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…
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…
Learn more about Humbug Summit Road 31

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…
Learn more about Road 307

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…
Learn more about Martin Creek

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…
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…
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…
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…
Learn more about Brushy Ridge - 19N29

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.…
Learn more about Alder Springs W.C. - FS 21N30

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…
Learn more about North Philbrook - 27N06

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…
Learn more about Calf Spur South - FS 27N12Y

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…
Learn more about Black Diamond - FS 18N30

This dirt trail leads up to the Colby Mountain Lookout. The trail itself is easy. Colby Mountain Lookout is at the end of the trail, and the lookout has been manned by Ken Jordan from…
Learn more about Colby Mountain Lookout - FS 27N36

This is a beautiful trail with dense green trees around it. The trail is dirt with a layer of dried pine needles. There aren't any ruts or washes along this trail at the time of…
Learn more about Colby Loop - FS 27N06B

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…
Learn more about Salt Spring Valley - 18N38

This is a long trail that is a mix of dirt and gravel. There are some sections of the trail that have great views of Lassen Peak. There are a few washes along the trail…
Learn more about Rattlesnake - FS 27N12

This is a short spur trail that has a large camp spot at the end of it that can fit multiple vehicles. This is an easy trail, no washes or ruts. There is a rust-resistant…
Learn more about Willow Creek - FS 26N07

This trail is a mix of dirt and gravel. This trail is closed during the winter, 11/1-5/1, or as conditions allow, and has a sign and gate closing it off during the season. There are…
Learn more about Colby Creek - FS 26N59

This trail is mostly made up of gravel and dirt with some rocks here and there. This trail is like a fire road, but there are some small ruts/washes along the trail as well. The…
Learn more about Scotts John - FS 26N27

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…
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.…
Learn more about Road 311

This trail is a mix of dirt with some rocks in it as well. There is a creek that runs parallel for a large portion of the trail. It is surrounded by beautiful green forest…
Learn more about Scotts John North - FS 26N11

This trail consists of dirt and gravel. It is an out-and-back trail as there is a major washout about 1 mile from the west end, where it's supposed to connect with M3. The trail has…
Learn more about Open Ridge Black Diamond West - FS 18N02

This trail goes through a section of the forest that has been previously burned. The trail consists of dirt with a little bit of gravel and baseball and softball-sized rocks. There are some ruts and…
Learn more about Cirby Tie - FS 26N33

This trail is a mix of dirt and gravel. The trail has small ruts but nothing big. Some of the bushes come into the trail, making it a little narrower in some sections, but it…
Learn more about Humboldt North West - FS 27N80

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…
Learn more about Lower Middle Ridge - FS 21N07

This is an out and back or should I say up and down trail that takes you from the bottom of the canyon to the top of the Saint John mountain. Trail is single wide…
Learn more about Saint John - FS 18N06

This is a dirt trail that has some small wash sections along it, but it's nothing too crazy. This trail is not too long, and it ends in a great spot to camp. The area…
Learn more about Robbers Roost - FS 27N14

This is a semi maintained fire road. From the South end starts out groomed and starts to get narrow on the shelf road. Some overgrown brush to get some pin stripes. There are multiple smaller…
Learn more about North Fork - FS 18N03

This is a short trail with small washes and ruts along the way, but nothing extreme or technical. The trail is surrounded by dense green forest, so it's really pretty. There are some small areas…
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 27N59