Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Fairmead, California

This sandy and dusty trail winds through canyon terrain, dropping 1,600 feet and climbing just over 400 feet across just over 5 miles of diverse landscape. Starting at the Stairway Trail and Sweetwater Trail junction…
Learn more about Feliciana Mountain Road - FS 4S012

This gravel road starts behind the Briceburg Visitor Center, across the bridge, and follows the Merced River for its entire length, providing continuous water views and sounds throughout the journey. The track maintains a width…
Learn more about Briceburg Road - Merced River

Starting from Highway 140, this rugged track drops nearly 1,500 feet and climbs less than 300 feet in under 4 miles before connecting with Ponderosa Way at the top. The trail averages 1 to 1.5…
Learn more about Buffalo Gulch Road

Burma Grade climbs almost 1,400 feet in 3 miles. The trail starts at Bull Creek Road and ends at Bull Creek Road South. To access it, take Briceburg Road behind the Briceburg Visitor Center and…
Learn more about Burma Grade Road

Bull Creek Road South climbs 622 feet and drops just over 300 feet in 4.4 miles. The surface is packed dirt and sand, starting off about one and a half vehicles wide before narrowing in…
Learn more about Bull Creek Road South

This trail is a challenging off-road adventure known for its steep inclines, deep ruts, and rugged terrain. The path climbs sharply from the base, demanding both driver skill and a well-equipped 4x4 vehicle. Traction becomes…
Learn more about The Stairway

This is a scenic, 9.5-mile single-lane dirt road that rapidly gains elevation as it climbs through the forest impacted by the 2022 Oak Wildfire. The route offers dramatic, expansive views due to the lack of…
Learn more about Footman Ridge - FS 5S025

Buffalo Gulch begins from Feliciana Mountain Road and winds for nearly 2 miles along a narrow shelf road. The track is one vehicle wide, composed of hard-packed sand, and sees a gentle gain of 120…
Learn more about Buffalo Gulch - FS 4S11

Branching off from Buffalo Gulch Trail, this 3-mile out-and-back route offers big views and a fun ridge-line drive. The sandy track drops more than 700 feet and gains just 90 feet over 2 miles, making…
Learn more about Ponderosa Way

Sweetwater Ridge climbs almost 500 feet and drops almost 800 feet over just 3.6 miles, though this 7-mile out-and-back trail starts at Feliciana Mountain Road. The trail begins as a gravel surface and transitions to…
Learn more about Sweetwater Ridge - FS 3S012

This trail climbs over 900 feet and drops almost 800 feet across just under 6 miles, creating a challenging route with significant elevation changes throughout the journey. The track winds up and down hills along…
Learn more about Ferguson Ridge - FS 3S004

This 5-mile out-and-back trail starts at Forest Service Road 3S02 and drops over 600 feet while gaining over 300 feet in less than 3 miles, creating varied elevation changes throughout the journey. The route follows…
Learn more about FS 3S15

A primary, 6.4-mile Forest Service access road that transitions from graded gravel (easy, fast travel) to a rutted dirt track as it moves into the western end, which was affected by past wildfires. It is…
Learn more about Miami Mountain Road - FS 6S014

This short but intense spur descends nearly 1,500 feet in just over a mile. The trail is narrow, rocky, and exposed, featuring loose shale and shelf sections that demand careful driving. While suitable for high-clearance…
Learn more about Low Times

Discover an exciting off-road trail tailored to 4x4 vehicles, combining moderate terrain with thrilling elements. While mostly easy to navigate, you'll encounter occasional gentle inclines and 12-inch deep ruts, adding a dash of excitement without…
Learn more about High Times

This trail climbs 1,450 feet and drops over 1,000 feet in just over 6 miles, creating dramatic elevation changes throughout the journey. The very sandy and dusty surface winds up and down hillsides through terrain…
Learn more about Ponderosa Way North - FS 3S02

Ponderosa Way Cutoff serves as a convenient shortcut connecting Ponderosa Way and Bull Creek Road, following a relatively flat route that still incorporates ups and downs over various hills throughout its length. The trail offers…
Learn more about Ponderosa Way Cutoff

Nutmeg is a challenging 3.7-mile trail that features significant elevation changes, climbing over 700 feet and dropping over 700 feet throughout its length. This single-track trail winds through diverse terrain, offering spectacular views of surrounding…
Learn more about Nutmeg - FS 3S06

This is a short connector route and bypass for the nearby portion of Ten Mile Grade that passes through the private property of the adjacent Yosemite Mountain Ranch. This is a fast, single-lane dirt Forest…
Learn more about Ten Mile Spur - FS 5S062

This sandy trail climbs almost 400 feet and drops over 400 feet in just under 2 miles, offering stunning views of the valleys below and mountains across the landscape within the Stanislaus National Forest. The…
Learn more about Ferguson Gulch - FS 3S023

This trail climbs over 200 feet in just over a mile, connecting Bull Creek Road South to Bull Creek Road North through scenic terrain within the Stanislaus National Forest. The route is lined with grasses,…
Learn more about Briceburg Road - FS 2S05

This is a fast, fun, single-lane connector road that links the 10 Mile Spur to Miami Mountain Road (6S014). The route is predominantly hard-packed dirt under a dense canopy of pine and cedar. Driving at…
Learn more about Wolf Leap - FS 6S009

This 4-mile out-and-back trail starts at Ferguson Ridge and features dramatic elevation changes, dropping almost 2,000 feet and climbing over 350 feet across 2.5 miles of challenging terrain. The single vehicle-wide trail skirts along the…
Learn more about Gimasol Ridge - FS 3S007

This trail starts right off Bull Creek Road and maintains a width of 1 to 1.5 vehicles throughout its length. The very sandy and dusty surface runs parallel to a creek, providing pleasant water sounds…
Learn more about FS 3S10

This is a historically significant, long single-lane dirt road that is generally easy (Rated 1) but is NOT a through route due to closures. The surface is a mix of packed dirt, embedded rock, and…
Learn more about Ten Mile Grade - FS 4S004

This is a Sierra foothill road near Bass Lake, which is not visible on this trek. It is a clear dirt road with very little pinstriping. Some rutting but very manageable. There are several ways…
Learn more about Chepo Saddle 6S13

This is a short, single-lane connector through an area of severe wildfire impact, clearly evidenced by standing silver snags and burnt timber (visible in photos). The route is tight and overgrown due to rapid post-fire…
Learn more about Ten Mile Grade C Spur - FS 4S004C

This trail starts just off Briceburg Road (FS 2S05) and ends at Old Yosemite Coulterville Road. The road then becomes paved. The route climbs almost 300 feet and drops almost 500 feet over 3.5 miles…
Learn more about Bull Creek Road North

This is an easy, two-lane Forest Service road that efficiently climbs out of the Fish Camp area and connects to the high-country Chowchilla Mountain Road network. The surface is a mixed bag of graded dirt,…
Learn more about Summit Cutoff - 5S009X

This is a short, fun, and easy dirt Jeep trail through a dense forest environment. The trail features sections of powdery ruts and packed earth that can be driven quickly, making it an excellent connector…
Learn more about Battalion - FS 21E252