Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Camp Nelson, California

Explore All Beginner Trails Near Camp Nelson, California

Last Chance to Lloyd Meadow

This is a half paved, half gravel pass that cuts a shorter route through from Johnsondale towards Nobe Young Falls. This relaxed path passes by a smaller waterfall and is accessible by nearly all vehicles.…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Albinita

This is another great trail here--a nice wide single track winding through the forest. It passes through a couple of nice meadows and there are quite a few creek crossings to look out for. The…
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Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Beach Ridge Trail

This is another fun scenic single track that comes equipped with a couple of rock sections and some sand. There are a couple of creek crossings, one of which could get a little spicy with…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Sam Lewis

This is an easy wide-open access road across from Troy Meadow Campground that leads to some great single track trails in the area. It's a smooth, well-maintained road. It does have some sandy areas to…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Campground Connector

A nice, easy, and wide single track that has a really nice flow to it, this trail connects Troy Meadow Campground with Fish Creek Campground, another super fun single track in the area. There will…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Monache Meadows

Monache Meadows is a beautiful scenic valley surrounded by wilderness areas. The road follows and crosses the South fork of Kern River. There are great camp spots along the route and at the end. Explore,…
Learn more about Monache Meadows
Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Kern River Getaway - 27S30

To get to this trail, you will first need to come down Black Gulch Jeep Trail heading West from Hwy 155. You will continue driving until the pavement turns to dirt at the last public…
Learn more about Kern River Getaway - 27S30
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Jawbone to Lake Isabella

A long scenic route crosses the sprawling high desert from Jawbone OHV Area, climbs above 8,000 feet across the Piute Mountain Range inside Sequoia National Forest, and then descends quickly to Lake Isabella. There are…
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Total Miles
46.3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Wi / Sp / Su / Fa

Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms…
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776
Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM 37E402

Starting just off Highway 395 on the north side with no access from southbound lanes, this sandy route navigates through lush desert flora, including large Joshua trees, smoke trees, and creosote bushes, creating unusually dense…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

South Fork Lubken Creek Canyon Loop

This 2-mile "loop" starts at 5,285 feet of elevation and rises to 5,865 feet. The trail is sandy with a few rocky sections. There are also a few sections with ruts due to snowmelt and…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Sp

Woodcock Meadow - 14S13

FS 14S13 is part of the Sequoia National Forest. It is a sandy, dusty trail that takes you through a pine forest with rock formations. There are various sections that were recently burned by a…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

BLM SE781

This 1.5 vehicle-wide sandy trail follows power lines while offering views of both the Coso Range Mountains and Eastern Sierra Mountains, creating layered scenery. Nice views of the Haiwee Reservoir appear as you navigate. The…
Learn more about BLM SE781
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

Reward Access

This route runs from Boulder Creek RV camp to the Reward Mine area. There are dirt trails shown next to Highway 136, but they are gone and fenced off, so you need to run 0.7…
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Total Miles
19.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Fa

North Alabama Hills Vista Trail

This trail is a technical out-and-back side route off Moffat Ranch Road near the main attraction, Movie Road Drive in North Alabama Hills. The trail starts with an immediate climb up the side of several…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

BLM SE105

This short connector starts off Highway 395, delivering access to the Aqueduct Access Road efficiently. Hard pack sand at 1.5 vehicles wide provides comfortable navigation room. Nice views of the Eastern Sierra mountains frame your…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Aqueduct Service Double Canyon

Following the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power aqueduct on BLM land, this seasonally graded soft sand route delivers stunning views of the Eastern Sierras and surrounding mountains to the south. The trail winds…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Converse - 13S07/13S50

This is a short loop dirt road in Sequoia National Forest. Along the loop, you can find a few spots perfect for tent camping, with plenty of room for up to 2 to 3 tents…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su

Boole Tree Trailhead

Enter through the National Park fee booth and follow the signs to Grant Grove Village and the Cedar Grove area. The signs for the Boole Tree Trailhead will be along road 180 just past the…
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Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Fa

Aqueduct Service Road Deadfoot Canyon

Running parallel to Highway 395 in the foothills of the Eastern Sierra Mountains, this mostly sandy route enjoys slight grading that improves the surface. The trail faithfully follows the second aqueduct of the Los Angeles…
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Total Miles
4.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Keeler Route

This route bypasses a section that would normally run through a salt pond (on the way back, we took that route, and it was firm, not recommended though). Running on mostly engineered raised berms and…
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Total Miles
9.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

BLM SC228

Climbing over a thousand feet in just under 3 miles along a shelf road, this route delivers dramatic and stunning views of valleys below from elevated vantage points. Spring transforms the landscape with amazing blooming…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Hanging Rock Loop

This is a fun loop that starts off with SC39 and SC47. It begins with long downhill sections of s-turns and the trail is several feet below the main desert floor with Yuccas on both…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Buena Vista Canyon

This is a fun route in Indian Wells Canyon. This route includes the Nadeau Magnolia Mine and an amazing rocky peak overlooking the canyon below. This is the northern route that takes you through several…
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Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Aqueduct Service No name Canyon

This 1.5 vehicle-wide soft sand route enjoys seasonal grading that helps during maintenance periods. Following the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Aqueduct while running parallel to Highway 395 in the foothills of the…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Sand Canyon Cliff Road - BLM 117

Climbing and dropping 300 feet in less than 2 miles, this shelf road clings to a cliff, delivering stunning views of the valley below, spreading to Ridgecrest, mountains in Death Valley, and beyond. The trail…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM 116

Starting in Sand Canyon, this single-wide narrow trail wastes no time climbing a shelf road above the canyon floor, creating dramatic views. Sandy surface with loose rocks forms the roadbed as you navigate various switchbacks…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Nadeau-Magnolia Mine

This is a fun ride up the canyon from Indian Wells Brewery that takes you to the Nadeau-Magnolia Mine. This is one of the few abandoned mine sites that still maintains its historical charm. The…
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Total Miles
6.9
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

BLM SE115

This loose sand trail transitions to rockier surface as you climb a shelf road along a cliff up the mountain edge. Climbing 600 feet in just under 2 miles creates serious grades with stunning views…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Berm Trail

Riding on top of an engineered berm, below Fossil Hill. Near the Reward mine, below the Inyo Mountains. Only 3.2 miles, average speed 15 miles per hour, and took under 15 minutes. There is a…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp

ATV Trails Near Camp Nelson, California

Monache Meadows

Monache Meadows is a beautiful scenic valley surrounded by wilderness areas. The road follows and crosses the South fork of Kern River. There are great camp spots along the route and at the end. Explore,…
Learn more about Monache Meadows
Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Kern River Getaway - 27S30

To get to this trail, you will first need to come down Black Gulch Jeep Trail heading West from Hwy 155. You will continue driving until the pavement turns to dirt at the last public…
Learn more about Kern River Getaway - 27S30
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms…
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776
Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM 37E402

Starting just off Highway 395 on the north side with no access from southbound lanes, this sandy route navigates through lush desert flora, including large Joshua trees, smoke trees, and creosote bushes, creating unusually dense…
Learn more about BLM 37E402
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM SE781

This 1.5 vehicle-wide sandy trail follows power lines while offering views of both the Coso Range Mountains and Eastern Sierra Mountains, creating layered scenery. Nice views of the Haiwee Reservoir appear as you navigate. The…
Learn more about BLM SE781
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

Reward Access

This route runs from Boulder Creek RV camp to the Reward Mine area. There are dirt trails shown next to Highway 136, but they are gone and fenced off, so you need to run 0.7…
Learn more about Reward Access
Total Miles
19.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Fa

UTV/Side-by-Side Near Camp Nelson, California

Monache Meadows

Monache Meadows is a beautiful scenic valley surrounded by wilderness areas. The road follows and crosses the South fork of Kern River. There are great camp spots along the route and at the end. Explore,…
Learn more about Monache Meadows
Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su

Kern River Getaway - 27S30

To get to this trail, you will first need to come down Black Gulch Jeep Trail heading West from Hwy 155. You will continue driving until the pavement turns to dirt at the last public…
Learn more about Kern River Getaway - 27S30
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms…
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776
Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM 37E402

Starting just off Highway 395 on the north side with no access from southbound lanes, this sandy route navigates through lush desert flora, including large Joshua trees, smoke trees, and creosote bushes, creating unusually dense…
Learn more about BLM 37E402
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

BLM SE781

This 1.5 vehicle-wide sandy trail follows power lines while offering views of both the Coso Range Mountains and Eastern Sierra Mountains, creating layered scenery. Nice views of the Haiwee Reservoir appear as you navigate. The…
Learn more about BLM SE781
Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

Reward Access

This route runs from Boulder Creek RV camp to the Reward Mine area. There are dirt trails shown next to Highway 136, but they are gone and fenced off, so you need to run 0.7…
Learn more about Reward Access
Total Miles
19.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Fa