Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Chester, California

Willow Lake Road (29N14) is a scenic 4.5-mile dirt and gravel route on the southern edge of Lassen National Forest. Winding through pine forest, the road climbs gradually from 5,012 feet to 5,500 feet, ending near Willow Lake. It is accessible to high-clearance and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The fin...
Learn more about Willow Lake Road 29N14

This is mostly a gravel trail through a previously burned section of the forest. There's also a campground called Soldier Meadows Campground that was closed at the time of mapping the trail in early June. It's not clear if there's a time it will open. There's a nice creek that runs along a section o...
Learn more about Coyote (Collins 500) - FS 28N36

This trail does go farther than it's mapped, but there was a very large tree that fell on the trail that looks like it's been there for a little bit, with the amount of dirt/ground that has grown around the sides of it. This is the eastern section of the trail. The trail did have some small washes a...
Learn more about Deer Creek South - FS 28N49

This is a long, mostly gravel trail. The first half of the trail is pretty flat and smooth; the second half has more wash/rut damage. There are multiple spots to pull off to camp along the trail, some spots being pretty big for multiple vehicles. The trail ends at a large area to camp as well.
Learn more about Elam Carter - FS 28N12

This is a dirt trail and isn't too long. There are no washes or ruts or any obstacles along this trail; it's pretty straightforward. Has a couple of cool views along the trail. There is a large camping area at the end of the trail that looks like a nice spot. Can fit multiple vehicles in it.
Learn more about Deer Creek S - FS 28N12G

This is a great, easy-to-moderate trail during the summer that just about any capable 4WD vehicle can enjoy. The route crosses Goodrich Creek and the adjacent historic flume, offering beautiful scenery and several great spots to stop and take in the views. Be aware that this trail is highly seasona...
Learn more about Gator's Flume Run

This is a dirt trail with some small rocks along the trail. Some bushes along the side of the trail make some sections narrower than others. Some small ruts and a tree are overhanging into the trail, but that can easily be driven around. There is a nice, large area to camp at the end of the trail as...
Learn more about West Ruffa - FS 27N93

This is a short trail with small washes and ruts along the way, but nothing extreme or technical. The trail is surrounded by dense green forest, so it's really pretty. There are some small areas along the trail to camp and a small area at the end that you could camp as well, but it may be difficult ...
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 27N59

This is a dirt trail that has some small wash sections along it, but it's nothing too crazy. This trail is not too long, and it ends in a great spot to camp. The area to camp at the end is really big; you can easily get multiple vehicles in it to camp. There's Butt Creek near the camp spot as well.
Learn more about Robbers Roost - FS 27N14

Mainly a nice fire road with some small washes, unless you go early in the season. This trail rides the side of a ridge with good views occasionally, and it also has some spots to disperse camp. Could be slippery when wet since there is a lot of red clay.
Learn more about North Branch

Tight, windy trail that drops down into a small canyon. The original second half of the trail is washed away, so it now ends sooner, but it ends in a nice flat area to disperse camp next to a stream with small waterfalls. Sign of fire damage and some standing dead trees in the area so be cautious if...
Learn more about Oak Flat

This trail takes you up the side of the canyon on multiple different shelf roads, ending in trees and a wider trail. It stops at Butt Valley Dam/Reservoir. Looks to have a road around it to go to other trails. Workers at the dam look like they share the trail, and depending on the time of year, have...
Learn more about Caribou

This trail is a mix of dirt and gravel. The trail has small ruts but nothing big. Some of the bushes come into the trail, making it a little narrower in some sections, but it is mostly open. The trail ends with a very large flat area to camp, which can hold multiple vehicles.
Learn more about Humboldt North West - FS 27N80

This trail is a mix of dirt with some rocks in it as well. There is a creek that runs parallel for a large portion of the trail. It is surrounded by beautiful green forest with some dead fallen trees within it as well. There are some sections of the trail that have trees that stick out a little into...
Learn more about Scotts John North - FS 26N11

This trail goes through a section of the forest that has been previously burned. The trail consists of dirt with a little bit of gravel and baseball and softball-sized rocks. There are some ruts and washes along the trail. A few miles into the trail, there were a few fallen dead trees over the trail...
Learn more about Cirby Tie - FS 26N33

This trail is a mix of dirt and gravel. This trail is closed during the winter, 11/1-5/1, or as conditions allow, and has a sign and gate closing it off during the season. There are some fairly large ruts along the trail, which make some of those sections of the trail fairly narrow.
Learn more about Colby Creek - FS 26N59

This trail is mostly made up of gravel and dirt with some rocks here and there. This trail is like a fire road, but there are some small ruts/washes along the trail as well. The trail is really cool, as it winds through the mountain. It has great views of the surrounding mountains, and there is a ni...
Learn more about Scotts John - FS 26N27

This is a short spur trail that has a large camp spot at the end of it that can fit multiple vehicles. This is an easy trail, no washes or ruts. There is a rust-resistant sugar pine with signs to protect it for reforestation efforts. This is a beautiful trail and a camp in dense forest.
Learn more about Willow Creek - FS 26N07

This is a long trail that is a mix of dirt and gravel. There are some sections of the trail that have great views of Lassen Peak. There are a few washes along the trail and some shelf roads. There is also a small creek crossing. There are plenty of spots to pull off and camp as well. Some that can h...
Learn more about Rattlesnake - FS 27N12

This dirt trail leads up to the Colby Mountain Lookout. The trail itself is easy. Colby Mountain Lookout is at the end of the trail, and the lookout has been manned by Ken Jordan from 1985 to 2024, and will be opening back up in the 2026 season before retiring. There are obviously some great views a...
Learn more about Colby Mountain Lookout - FS 27N36

Willow Lake Road (29N14) is a scenic 4.5-mile dirt and gravel route on the southern edge of Lassen National Forest. Winding through pine forest, the road climbs gradually from 5,012 feet to 5,500 feet, ending near Willow Lake. It is accessible to high-clearance and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The fin...
Learn more about Willow Lake Road 29N14

This is mostly a gravel trail through a previously burned section of the forest. There's also a campground called Soldier Meadows Campground that was closed at the time of mapping the trail in early June. It's not clear if there's a time it will open. There's a nice creek that runs along a section o...
Learn more about Coyote (Collins 500) - FS 28N36

This trail does go farther than it's mapped, but there was a very large tree that fell on the trail that looks like it's been there for a little bit, with the amount of dirt/ground that has grown around the sides of it. This is the eastern section of the trail. The trail did have some small washes a...
Learn more about Deer Creek South - FS 28N49

This is a long, mostly gravel trail. The first half of the trail is pretty flat and smooth; the second half has more wash/rut damage. There are multiple spots to pull off to camp along the trail, some spots being pretty big for multiple vehicles. The trail ends at a large area to camp as well.
Learn more about Elam Carter - FS 28N12

Willow Lake Road (29N14) is a scenic 4.5-mile dirt and gravel route on the southern edge of Lassen National Forest. Winding through pine forest, the road climbs gradually from 5,012 feet to 5,500 feet, ending near Willow Lake. It is accessible to high-clearance and all-wheel-drive vehicles. The fin...
Learn more about Willow Lake Road 29N14

This is mostly a gravel trail through a previously burned section of the forest. There's also a campground called Soldier Meadows Campground that was closed at the time of mapping the trail in early June. It's not clear if there's a time it will open. There's a nice creek that runs along a section o...
Learn more about Coyote (Collins 500) - FS 28N36

This trail does go farther than it's mapped, but there was a very large tree that fell on the trail that looks like it's been there for a little bit, with the amount of dirt/ground that has grown around the sides of it. This is the eastern section of the trail. The trail did have some small washes a...
Learn more about Deer Creek South - FS 28N49

This is a long, mostly gravel trail. The first half of the trail is pretty flat and smooth; the second half has more wash/rut damage. There are multiple spots to pull off to camp along the trail, some spots being pretty big for multiple vehicles. The trail ends at a large area to camp as well.
Learn more about Elam Carter - FS 28N12