Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Hardwick, California

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

Enter through the National Park fee booth and follow the signs to Grant Grove Village and the Cedar Grove area. The signs for the Boole Tree Trailhead will be along road 180 just past the Cherry Gap OHV Staging Area. The pull-off will be on the driver's side when driving and heading towards Cedar Gr...
Learn more about Boole Tree Trailhead

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

This is a short loop dirt road in Sequoia National Forest. Along the loop, you can find a few spots perfect for tent camping, with plenty of room for up to 2 to 3 tents and vehicles. The trail is just next to/across from the Princess Campground and Indian Basin Grove off Highway 180.
Learn more about Converse - 13S07/13S50

FS 14S13 is part of the Sequoia National Forest. It is a sandy, dusty trail that takes you through a pine forest with rock formations. There are various sections that were recently burned by a forest fire. The last mile and a half opens up and treats you to beautiful views of the valley below as wel...
Learn more about Woodcock Meadow - 14S13

Beginning at the BLM gate southwest of New Idria Dam, this trail winds around the westerly side of the lake and canyon above the former mining town of New Idria. Descending 1,200 feet in elevation, the route will take you along an unpaved dirt path through several areas of switchbacks and narrow she...
Learn more about New Idria Dam to Ghost Town

Aurora Cutoff R14 is a narrow two-track trail that traces the top of a ridge, leading you toward the historic Aurora Mine. This scenic route offers plenty of opportunities to explore single-track trails branching off to either side, inviting you to venture deeper into the area's rugged beauty. The m...
Learn more about Aurora Cutoff R14

Don't let the name fool you—Plain (FS 26E211) is anything but boring. This delightful connector trail serves as a scenic bridge between the popular Bald Mountain (FS 26E219) route and the more technical Basecamp (FS 26E328) trail. The drive is a quintessential High Sierra experience, featuring a dyn...
Learn more about Plain - FS 26E211

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 up quickly as it climbs. The final portion of the climb crests onto an exp...
Learn more about Tower - FS 25E314

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 Tie). The trail features punchy climbs and minor off-camber bits that demand driver attention despi...
Learn more about 45 Cutoff - FS 25E309

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 opened up panoramic views. The surface is a mix of rock an...
Learn more about Azalea Creek - FS 9S014B

Peckinpah Trail (FS Route 8S009) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest that challenges experienced offroaders with its rocky climbs and tight forested passages. Ideal for high-clearance 4WDs, dirt bikes, and ATVs, this technical trail offers a rewarding escape for those seeking...
Learn more about Peckinpah

Bow Tie (FS 25E208) is a classic High Sierra connector that feels like a "greatest hits" album of the Bald Mountain region. Starting from Rock Creek Road, this trail winds south, linking up with Tower (FS 25E314) and eventually terminating at Plain (FS 25E315). The tread is that signature Sierra mix...
Learn more about Bow Tie - FS 25E208

R1 Clear Creek Road lives up to its namesake by following the crisp, flowing waters of Clear Creek as it twists and winds through the canyon toward the hills. This trail provides an enjoyable adventure, rated as a 2, making it accessible for many vehicles. Be aware that there is no cell service alon...
Learn more about R1 Clear Creek Road

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), leaving the area wide open and exposed. The roadbed is predominantly smooth, loose du...
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9s026

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 loose two-track running through the highly exposed 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar. The surface is loose dirt with...
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9S014

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 2020 Creek Wildfire. The roadbed here is composed of deep, loose duff (de...
Learn more about Upper South Fork Tamarack Creek - FS 9s023

Rock Creek Road (FS 9S090) is the essential spinal cord of the Bald Mountain OHV area, a 12.7-mile journey that changes its personality more often than a moody teenager. Connecting Highway 168 at the Tamarack Ridge Snowpark to Dinkey Creek Road, this route is the primary artery for accessing the reg...
Learn more about Rock Creek Road - FS 9S090

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 in photos), granting incredible exposure and panoramic views. The roadbed is predominantly s...
Learn more about Lodgepole - FS 9s027

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

This is a short loop dirt road in Sequoia National Forest. Along the loop, you can find a few spots perfect for tent camping, with plenty of room for up to 2 to 3 tents and vehicles. The trail is just next to/across from the Princess Campground and Indian Basin Grove off Highway 180.
Learn more about Converse - 13S07/13S50

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

This is a short loop dirt road in Sequoia National Forest. Along the loop, you can find a few spots perfect for tent camping, with plenty of room for up to 2 to 3 tents and vehicles. The trail is just next to/across from the Princess Campground and Indian Basin Grove off Highway 180.
Learn more about Converse - 13S07/13S50