Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Jacksonville, Oregon

Anderson Butte Road is exceptionally scenic and can be run in most seasons. There are not many obstacles, though there are a couple of off-shoots that are fun (including Picnic Trail which is a nice spot for camping or a picnic). The road is largely a well maintained dirt/gravel road, with very fe...
Learn more about Anderson Butte Road

This is a great run from Wagner Creek through parts of Siskiyou Pass to Maple Dell Gap. From Maple Dell Gap you can continue on to Squaw Lake or head north and reconnect with Siskiyou Pass. You can also head South into CA. We ran this trail Memorial Day weekend and encountered a downed tree and c...
Learn more about Wagner & Siskiyou

Long Way to Little Applegate River is a scenic and straightforward point-to-point connection road that provides beginner offroaders and scenic tourers with a direct transition from the valleys of Talent, Oregon, into the deep backcountry of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. This 10.6-mile ro...
Learn more about Long Way to Little Applegate River

This is segment one of the SW Oregon Overland Adventure Loop. This segment is an easy gravel road between the Mount Ashland Ski Resort and the historic McKee Covered Bridge. It passes by two fire lookout towers and affords wonderful views of nearby mountain peaks. You may run into snow drifts or dow...
Learn more about Siskiyou Pass

This is a spur road following Palmer creek. There are lots of active mining claims along this stretch of creek. Also lots of side roads that just dead-end. Up by Baily Gulch, there are remains of an old hard rock mine. Concrete structures. Be careful as they are still actively mining this area.
Learn more about Spur Road

Bumpy uneasy gravel roads with a lot connections to explore. Logging is active in the area, so be aware of logging trucks. When wet expect plenty of mud and a good chance of getting stuck. Has lots of blind corners and some stunning views. It's my favorite starting route to take down to Elderberry F...
Learn more about Moon Watch

Payette Trail #970 is accessible during late summer when the Applegate Lake water levels are lower. It is located at the southeast end of the lake off of Forest Road 1075, which takes you to Acorn Womans Lake. The trail starts off as a single wide dirt road with some turnouts to pass. As you get clo...
Learn more about Payette Trail - FS 970

This trail follows a decent road that is somewhat rocky but not overly difficult. Located a short drive from Grants Pass, it offers great scenery and several pull-offs suitable for stopping to enjoy lunch and take in impressive mountain views. It remains passable in light rain and is well worth the ...
Learn more about Walker Mountain Road

Lots of little hubs that branch off of this gravel road. There is no connection to candy spur hub as depicted on the GPS, so you can't loop around as it's a dead end. It's got a blue gate that is currently open just before you cross the bridge that Evens creek flows beneath.
Learn more about Elderberry Dead End

Onion Mountain is a great place to break away from the crowds in town and take in some beautiful scenery. If you're lucky, you might even see a bear or two. Most of the trails are open year-round; however, heavy snow can be expected in the winter, and there are spots where you can get cell phone rec...
Learn more about Onion Mountain, Shan Creek

This well-maintained forest road winds through beautiful woodland, gradually climbing to a plateau before descending back into the forest. The grades are generally moderate, although the southern end it becomes noticeably steeper after the intersection and continues uphill for several miles. Drivers...
Learn more about 3200000

This well-maintained gravel road connects to Cow Creek Trail and is mostly a narrow, single-lane route with frequent curves and switchbacks. Large potholes are common, especially in shaded sections, and dips and corrugation also require slower speeds. From the Cow Creek side, the road begins with a ...
Learn more about 3232000

This trail winds through a beautiful forest but has several distinctly different sections. Starting from the southern end, the route is relatively narrow and heavily wooded, with pinstriping likely as branches and trees encroach on the single-lane road. Many trees have been cut back, although some w...
Learn more about 3200620

This beautiful forest road has a mix of maintained and rougher sections as it winds through the surrounding woodland. From the southern end, the road begins with areas that have been heavily damaged by rain, with deep erosion and a rough, gutted surface that calls for slower speeds and careful drivi...
Learn more about 3200600

