-shoots that are fun (including Picnic Trail which is a nice…
Learn more about Anderson Butte Road

Payette Trail #970 is accessible during late summer when the Applegate Lake water levels are lower. It is located at the southeast end of the lake off of Forest Road 1075, which takes you to…
Learn more about Payette Trail - FS 970

This trail is rated as a Level 1 difficulty. It offers a relatively easy experience, characterized by a flat, well-maintained road predominantly composed of gravel and dirt. However, it should be noted that during winter,…
Learn more about Sly Creek Trail

This is a spur road following Palmer creek. There are lots of active mining claims along this stretch of creek. Also lots of side roads that just dead-end. Up by Baily Gulch, there are remains…
Learn more about Spur Road

This area is part of Modoc National Forest. There are several obsidian collection areas that require a permit that can be obtained at the Alturas Forest Service building. Once you get into the range, the…
Learn more about Warner Mountains

Very easy route given type of vehicle used. While most of it is good place for a beginner to start learning how to use a SXS, be careful on the speed as there are blind…
Learn more about Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout