Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Fossil, Oregon

Wheeler Point is a 15.7-mile point-to-point gravel road connecting Heppner-Spray Highway with the west end of The Old Western Route. Starting from the east side, Wheeler Point descends before leveling out and continuing along the…
Learn more about Wheeler Point - FS 25

The Old Western Route is a 13.9-mile point-to-point gravel road connecting the west end of Wheeler Point with the Heppner-Spray Highway. Although the road appears to continue west to the town of Fossil, a private…
Learn more about The Old Western Route - FS 21

This maintained gravel road will take you through part of the John Day Fossil Beds and Painted Hills National Monument. You can access the Painted Hills Overlook from this trail, which has several hiking trails…
Learn more about Bear Creek Road (Painted Hills Trail)

This is a quick out-and-back trail, and though it may be short, the views are absolutely stunning, even on a cloudy day. The trail is straightforward aside from 1 or 2 slightly washboarded areas. There…
Learn more about Painted Cove Nature Trail Access

Happy Jack is an 18.3-mile point-to-point trail connecting FS 22 with the Heppner-Spray Highway. A wide gravel road for its entire length, Happy Jack offers stunning views looking north into the Umatilla National Forest. Starting…
Learn more about Happy Jack - FS 24

FS 23 West is a 9.2-mile point-to-point, well-maintained gravel road. Starting from the intersection with Wilson Creek Road and FS 23 East, the road crosses a bridge over Wilson Creek before beginning a consistent 1,600-foot…
Learn more about FS 23 West

The Starvation Lane River Access road to the John Day River is a gravel road that winds through wheat fields and sagebrush. The upper section of the gravel road can be anything from smooth to…
Learn more about Starvation Lane River Access

This route transports travelers from Highway 26 north of Prineville Oregon into the middle of the Ochoco National Forest. Along the way you'll find yourself navigating well-groomed forest service roads, fairly narrow and rocky road…
Learn more about Summit Road NF2630

FS 2407 is a 2.8-mile out-and-back trail climbing from Happy Jack to Tamarack Lookout. Starting as an easy gravel road, the route gradually becomes rougher toward the top, culminating in muddy and steep sections near…
Learn more about FS 2407

Starting from the north side at the intersection with FS 21, Wilson Creek Road is a 10.6-mile point-to-point gravel road. The trail is well-maintained for its entire length and provides access to a staging area…
Learn more about Wilson Creek Road - FS 2128

Trail starts with a long dirt road through the farmland of Paulina Valley, then starts to climb into forest after a creek crossing. The trail can be rocky with some ruts, mud puddles in spring…
Learn more about Paulina Valley Rd / 4200 / 4250 / 1200

McDonald's Crossing is a Historical section where wagon trains from the Oregon Trail crossed the John Day River from 1843 - 1863. In 1858, a Ferry was established here, and in 1866, a Bridge was…
Learn more about McDonald's Crossing

This trail is an easy dirt road with a small amount of pavement. It has some good camping spots and goes by several old mining remains as well as an old abandoned house. Some are…
Learn more about Mining Trail

Take your time and enjoy the rugged beauty as you travel down this deep rimrock-lined canyon section of the Deschutes River, a designated Federal Wild and Scenic River. This road ends 17 miles down the…
Learn more about Lower Deschutes River Access Road

Swale Trail is a 7.8-mile point-to-point trail that branches off FS 21 before reconnecting later along the route. Starting from the northeast end near Dutch Creek Guard Station, the trail climbs out of the valley…
Learn more about Swale Trail - FS 2107

Beautiful, lightly trafficked area in the Ochocos full of wildlife and providing great views. There is plenty of dispersed camping and some fun creeks to play in. Great wildflowers. Be aware of free range cattle…
Learn more about Wild Cattle Trail

FS 2015 is an 8.3-mile point-to-point gravel road connecting FS 5316 with FS 2104. Starting from the east at the intersection with FS 2104, the trail descends into a canyon with steep sections in areas…
Learn more about FS 2105

FS 2106 is a 4.7-mile out-and-back trail branching off FS 2105. The route winds through clear-cut areas, transitioning into new-growth forests before terminating at a small turnaround. With numerous spur trails and open areas for…
Learn more about FS 2106

FS 5316 is a 15.9-mile out-and-back trail branching off FS 53 and winding through the Umatilla National Forest before terminating at a private property boundary 1 mile past Potamus Point. The trail is wide, gravel,…
Learn more about FS 5316

This is an unmaintained dirt road accessing Gray Butte Trailhead and other nearby trails in the Crooked River National Grasslands just north of Gray Butte. There are numerous dispersed camping spots along this road often…
Learn more about Gray Butte - NF-5700

FS 5327 is a 9.6-mile out-and-back trail that begins at an intersection with FS 53, providing access to Divide Well Campground before ending at a gate at a private property boundary. The trail is a…
Learn more about FS 5327

This is a combination of gravel roads and dirt two-track accessing the Crooked River National Grasslands from nearby Madras. It is named after a spur that accesses a hill with a great overlook of nearby…
Learn more about Haystack Overlook

A dusty but well-maintained dirt trail that crosses through a nature preserve and continues into the Hood National Forest ending at a lush little forest campground with a creek running through it. The trail starts…
Learn more about Little Badger Creek

Gravel Forest Service Road climbing out of the popular Skull Hollow campground up onto the shoulder of Gray Butte in the Crooked River National Grasslands. This road has multiple roadside pullouts used for dispersed camping…
Learn more about Skull Hollow - NF-5710

Steep, rocky road accessing the communications towers on Gray Butte. This road starts at Gray Butte Saddle at roughly 3700 feet and climbs to almost 5100 feet at the summit. The gate at the lower…
Learn more about Gray Butte Summit

This is a dirt road used to access Gray Butte and the adjacent Henderson Flats OHV system from US-97. This area is popular with equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers, and the UTV and moto crowd, all…
Learn more about NF-5740

Easy, unmaintained dirt road accessing Gray Butte Trailhead and other nearby trails in the Crooked River National Grasslands just West of Gray Butte. There are numerous dispersed camping spots along this road often used by…
Learn more about NF-5730

This is a fairly flat high desert trail that connects to several main trails in the area. It has short stretches of mild rocky sections requiring care in choosing a safe line for motorcycles. Snow…
Learn more about Millican Plateau Trail 82

FS 5312 is a 6.7-mile point-to-point trail beginning at its intersection with FS 53 and terminating at FS 5320. The road surface is wide, well-maintained, and generally smooth, with some sections of washboarding and water…
Learn more about FS 5312

Get ready for a rugged adventure on the Desert Ridge Trail, located on DNR land. This trail is not for the faint of heart, with its potholed, rocky, and dirt road that'll put your vehicle…
Learn more about Dirt Road Dash