Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Friant, California

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

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 is an unmaintained, overgrown dirt road through a severely burned and recovering forest. The route is defined by deep ruts, exposed rocks, and pinstriping brush. This road serves as a remote access or connector…
Learn more about Sugar Pine - FS 6S090

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 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 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 an easy, scenic, and well-maintained dirt/gravel road that serves as a secondary access point from Highway 41 into the historic area of Sugar Pine. The route runs through a beautiful mid-elevation forest, parallels…
Learn more about Lower Speckerman Fire - FS 5S017

This is a short, easy, single-lane connector road that provides direct access from Highway 41 (near the Westfall Ranger Station) to the Lower Speckerman Fire Road (FS 5S017). The road surface is dry, packed dirt…
Learn more about Westfall Tie - FS 5S017X

The high-elevation, upper portion of Sky Ranch Road serves as a critical trunk route to multiple backcountry destinations. It is the eastern portion of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway. This two-lane road is characterized by…
Learn more about Upper Sky Ranch Road - FS 6S010A

An easy, two-lane forest service road that efficiently climbs out of the Fish Camp area and connects to the high-country Chowchilla Mtn Road network. The surface is a mixed bag of graded dirt, loose gravel,…
Learn more about Summit - FS 5S009

This is an essential, short 1.1-mile spur providing high-clearance access to a unique ridge-top viewpoint. The trail climbs rapidly through a mixed-severity 2020 Creek Wildfire burn zone, which has exposed the dramatic granite formations and…
Learn more about Azalea Creek - FS 9S014B

This 2.8-mile road is a key connector designed for efficient travel through the high country. The trail is a wide, smooth two-track that traverses a vast expanse of the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar (visible…
Learn more about Lodgepole - FS 9s027

This is an easy, short 2.6-mile spur that leads to a scenic access at a spectacular campsite at a rock grouping above Azeala Creek with regional views out over Shaver Lake. The trail is a…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9S014

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

This is an extremely short, 0.7-mile spur trail that provides direct access to a spectacular summit and the Bald Mountain fire watchtower destination. The trail starts as a relatively clear two-track, but the difficulty ramps…
Learn more about Tower - FS 25E314

This 1.1-mile two-track is a forest service road that provides a quick transit connector between other roads in this ridge system. The trail runs entirely through a vast, exposed landscape that was severely burned during…
Learn more about Upper Tamarack Mountain - FS 9s028

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

This is a scenic, single-lane, high-elevation road characterized by rough embedded rock sections that demand slow, careful driving. The route travels through a dense, unburned subalpine forest with heavy tree cover. This road is an…
Learn more about Iron Mountain - FS 5S092

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 1.6-mile forest service road is a high-elevation, single-lane administrative road designed for access to maintain an overhead power line passing through the area. The entire road traverses a highly exposed landscape within the 2020…
Learn more about Bawdy - FS 9s040

This is an easy, wide 2.1-mile dirt forest service road designed for fast transit through the high country. The road runs through a massive, high-severity burn scar from the 2020 Creek Wildfire (visible in photos),…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9s026

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 0.7-mile connector trail in the Bald Mountain trail network is a short, twisty, and fun two-track trail that is essential for linking the high-elevation roads in the area ( between Lazy M and Bow…
Learn more about 45 Cutoff - FS 25E309

This is a challenging, 2.2-mile drive defined by extreme surface conditions and environmental hazards. The route begins briefly in a healthy, shaded stand of trees before immediately entering a vast, exposed burn scar from the…
Learn more about Upper South Fork Tamarack Creek - FS 9s023

This 7.9-mile road is a high-elevation artery providing fast, efficient access to the heart of the high-country trail network, including hiking trails accessing the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness. This road connects between CA 168 and FS…
Learn more about South Fork Tamarack - FS 9s069

This 0.9-mile two-track is a smooth, easy trail in the high-country road network, serving as a direct continuation of the 8S035 (Boneridge) trail. It leads directly to a large, scenic group campsite located on an…
Learn more about Hewn - FS 25E319

This is a fast, wide, graded forest service road that serves as the essential gateway to the highly challenging Mirror, Strawberry, and Coyote Lakes trail network. This major 6.2-mile high-country road is designed for speed,…
Learn more about Red Mountain - FS 8S010

This 1.9-mile road is a dead-end spur. The trail is a clear one-lane track with a smooth, packed dirt and decomposed granite (DG) surface, allowing for quick speeds, confirmed by the efficient travel time. While…
Learn more about Tamarack Creek - FS 9s066

This 2.0-mile trail is a smooth and fast single-lane road designed for scenic travel along the ridge, offering expansive views through the open canopy. The roadbed is predominantly composed of well-graded decomposed granite (DG) and…
Learn more about Boneridge - FS 8s035

This is an easy, fast 2.3-mile forest service road that provides efficient transit from the high ridge network back down toward Highway 168. The road is a clear two-track with a primarily packed dirt and…
Learn more about Snowball - FS 8S099