Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Elk Creek, California

Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64 branches directly off Forest Highway M3, winding through a quiet stretch of Mendocino National Forest. This single-track dirt path acts as a forest connector road that loops over to Clover Creek - FS 20N41 and links to additional backcountry spurs, though seasonal downed ...
Learn more about Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64

Set within a scenic high-country pine forest with manzanita brush understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Felkner - FS 19N06 provides an enjoyable mountain ridge drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3, this 4.8-mile single-lane dirt spur climbs up to Felkner Ridge, acting as a connec...
Learn more about Felkner - FS 19N06

Rain Gauge - FS 19N71 turns off Forest Highway M3, offering an inviting journey along the sloped ridgelines of Mendocino National Forest. Operating as an out-and-back spur, this wide single-track dirt road gently winds along the mountainside before concluding at 1.2-miles where it meets an intersect...
Learn more about Rain Gauge - FS 19N71

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307

Kern Point - FS 20N55 is an ascending 1.7-mile single-track dirt spur located in Mendocino National Forest, accessed directly off Forest Highway M3 at the Ivory Mill saddle area. Climbing steadily along a pine-dotted ridge line recovering from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route runs nearly ...
Learn more about Kern Point - FS 20N55

Set within an elevated conifer forest recovering from the 2020 August Complex Fire in the Mendocino National Forest, Ivory Mill Adm - FS 20N45 serves as a scenic ridgeline connector route. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3 at Ivory Mill Saddle, this single-lane mountain road climbs continuo...
Learn more about Ivory Mill Adm - FS 20N45

This slightly over 2-mile trail definitely lives up to its name. While it remains a two-track route, thick brush crowds the trail in several sections, making for a tight squeeze at times. There are also a few small washes along the edges of the trail, so some caution is recommended. The route offer...
Learn more about Brushy Ridge - 19N29

Cedar Ridge - FS 20N24 is a 4.7-mile out-and-back mountain spur in the Mendocino National Forest, accessed directly off Forest Highway M3 or via a connecting spur from M6. Traversing a subalpine landscape actively recovering from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route winds past charred standin...
Learn more about Cedar Ridge - FS 20N24

Felkner Hill - FS 19N04 branches directly off Forest Highway M3, serving as a scenic connector road along an elevated mountain ridgeline. Right near the entrance off the M3, visitors will encounter an open clearing before continuing down the narrow dirt path. The route weaves through Mendocino Natio...
Learn more about Felkner Hill - FS 19N04

This trail starts off looking like it was freshly graded and then turns into a rutted-out trail. Nothing too difficult, just some sections where water was flowing down and created a rut in the road. This trail does have a few spots where you can pull off to camp as well, with some beautiful views.
Learn more about Alder Springs W.C. - FS 21N30

Branching off Alder Springs Road (Forest Highway 7), Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65 is a scenic, single-lane out-and-back spur that gently descends along a prominent mountain spine. Situated within Mendocino National Forest, the surrounding terrain features chaparral slopes and sparse tree stands acti...
Learn more about Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65

Branching directly off of Forest Highway M3, Brushy Camp Ridge - FS 19N02 is a peaceful 1.1-mile out-and-back dirt spur in the Mendocino National Forest. The surrounding environment consists of a mixed pine woodland and chaparral understory recovering from the 2020 Pine Kop and 2018 Ranch wildfires,...
Learn more about Brushy Camp Ridge - FS 19N02

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. There are a few small washes along the edges of the trail, but nothing too big, and they can easily be driven around. This trail does end at a gate with "State of California" land on the other side. This trail has some really great views.
Learn more about Salt Spring Valley - 18N38

Accessed directly off the prominent intersection where Forest Highway M6 meets and transitions into Forest Highway M3, Lower Jumbo Springs - FS 20N63 is a 1.5-mile single-lane dirt connecting spur providing seamless throughput deeper into the forest road network. Set within a coniferous mountain woo...
Learn more about Lower Jumbo Springs - FS 20N63

This is a short spur road that looks like it used to take you to the top of Triplet Butte however the trail becomes impassable a little less than half way down the road. Has a couple tight sections of trees to pass through and it is clear where the trail ends as the track is not visible, there is ov...
Learn more about Triplet Butte - 18N02A

At the beginning of the trail, there is a sign that states "closed at creek crossing". However, we did not encounter a creek crossing or any closures along this trail before it meets at M3. Where the road continues after M3 states that it's closed. This trail is a gravel trail with some rutted out s...
Learn more about Road 311

This trail has a spot to camp shortly after getting on the trail with a great view. There is a steep hill that a hitch will drag on, not far from the entrance, and some ruts and washes along the trail. Where the trail ends, there is only a very steep hill, nothing else indicating the end of the trai...
Learn more about Black Diamond - FS 18N30

This trail has a gate, so it is likely closed for the winter. The trail is a hard-pack gravel road with some potholes and rutted-out sections. There are a couple of spots that get a little narrow. but does have beautiful trails. The trail looks like it was recently cleared, as there are trees along ...
Learn more about Lower Middle Ridge - FS 21N07

This trail can be accessed by Main Road 306. It goes through private property for a short bit and a water crossing before reaching national forest land. There are many ruts throughout the trail due to water flow and some dips. The trail is nice and easy otherwise. There are beautiful views along the...
Learn more about Open Ridge Black Diamond East - FS 18N02

Accessed directly off Forest Road 21N02, Wallow - FS 20N126 is a scenic 0.5-mile single-lane dirt out-and-back spur in the Mendocino National Forest. Set within a mixed conifer forest recovering from the 2020 August Complex wildfire, the landscape features regrowing understory brush. The driving sur...
Learn more about Wallow - FS 20N126

Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64 branches directly off Forest Highway M3, winding through a quiet stretch of Mendocino National Forest. This single-track dirt path acts as a forest connector road that loops over to Clover Creek - FS 20N41 and links to additional backcountry spurs, though seasonal downed ...
Learn more about Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64

Set within a scenic high-country pine forest with manzanita brush understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Felkner - FS 19N06 provides an enjoyable mountain ridge drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3, this 4.8-mile single-lane dirt spur climbs up to Felkner Ridge, acting as a connec...
Learn more about Felkner - FS 19N06

Rain Gauge - FS 19N71 turns off Forest Highway M3, offering an inviting journey along the sloped ridgelines of Mendocino National Forest. Operating as an out-and-back spur, this wide single-track dirt road gently winds along the mountainside before concluding at 1.2-miles where it meets an intersect...
Learn more about Rain Gauge - FS 19N71

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307

Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64 branches directly off Forest Highway M3, winding through a quiet stretch of Mendocino National Forest. This single-track dirt path acts as a forest connector road that loops over to Clover Creek - FS 20N41 and links to additional backcountry spurs, though seasonal downed ...
Learn more about Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64

Set within a scenic high-country pine forest with manzanita brush understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Felkner - FS 19N06 provides an enjoyable mountain ridge drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3, this 4.8-mile single-lane dirt spur climbs up to Felkner Ridge, acting as a connec...
Learn more about Felkner - FS 19N06

Rain Gauge - FS 19N71 turns off Forest Highway M3, offering an inviting journey along the sloped ridgelines of Mendocino National Forest. Operating as an out-and-back spur, this wide single-track dirt road gently winds along the mountainside before concluding at 1.2-miles where it meets an intersect...
Learn more about Rain Gauge - FS 19N71

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307