This is a nice and easy drive. It is a gravel road with some low branches, but most full-size trucks will fit under them. There are no real washouts on this section, even with all the rain. The trail is pretty easy to drive most times of the year. The trail has a nice turnaround at the end.
Learn more about Lower Stratton Creek Road

This is a gravel road with some middle-of-the-road washouts that you will have to straddle with your vehicle. Great overlook of the valley below and the Rogue River about halfway up. The trail is a bit overgrown from the winter. So if you're concerned about scratches may want to pick a different pat...
Learn more about Right Fork Hellgate Recreation Site

This section of Callahan Creek is a beautiful, well-maintained gravel route that winds through forest, burned areas, and mountainous terrain. The road begins in the forest and climbs before descending through a wildfire-affected area. As it continues through the burned landscape, remnants of a major...
Learn more about FS 3230000

This is a nice trail that is definitely easier during the summer. The technical rating ranges from between a 1 to 3 in difficulty. There are some mud slides, but they are easy enough to get through, and the road ended at a good-sized washout. This trail goes through some beautiful country. The trail...
Learn more about Hellgate Recreation Site

Page Mountain is an easy, scenic 2.1-mile trail in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest of southwest Oregon, perfect for beginners, stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, and high-clearance SUVs seeking a quick mountain escape. Winding through dense forest near the California border, this route climbs...
Learn more about Page Mountain

This beautiful user-maintained forest trail begins in dense woodland before opening into a burned area with views across the surrounding valley. The road remains in relatively good condition for an unmaintained route, although it becomes narrower as it continues, with vegetation closing in around th...
Learn more about FS 3230200

Anderson Butte Road is exceptionally scenic and can be run in most seasons. There are not many obstacles, though there are a couple of off-shoots that are fun (including Picnic Trail which is a nice spot for camping or a picnic). The road is largely a well maintained dirt/gravel road, with very fe...
Learn more about Anderson Butte Road

This is a great run from Wagner Creek through parts of Siskiyou Pass to Maple Dell Gap. From Maple Dell Gap you can continue on to Squaw Lake or head north and reconnect with Siskiyou Pass. You can also head South into CA. We ran this trail Memorial Day weekend and encountered a downed tree and c...
Learn more about Wagner & Siskiyou

Long Way to Little Applegate River is a scenic and straightforward point-to-point connection road that provides beginner offroaders and scenic tourers with a direct transition from the valleys of Talent, Oregon, into the deep backcountry of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. This 10.6-mile ro...
Learn more about Long Way to Little Applegate River

This is a spur road following Palmer creek. There are lots of active mining claims along this stretch of creek. Also lots of side roads that just dead-end. Up by Baily Gulch, there are remains of an old hard rock mine. Concrete structures. Be careful as they are still actively mining this area.
Learn more about Spur Road

Anderson Butte Road is exceptionally scenic and can be run in most seasons. There are not many obstacles, though there are a couple of off-shoots that are fun (including Picnic Trail which is a nice spot for camping or a picnic). The road is largely a well maintained dirt/gravel road, with very fe...
Learn more about Anderson Butte Road

This is a great run from Wagner Creek through parts of Siskiyou Pass to Maple Dell Gap. From Maple Dell Gap you can continue on to Squaw Lake or head north and reconnect with Siskiyou Pass. You can also head South into CA. We ran this trail Memorial Day weekend and encountered a downed tree and c...
Learn more about Wagner & Siskiyou

This is a spur road following Palmer creek. There are lots of active mining claims along this stretch of creek. Also lots of side roads that just dead-end. Up by Baily Gulch, there are remains of an old hard rock mine. Concrete structures. Be careful as they are still actively mining this area.
Learn more about Spur Road

Bumpy uneasy gravel roads with a lot connections to explore. Logging is active in the area, so be aware of logging trucks. When wet expect plenty of mud and a good chance of getting stuck. Has lots of blind corners and some stunning views. It's my favorite starting route to take down to Elderberry F...
Learn more about Moon Watch