Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Loyalton, California

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Set within a high-elevation mountain environment of Jeffrey pines, fir groves, and sagebrush slopes in the Tahoe National Forest, Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075 offers a scenic ridgeline drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 650, this 5.3-mile single-lane dirt connector climbs steeply into...
Learn more about Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within an alpine environment of tall ponderosa pines, sagebrush flats, and expansive mountain meadows in the Eldorado National Forest, Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015 offers a charming high-country traverse. Accessed directly off main Forest Service Road 0450, this 1.5-mile single-lane dirt con...
Learn more about Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015

Within an open conifer forest filled with tall ponderosa pines and broad-leafed ground flora in the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15-05 provides a quiet forest detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Road - FS 0450-005, this 0.6-mile single-track dirt spur functions as a...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15-05

Spurs on spurs. Set along a timbered hillside covered in tall pines and dense underbrush within the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15B) offers a secluded backcountry detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15-05), this 1.0-mile single-track dirt path bran...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15B

Set within an open conifer forest with sparse underbrush in the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie - FS 0450-005 provides a tranquil mountain spur drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 0450, this 2.5-mile out-and-back gravel path branches into gentle hillside terrain. Outdoor enthusia...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie - FS 0450-005

Nestled within a conifer forest of tall ponderosa pines, firs, and dense manzanita brush in the Eldorado National Forest, East Kyburz - FS 0450-020 offers a tranquil Sierra Nevada mountain retreat. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 0450, this 2.7-mile single-track dirt spur functions as a...
Learn more about East Kyburz - FS 0450-020

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 5,000 feet and climb up to over 7,000 feet, so acc...
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y

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 of Hwy 89 to find the trailhead. The Loop consists of mostly loose dirt and fire roads, with the occasion...
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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, during winter, it has quite a bit of snow and can be inaccessible at times. Be cautious of larg...
Learn more about Long Valley Road

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 an open gate, and there aren't any No Trespassing signs visible...
Learn more about Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A

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 heavily traveled main road. Starting from Long Valley Road, you'll wind through dense forests,...
Learn more about Mitchell Canyon Long Valley

Beckwourth Tie Spur (NF23N03YB) is an easy, 2.5-mile dirt Forest Service road near Portola, California, that offers offroaders scenic access into the rugged trail network of Beckwourth Mountain. Ideal for beginners or those seeking a straightforward connection, this route starts at an elevation of 4...
Learn more about Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB

This section of the Chapman Calpine road begins just off Highway 89 in the town of Calpine, serving as one of two distinct routes sharing this name that do not actually physically connect. The journey starts as a wonderfully smooth, wide dirt road flanked by evergreen trees before opening up into a ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Accessed directly from Highway 49 via Chapman Calpine, the beautiful Chapman Saddle Road takes you on a sweeping journey through a towering evergreen forest. As you cruise along this wide, inviting path, you will notice that the landscape periodically opens up to reveal areas of recent forest thinni...
Learn more about Chapman Saddle - FS 21N09

Accessed directly from Chapman Saddle, this route takes you on a peaceful journey through a dense, towering evergreen forest. Because the thick, tightly packed trees line the shoulders so closely, you will not find any sweeping scenic vistas or open clearings suitable for dispersed camping anywhere ...
Learn more about Mark - FS 21N83

Set within an open, sun-dappled conifer forest dominated by tall Jeffrey pines and firs in the Tahoe National Forest, Old Fibreboard - FS 0007-010 serves as a broad and well-traveled mountain connector. Accessed off of Fibreboard Road - FS 7 near the Independence Lake turnoff, this 6.1-mile dirt and...
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Tucked within a tall conifer forest of Jeffrey pines, white firs, and low shrubbery in the Tahoe National Forest, Holcombs Road Spur - FS 0260-050 provides an inviting backcountry detour. Accessed directly off Holcombs Road - FS 0260, this 0.7-mile out-and-back single-track spur travels north into q...
Learn more about Holcombs Rd Spur - FS 0260-050

Set within the conifer-rich mountain environment of the Tahoe National Forest near Truckee, Mini Tie - FS 0007-010-15 serves as a scenic connector route climbing toward Independence Lake. Branching off of Forest Service Road 0007-010, this 2.0-mile single-lane dirt track ascends through tall pines b...
Learn more about Mini Tie - FS 0007-010-15

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Set within a high-elevation mountain environment of Jeffrey pines, fir groves, and sagebrush slopes in the Tahoe National Forest, Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075 offers a scenic ridgeline drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 650, this 5.3-mile single-lane dirt connector climbs steeply into...
Learn more about Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within an alpine environment of tall ponderosa pines, sagebrush flats, and expansive mountain meadows in the Eldorado National Forest, Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015 offers a charming high-country traverse. Accessed directly off main Forest Service Road 0450, this 1.5-mile single-lane dirt con...
Learn more about Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Set within a high-elevation mountain environment of Jeffrey pines, fir groves, and sagebrush slopes in the Tahoe National Forest, Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075 offers a scenic ridgeline drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 650, this 5.3-mile single-lane dirt connector climbs steeply into...
Learn more about Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within an alpine environment of tall ponderosa pines, sagebrush flats, and expansive mountain meadows in the Eldorado National Forest, Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015 offers a charming high-country traverse. Accessed directly off main Forest Service Road 0450, this 1.5-mile single-lane dirt con...
Learn more about Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015