Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Kirkwood, California

Cody Lake trail is a short out/back jaunt to a high alpine Sierra Nevada lake that is remote and beautiful. The trail ends overlooking the lake and requires a very steep hiking descent to reach…
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The 5.5-mile out and back dirt road will take you from HWY 88/89 intersection to Burnside Lake. The dirt road is relatively smooth and wide enough for two vehicles to pass. This is a well-traveled…
Learn more about Burnside Lake Road - 31019

Hawkins Peak Road begins as a gradual accent and is typically one vehicle wide with places to pass on this double track dirt trail. The trail gradually ascends from an elevation of 7,057 feet to…
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This is a smooth, out-and-back dirt trail that's single lane. The trail has very little change in elevation and can be driven with a 2WD SUV. A wide turn-around circle is located at one mile…
Learn more about Wrights Lake Rd - 11N26A

Pistol Point Trail is one vehicle wide with places to pass on this double track dirt trail. The trail ascends from an elevation of 8,820 feet to a maximum elevation of 9,286 feet. There is…
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This trail is located in the El Dorado National Forest in Amador County, FS Road 8N14. It's a nicely graded gravel route for a quarter of the way in. You will cross two bridges across…
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Incense Cedar Trail is a very flowy trail overall and great for all skill levels. It mostly consists of relatively banked corners and small fun rollers that can be ridden normally, wheelied, jumped, etc. One…
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This is a sandy, loose trail made up almost entirely of continuous whoops. Occasional rocks and roots appear along the route, but the terrain is dominated by flowing sand whoops that create a fun, rhythmic…
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This is a fun little cut-off route off the paved road between Bear River Road and Pardoe Road loop within the El Dorado National Forest. It takes you through a beautiful little forest area. Most…
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Lower Corral Trail is full of jumps and berms (best ridden downhill and to avoid conflict with mountain bikers). The alternate line allows you to bypass a handful of jumps in the jump line and…
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High Meadows is a more relaxed and flowing trail in the area. The biggest challenge on the trail is the loose sand that is common to the area, but most sections were not too deep,…
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This trail follows the South Fork of the John Day River and crosses a very remote area. It's a great area for camping and hiking. Destinations include Blacks Canyon, Izee Falls, and several historical sites.…
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An easy trail with a few mud holes after a summer thunderstorm. There are plenty of places for dispersed camping along the route, and if you drive all the way to the end, you will…
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This is a roughly graded gravel road that is maintained by the Camp Wolfeboro volunteers. It will take you down to a very primitive campground, Sand Flat, along the North Fork of the Stanislaus River…
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Webber Mill is an easy gravel road that follows an 8-mile section of the Pony Express Trail and is also a small part of the Northern California BDR. The trail winds along the side of…
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A dirt, granite rock route that gets your tires off the pavement and onto a dirt byway for a mile over to Utica/Union Reservoirs. You will encounter some deep water-type bars and two small rock…
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A 5-mile stretch of connecting forest service roads. It is a particularly useful trail if you are driving a non street legal vehicle and camping at Black Springs or off of 7N23. The trail features…
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This trail is lined with pine trees and features a baby rock garden. It is no longer maintained by the Forest Service and ends where it is blocked by multiple fallen trees. Dispersed camping can…
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This trail was once known as "Tamarack OHV 4x4" and has been closed since 2014. The start of the trail is still open and leads to a dispersed campsite before it is blocked by many…
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This trail is commonly mapped as the Kingsbury Stinger Trail in apps, but according to the sign posted at the trail, it is not. It is Forest Service Trail 18E46, and we will refer to…
Learn more about Lower Kingsbury Stinger Alternate - FS 18E46

You'll get some great views of Lake Tahoe from this trail. It's a wide, single-lane gravel trail that's moderately to heavily used during the summer. The gates at both ends of the road are locked…
Learn more about Genoa Peak Road - 41306

This 6.25-mile out-and-back trail starts off Clark Fork Road near Fence Creek Campground and Clark Fork Falls, climbing almost 1,700 feet. Running along Fence Creek and crossing Drew Creek, this once-paved trail is now mostly…
Learn more about Fence Creek Road - FS 6N06

This trail circumnavigates the Big Hill fire lookout tower. Make sure to pop up the short road to the lookout as this provides dramatic 360 views of the surrounding gorgeous wilderness, and there is an…
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This 1.91-mile out-and-back trail starts just off Highway 108, 33 miles from 395, climbing almost 1,400 feet. The dirt and sand surface is one vehicle wide through tall pine forest. At mile 1.0, you emerge…
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You will cross a short bridge as you leave the pavement behind. As you head up the trail there are a few rocks less than a foot tall other than that it's a fairly smooth…
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Easy graded logging road in the beginning 1st mile, then it becomes decent rocky terrain, some small climbs, nothing hard. Once you take off from the green route on OnX, this is a really easy…
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This trail can be dusty. Head size sharp rocks on hard pack with occasional tree roots. Trail is roughly a 3 (any 4x4 should make it). Saw Jeeps, SxS, and ATVs on this day. There…
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This trail has beautiful scenery that includes tree-filtered views of Lake Tahoe, Aspen groves, grassy meadows, a couple of small year-round streams, and the classic Sierra Nevada Mountain Forest. It is recommended for 4WD or…
Learn more about Logan House Loop 14n33

This short out-and-back trail begins directly off Highway 89. It starts paved but quickly transitions to dirt as it winds its way toward an active mine. The road is just wide enough for two vehicles…
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FS5N92 is a peaceful 5-mile out-and-back trail that climbs 350 feet and drops roughly the same amount as it winds through a tall pine forest just off Highway 108. The surface is primarily hard-packed dirt…
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