Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Chico, California

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

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

The trail is a wide single-wide path that meanders alongside a creek for a portion of its length. Along the creek's edge, there are several dispersed camping sites. There's even an area beyond the end…
Learn more about Indian Creek

This trail is a wide, single-wide path that has been freshly cleared. There are a few dispersed camp areas along the trail. Along the way, you'll encounter a few washes and drainage ditches. Additionally, the…
Learn more about Indian Hill South

This wide, single-wide trail is freshly cleared and offers a scenic journey through tall, beautiful trees. There is a small, tight area where you may touch overgrown brush. Along the trail, there are several dispersed…
Learn more about Ditch Road

The trail is wider, and most of the way, it can accommodate two vehicles. The west end is still single-wide and narrow, but they are clearing the trail. There are some washouts that are about…
Learn more about Upper Indian Creek

Easy dirt trail with connections to the Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument area Trails with wildflower sights in Spring and the main road to The Wilbur Hot Springs. Beautiful scenery of the Bear Valley in Lake…
Learn more about Bear Valley Road Trail

This new trail connects Indian Creek to Upper Indian Creek, replacing the decommissioned old trail. It's relatively easy to navigate, but be cautious of the deep drainage cuts, as they can be rough. The trail…
Learn more about Indian Creek Connector

The trail varies in width, from single to double, and is freshly cleared. There's a sign advising against cars driving on the trail. There are drainage ditches and a couple of small washes, each less…
Learn more about Skinner

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

Bartlett Springs Road begins southeast of Mendocino National Forest and boasts excellent views. This route passes through BLM land, and there are plenty of offshoots from the trail. There are also opportunities for camping, hiking,…
Learn more about Bartlett Springs Road

This is a 1-mile connecting piece of trail between the upper and lower segments of the Acorn Grotto Trail. This segment is easy, as it climbs up a hillside on a wide smooth path for…
Learn more about Acorn Connector

This is one of only a few ATV trails in the Mount Hough Trail System. It's primitive and overgrown, mostly following the path of an old forest road. It climbs up a hillside next to…
Learn more about Cashman Ridge

Huffleberry is a short connector trail - 1 mile long - that connects the road 10M20 to the Berry Creek Trail. It's mostly a semi-steep descent from south to north, as it side-hills across some…
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This trail will take you to a wetland area where multiple springs emerge from the mountainside. There is a dispersed camping area at the end where it turns into some hiking trails that give an…
Learn more about Cold Spring

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

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

This is a short connector trail in the Mount Hough trail system. The south end starts across from the Fireline trail, and after .6 miles it joins the Berry Creek Trail. It's overall very easy…
Learn more about Berry Creek Tie

The west end of Fireline starts across the road from the Berry Creek Tie, and it makes a .7 mile long loop to the main road (403) just south of the 4 Corners staging area.…
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Walker Ridge Road is one of the main entrances to the Indian Valley Reservoir (CDFW) and the Walker Ridge Recreation Area (BLM). The road is gravel and accessible by most high-clearance vehicles. There are plenty…
Learn more about Walker Ridge Road to Indian Valley Reservoir Road

The MX track is located at the Four Corners Trailhead, and it makes an easy loop that is less than half a mile long. It's a more primitive track with a light layer of small…
Learn more about MX Track

This trail is more like a fire road and features a few climbs and tight turns. It has a couple of areas designated for dispersed camping and offers some views of the canyon. The trail…
Learn more about Red Ant

The east end of this easy connector trail starts at the road intersection of 10M25 and 25N10Y, and it goes west to 403. There's a small additional piece of trail that connects to the Mount…
Learn more about Kings Crossing

This trail is a little less than 4 miles and leads to Letts Lake and campground. As the only lake in the lower half of Mendocino NF, it is worth visiting. There are four campsites…
Learn more about Letts Lake

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 short trail that connects Kings Crossing to the 4x4 road 10M52. It drops down from Kings Crossing with a few really wide and smooth switchbacks. It weaves through the pine trees with…
Learn more about QTC

This is one of only a couple ATV options within the Mount Hough trail system. It is 1.9 miles long, and starts out on the west end by climbing straight up a hillside on a…
Learn more about Grizzly Ridge

Trail begins with an easy climb to a high scenic ridge above beautiful Deer Lake. The route then descends into rugged Gold Valley and heads north past mines and lakes. To modify the trip, you…
Learn more about Deer Lake, Gold Valley

The main connector between the north and south entrances of the Knoxville OHV area. Very active with power sports vehicles, as many marked and unmarked trails crisscross this trail. An easy trail with good views…
Learn more about Dunnigan Hill

This is an easy fire road in dry weather and a fun mud run in wet weather. The road doubles as the southern entrance to Knoxville, OHV, and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. It then…
Learn more about Devilhead Road