Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Dobbins, California

Shirttail Canyon

Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Boman Lake

The first part of the trail is paved. About 2/3rds of the way in, it becomes rocky and dirty. High clearance is recommended. There is one tricky hairpin about 1 mile from camp. Other than…
Learn more about Boman Lake
Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Volcanoville

Volcanoville is a good beginner trail that can be completed by most stock 4x4 SUVs, as well as many AWD vehicles with AT tires and at least 8 inches of clearance. The trail does get…
Learn more about Volcanoville
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Mitchell Mine

Mitchell Mine is a nice, easy in-and-out summer trail for a leisurely stroll through the forest. It's also a good trail for beginners to get used to how their vehicle feels while off-road. The surface…
Learn more about Mitchell Mine
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Deer Lake, Gold Valley

Total Miles
37.9
Tech Rating
2 Moderate
Best Time
Su

Bonta Creek - NF23N33

Graded Forest Service road above the CA-70 highway in Graeagle, California that accesses Bonta Ridge, Penman Saddle, and other points to the North in the Plumas National Forest. There is a great brewery - the…
Learn more about Bonta Creek - NF23N33
Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y

Bonta Ridge is an occasionally maintained gravel Forest Service road that climbs from Bonta Creek Road above the CA-70 highway up to Penman Saddle and points beyond in this section of the Plumas National Forest.…
Learn more about Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y
Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Happy Valley Ridgeline

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
Total Miles
33.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Sugarpine - NF22N55

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This looks to be the primary route accessing the summit from town. The road is wider and looks…
Learn more about Sugarpine - NF22N55
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beckwourth - NF23N03

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This is one of the primary routes into this section of the forest from town. These roads are…
Learn more about Beckwourth - NF23N03
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This spur accesses the communications tower equipment on private property at the summit of Beckwourth Peak. There is…
Learn more about Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start…
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop

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
Total Miles
18.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y

Dirt Forest Service Road accesses a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start at…
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bear Valley Loop Trail

Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off…
Learn more about Bear Valley Loop Trail
Total Miles
19.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Willow Lake Road 29N14

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
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Boca Hill

Boca Hill Trail is a 2.5 mile trail. The trail passes the peak of Boca Hill, a great place to stop and get some pictures from above I-80 with many peaks in the background. The…
Learn more about Boca Hill
Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Crystal Peak Mine Loop

This loop trail offers wide panoramas of endless mountain forests and picturesque views of multiple reservoirs all along an easily traversed dirt road. An exciting surprise awaits at the midway point of the trail--the Crystal…
Learn more about Crystal Peak Mine Loop
Total Miles
26.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Wrights Lake Rd - 11N26A

This is a smooth, out-and-back dirt trail that's single lane. The trail has very little change in elevation and can be driven with a 2WD SUV. A wide turn-around circle is located at one mile…
Learn more about Wrights Lake Rd - 11N26A
Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bear Valley Road Trail

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
Total Miles
13.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Peavine Prospector Run

Spectacular views of Reno abound from high above on this trail that traverses historic Peavine Mountain. In stark contrast to the urban hustle and bustle of Reno, Peavine showcases the desolate beauty of the harsh…
Learn more about Peavine Prospector Run
Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Devilhead Road

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 further on, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.…
Learn more about Devilhead Road
Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Dunnigan Hill

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
Total Miles
14.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Cement Creek

This trail has great views throughout with a spectacular view of Lake Berryessa at its highest elevation point. Expect to drive dirt, gravel and mud along the out and back trail. There are also many…
Learn more about Cement Creek
Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa

Walker Ridge Road to Indian Valley Reservoir Road

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…
Learn more about Walker Ridge Road to Indian Valley Reservoir Road
Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bartlett Springs Road

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
Total Miles
9.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp / Wi

Cold Spring

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
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Logan House Loop 14n33

This trail has beautiful scenery that includes tree-filtered views of Lake Tahoe, Aspen groves, grassy meadows, a couple of small year-round streams, and the classic Sierra Nevada Mountain Forest. It is recommended for 4WD or…
Learn more about Logan House Loop 14n33
Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Fruit Smuggler

Dirt trail with potential for loose rocks, sandy washes, and water crossings less than a foot deep. Potential for mud holes and trail obstacles up to 12" including ledges and short, steep grades. One vehicle…
Learn more about Fruit Smuggler
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Genoa Peak Road - 41306

You'll get some great views of Lake Tahoe from this trail. It's a wide, single-lane gravel trail that's moderately to heavily used during the summer. There are gates at both ends of the road which…
Learn more about Genoa Peak Road - 41306
Total Miles
10.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa