Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Cold Springs, California

This trail is a great spot to retreat for the weekend. The trail follows the South Fork of the Stanislaus from 4N01 (Frasier Flat) to the inlet of Lyons Reservoir. You can no longer get…
Learn more about South Fork Stanislaus River Trail (4N90)

This just under 4-mile point-to-point trail climbs over 700 feet and drops just over 200 feet. The trail starts on a short paved section in a residential area, then transitions to hard-packed dirt and gravel…
Learn more about Fraser Flat Road - FS 4N13

This 2.04-mile point-to-point trail gains and drops almost 200 feet from Fraser Flat Road to FS4N39. The compact dirt and sand surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, running through a large pine forest in…
Learn more about FS 4N61

Strawberry Peak (FS 4N39) is a 5.9-mile point-to-point trail running east to west, climbing just under 200 feet and dropping almost 1,200 feet. The trail starts just off Highway 108 on the east end and…
Learn more about Strawberry Peak - FS 4N39

Fraser Flat Road East is a 7-mile point-to-point trail that climbs over 300 feet and drops just over 300 feet. The trail is made of white crushed gravel and is 1 to 1.5 vehicles wide.…
Learn more about Fraser Flat Road East - FS 4N01

This 2.04-mile point-to-point trail gains and drops almost 200 feet from Fraser Flat Road to FS4N39. The compact dirt and sand surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, running through a large pine forest in…
Learn more about Spring Gap Road - FS 4N14

This is a lightly traveled dirt road with some ruts, loose rock, slight inclines, and narrow passages due to brush. Other challenges include snow in the winter snow and water crossings up to a foot…
Learn more about Rowdy Cow

From the Highway 4 side, this all-day adventure is on ungraded logging roads. They still log here on these roads, so please drive slowly and be aware of logging trucks possibly coming at you. You…
Learn more about Soda Creek Logging Camp

This is a scenic trail with views looking back towards Highway 108. The trail follows along the ridge and has smaller rock obstacles that shouldn't be much of an issue for most 4x4 vehicles. This…
Learn more about Dodge Ridge

This 3-mile out-and-back trail climbs just over 100 feet and drops over 200 feet, starting and ending at FS4N18Y. The hard-packed dirt surface is 1 to 1.5 vehicles wide, cutting through a mature pine forest.…
Learn more about FS 4N33Y

This 6-mile out-and-back trail starts and ends on Beardsley Lake Reservoir Road, 1.5 miles from Highway 108, dropping over 800 feet in 3 miles. The hard-packed dirt surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, cutting…
Learn more about FS 4N18Y

This 3.5-mile point-to-point trail climbs over 600 feet and drops over 300 feet off Leland Meadow Road. Starting near Highway 108 and ending 1 mile down Leland Meadow Road, the dirt surface is 1.5 vehicles…
Learn more about FS 5N11

This is a mostly dirt road into Trout Creek. This is a great trail to pair with other surrounding trails to make a nice trip or weekend out of it. There is a bridge crossing…
Learn more about Trout Creek

This 1.6-mile out-and-back trail starts on Beardsley Lake Reservoir Road, 1 mile from Highway 108, climbing almost 250 feet. The hard-packed dirt surface is one vehicle wide, cutting through a pine forest lined with lots…
Learn more about FS 4N47Y

This 2-mile out-and-back trail climbs almost 200 feet and drops nearly the same over the distance. The trail is a hard-packed dirt road about 1.5 vehicles wide, running smoothly along a shelf road with scenic…
Learn more about FS 5N32A

Gooseberry is a trail that is also a cross-country ski trailhead during the winter. This trail can be completed in a loop and will also take you to Gianelli Cabin where there are wilderness hiking…
Learn more about Gooseberry

This 4-mile out-and-back trail begins just off Highway 108 near Cow Creek and climbs nearly 1,000 feet through a quiet stretch of mature pine forest. The surface is hard-packed dirt, generally smooth but dusty in…
Learn more about FS 5N40Y

Forest Service Road 5N32 is an out-and-back trail just under 3 miles long, climbing just over 200 feet and dropping just under 400 feet. The trail travels through a pine forest that experienced a previous…
Learn more about FS 5N32

This 5-mile out-and-back trail climbs about 200 feet over 2.5 miles through a dense pine forest. The hard-packed dirt surface makes for an easy and scenic drive, and the route is generally wide enough for…
Learn more about FS 5N12

This 1.5-mile cutoff trail starts at FS 5N40Y and ends at Herring Creek (FS 4N12), running through a dense pine forest. The trail climbs over 430 feet along a dirt surface that is mostly smooth,…
Learn more about FS 5N17/18EV306

This trail is very scenic. The first half is mostly gravel roads that are easy. Once you turn onto 5N31, you can find some smaller rocks and ruts but nothing too serious. The trail eventually…
Learn more about Pinecrest Lookout

This 3.2-mile out-and-back trail begins right off Highway 108 and climbs over 1,000 feet through a dense pine forest lined with mountain brush. The trail surface is compact sand and dirt with light gravel in…
Learn more about FS 5N30

This 3-mile out-and-back trail begins at FS5N30 and climbs over 360 feet in just over 1.6 miles. The trail is a dirt road about one vehicle wide, winding through a dense pine forest lined with…
Learn more about FS5N39Y

This 3-mile out-and-back trail drops over 500 feet in just over 1.6 miles. It winds through a dense pine forest with a canopy of trees overhead. The surface is a mix of sand and dirt,…
Learn more about FS 5N48Y

This loop is very scenic and is a great weekend trip. This trail is adopted by Outcast Jeepers and is an easy-to-moderate trail but is loaded with views! There are lots of camping spots with…
Learn more about Eagle Peak 4x4 Trail

This trail is short but a nice addition to the Pinecrest Lookout Trail as well as the Eagle Peak 4x4 trail loop. The trail overlooks Pinecrest Lake as well as Dodge Ridge Ski Resort and…
Learn more about Pinecrest Peak

This trail starts next to Cascade Campground and runs as an 8-mile out-and-back route. It climbs over 700 feet and drops almost 650 feet in just over 4 miles. The track follows a shelf road…
Learn more about FS 5N28

Mill Creek Ridge Trail begins just off Highway 108, right at the Mill Creek Campground Road. This 10-mile out-and-back route climbs over 800 feet and drops about 100 feet as it winds through dense pine…
Learn more about Mill Creek Road - FS5N21

FS5N92 is a peaceful 5-mile out-and-back trail that climbs 350 feet and drops roughly the same amount as it winds through a tall pine forest just off Highway 108. The surface is primarily hard-packed dirt…
Learn more about FS 5N92

This is an awesome out and back trail with amazing cliff views, creek crossings, beautiful trees and several great camping spots. Plenty of shorter trails splinter off the main roads, offering endless adventure. This route…
Learn more about Eagle Meadows