Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Litchfield, California

Explore All Beginner Trails Near Litchfield, California

Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout

Very easy route given type of vehicle used. While most of it is good place for a beginner to start learning how to use a SXS, be careful on the speed as there are blind…
Learn more about Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop

The trail has smooth flowing sections, loose, rocky climbs, and hardpacked rocky roads with seasonal low water crossings. The road up to the lookout is steep with loose rock. Leading up to and past Taylor…
Learn more about Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop
Total Miles
18
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fort Sage

This is an out-of-the-way off-road area that is not well known to the general public, but it has marked trails spanning 28,598 acres, with newer facilities and plenty of privacy. Most of the trails are…
Learn more about Fort Sage
Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

A1

This is how you will get from Spaulding Tract out to county road A1, also known as Eagle Lake Road. The route is dusty and a bit rocky, but not hard. Trees will be down…
Learn more about A1
Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Dry Valley Rim

Starting from the valley floor, Dry Valley Rim offers an easy and gradual 650-foot elevation climb, leading you to the top of the Smoke Creek Mountain Range and into the Dry Valley OHV area. This…
Learn more about Dry Valley Rim
Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Parker Canyon

Parker Canyon to Mission Wells Staging Area showcases a breathtaking high-desert ride. This route features soft dirt roads--without deep sand--guiding you through a scenic high mountain bowl, past grazing areas, and alongside the Slick Reservoir.…
Learn more about Parker Canyon
Total Miles
13.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Jackrabbit Run

Perched atop the Smoke Creek Mountains, Jackrabbit Run is an unforgettable journey across the mountain's summit and back down to the valley floor, reconnecting with the main Surprise Valley Road. This trail begins with a…
Learn more about Jackrabbit Run
Total Miles
10.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Crofts Follie Trail

This is a single-track dirt trail with consistent switchbacks, shelf sections, and a constant climb up from the valley below. Easily accessible from CA 395, high clearance vehicles with 4x4 are recommended on this route.…
Learn more about Crofts Follie Trail
Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Crater Lake

The trail is wide with nice gravel. The entire route has road signs, so you can't really get lost. Up by the actual lake, the gravel road gets steep, but some pavement has been put…
Learn more about Crater Lake
Total Miles
18.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Happy Valley Ridgeline

Mix of fire roads and old logging roads. The area has been scorched by fire recently. There are a lot of downed trees that cross the trail, be prepared with a chain saw or chain/rope.…
Learn more about Happy Valley Ridgeline
Total Miles
32.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Wildhorse Track

Travel through Red Rock Canyon, running along the border of California and cutting back over to Antelope Valley using a popular off-road connector. Blaze across Antelope Valley and visit the Moon Rocks area, or continue…
Learn more about Wildhorse Track
Total Miles
30.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Jumbo Ranch Run

From Reno, take Pyramid Highway north for about 17 miles and turn left onto Winnemucca Ranch Road. Follow Winnemucca Ranch Road to a large parking/staging area to your left (Moon Rocks Recreation Area). This parking…
Learn more about Jumbo Ranch Run
Total Miles
10
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y

Dirt Forest Service Road accesses a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start at…
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start…
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Beckwourth - NF23N03

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This is one of the primary routes into this section of the forest from town. These roads are…
Learn more about Beckwourth - NF23N03
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sugarpine - NF22N55

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This looks to be the primary route accessing the summit from town. The road is wider and looks…
Learn more about Sugarpine - NF22N55
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y

Bonta Ridge is an occasionally maintained gravel Forest Service road that climbs from Bonta Creek Road above the CA-70 highway up to Penman Saddle and points beyond in this section of the Plumas National Forest.…
Learn more about Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y
Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A

Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This spur accesses the communications tower equipment on private property at the summit of Beckwourth Peak. There is…
Learn more about Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Buffalo Chips

This route takes you through mostly wide gravel roads. There is a lot of moon dust/thick powder near the town of Westwood. You will be traveling through one of the largest burn scars in California,…
Learn more about Buffalo Chips
Total Miles
37.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Bonta Creek - NF23N33

Graded Forest Service road above the CA-70 highway in Graeagle, California that accesses Bonta Ridge, Penman Saddle, and other points to the North in the Plumas National Forest. There is a great brewery - the…
Learn more about Bonta Creek - NF23N33
Total Miles
7.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Deer Lake, Gold Valley

Trail begins with an easy climb to a high scenic ridge above beautiful Deer Lake. The route then descends into rugged Gold Valley and heads north past mines and lakes. To modify the trip, you…
Learn more about Deer Lake, Gold Valley
Total Miles
23.8
Tech Rating
2 Moderate
Best Time
Su

Verdi-Sardine-Loyalton

As you begin from Verdi, the paved road is great, then you begin the uphill, which is a very hard-packed 1.5 1.5-wide road with some small, sharp, pointed rocks. As you get closer to the…
Learn more about Verdi-Sardine-Loyalton
Total Miles
23.6
Tech Rating
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mount Lively South Fork Mountain Road

This trail begins just off Highway 395 south of the village of Likely, starting on BLM land before transitioning in and out of Modoc National Forest. The first stretch is a recently graded dirt road…
Learn more about Mount Lively South Fork Mountain Road
Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
Best Time
Su / Fa

Long Valley Road

The route starts at the end of Virginia Street, crossing some railroad tracks and turning into a graded dirt road. There are some washboard sections, and during early spring, it is quite muddy. Of course,…
Learn more about Long Valley Road
Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Tamarack Lakes 12E33

This trail starts across from Packer Lake. There is a staging area at the bottom if you need to trailer your rig. The trail heads up to Tamarack Lakes. The two lakes are almost the…
Learn more about Tamarack Lakes 12E33
Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bear Valley Loop Trail

Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off…
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Total Miles
16.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Crystal Peak Mine Loop

This loop trail offers wide panoramas of endless mountain forests and picturesque views of multiple reservoirs all along an easily traversed dirt road. An exciting surprise awaits at the midway point of the trail--the Crystal…
Learn more about Crystal Peak Mine Loop
Total Miles
26.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Mitchell Canyon Long Valley

Looking to explore the stunning landscapes of Dog Valley while taking a more adventurous and less-traveled route? This scenic drive is perfect for those who enjoy a bit more challenge and want to avoid the…
Learn more about Mitchell Canyon Long Valley
Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Meadow Lake Road

Meadow Lake Road makes a loop from Webber Lake to Jackson Meadows, with Meadow Lake situated in the middle. The section that begins just past Webber Lake is a fairly well-maintained, graded road used by…
Learn more about Meadow Lake Road
Total Miles
19.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Austin Meadows

This trail is perfect for beginners and is relatively smooth, with shady roads and a small water crossing. It's pretty scenic and relaxing. Camping is available, but there was a fire restriction when I was…
Learn more about Austin Meadows
Total Miles
7.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

ATV Trails Near Litchfield, California

Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout

Very easy route given type of vehicle used. While most of it is good place for a beginner to start learning how to use a SXS, be careful on the speed as there are blind…
Learn more about Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop

The trail has smooth flowing sections, loose, rocky climbs, and hardpacked rocky roads with seasonal low water crossings. The road up to the lookout is steep with loose rock. Leading up to and past Taylor…
Learn more about Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop
Total Miles
18
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fort Sage

This is an out-of-the-way off-road area that is not well known to the general public, but it has marked trails spanning 28,598 acres, with newer facilities and plenty of privacy. Most of the trails are…
Learn more about Fort Sage
Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

A1

This is how you will get from Spaulding Tract out to county road A1, also known as Eagle Lake Road. The route is dusty and a bit rocky, but not hard. Trees will be down…
Learn more about A1
Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Dry Valley Rim

Starting from the valley floor, Dry Valley Rim offers an easy and gradual 650-foot elevation climb, leading you to the top of the Smoke Creek Mountain Range and into the Dry Valley OHV area. This…
Learn more about Dry Valley Rim
Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Parker Canyon

Parker Canyon to Mission Wells Staging Area showcases a breathtaking high-desert ride. This route features soft dirt roads--without deep sand--guiding you through a scenic high mountain bowl, past grazing areas, and alongside the Slick Reservoir.…
Learn more about Parker Canyon
Total Miles
13.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

UTV/Side-by-Side Near Litchfield, California

Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout

Very easy route given type of vehicle used. While most of it is good place for a beginner to start learning how to use a SXS, be careful on the speed as there are blind…
Learn more about Dooley Creek to Black Mountain Lookout
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop

The trail has smooth flowing sections, loose, rocky climbs, and hardpacked rocky roads with seasonal low water crossings. The road up to the lookout is steep with loose rock. Leading up to and past Taylor…
Learn more about Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop
Total Miles
18
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fort Sage

This is an out-of-the-way off-road area that is not well known to the general public, but it has marked trails spanning 28,598 acres, with newer facilities and plenty of privacy. Most of the trails are…
Learn more about Fort Sage
Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

A1

This is how you will get from Spaulding Tract out to county road A1, also known as Eagle Lake Road. The route is dusty and a bit rocky, but not hard. Trees will be down…
Learn more about A1
Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Dry Valley Rim

Starting from the valley floor, Dry Valley Rim offers an easy and gradual 650-foot elevation climb, leading you to the top of the Smoke Creek Mountain Range and into the Dry Valley OHV area. This…
Learn more about Dry Valley Rim
Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi

Parker Canyon

Parker Canyon to Mission Wells Staging Area showcases a breathtaking high-desert ride. This route features soft dirt roads--without deep sand--guiding you through a scenic high mountain bowl, past grazing areas, and alongside the Slick Reservoir.…
Learn more about Parker Canyon
Total Miles
13.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi