Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Hamilton City, California

This is a short ATV trail in a remote and primitive section of the Plumas National Forest, accessed off of Four Trees Road. This area was damaged from a large fire in recent years. The entrance to this trail is not marked with a vehicle designation, and it is wide like a road, so it has probably had...
Learn more about Magee Ridge

This long main route takes you from the High Lakes area to Lake Almanor. It crosses through a big burned section from the Dixie Fire. There are dozens of trails off this main one and many places to disperse camp. There are a good number of washes and ruts, but you can pick a line to make them easy.
Learn more about Humbug Summit Road 31

This trail follows an easy ridge route with scenic views into the valley at several points. A wildfire in 2024 left areas with downed trees after storms, and a few small wash sections are present but remain easy to navigate without four-wheel drive.
Learn more about Martin Creek

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

Single wide trail with multiple turnouts and areas to pass. There were a couple of areas to disperse camp. A couple of small washes, but easy to navigate, and some good views of the valley down the ridge. Trail continues on the north side passing Galen Ridge Road, but seems deliberately blocked off ...
Learn more about Madrone

Easy flat gravel trail taking you around the back side of Little Bald Rock. A couple of areas to turn out and hike up. Ended at a closed gate. There was a big fire in 2024, so they are still clearing trees, but they are keeping the trail maintained. There is another trail at the end by the gate, but...
Learn more about Cross Up

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

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

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

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

Winding through a starkly beautiful forest recovering from wildfire with dense brush understory and standing burnt snags, Eagle Rock (FS 24N36) offers a scenic backcountry ridge spur within the Mendocino National Forest. Accessed directly off of the Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at a broad, open ...
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 24N36

Winding through a mix of towering pine timber, oak groves, and actively managed forestlands within the Mendocino National Forest, Elder Creek (FS 25N09) offers a tranquil and broad mountain drive. Accessed directly off Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at the prominent four-way junction, this gently ...
Learn more about Elder Creek - FS 25N09

This trail is long but easy with plenty of camping options along the way, with many that will fit multiple vehicles. No obstacles along the trail. There are great views of Lassen Peak from multiple spots on the trail. Some camp spots have views of Lassen Peak from them as well.
Learn more about North Philbrook - 27N06

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

Set within a partially burnt coniferous forest with emerging shrub understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Whitlock (FS 24N19) offers a rustic mountain slope climb. Accessed directly near Whitlock Campground, this dirt spur branches upward into quieter backcountry terrain. Outdoor enthusiasts p...
Learn more about Whitlock - FS 24N19

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 is a mix of gravel and dirt. This is a short 1-mile trail that does have some narrow spots and shelf sections. There was also a nice-sized camp spot on the trail that had a nice view of the mountains and valleys in the distance.
Learn more about Calf Spur South - FS 27N12Y

Set within a dry, mixed pine and oak woodland recovering from past fire impacts in the Mendocino National Forest, Section 17 (FS 25N09B) provides a peaceful side excursion. Accessed directly off of Elder Creek Road (FS 25N09) near the Paskenta-Eel River Road corridor, this route stems off to the rig...
Learn more about Section 17 - FS 25N09B

This is a short ATV trail in a remote and primitive section of the Plumas National Forest, accessed off of Four Trees Road. This area was damaged from a large fire in recent years. The entrance to this trail is not marked with a vehicle designation, and it is wide like a road, so it has probably had...
Learn more about Magee Ridge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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