Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Mono City, California

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail branches directly from the highway, with a difficult-to-spot entrance next to a National Forest visitor information sign. The beginning is wide enough for vehicles to pass, with some vegetation but generally avoidable pinstriping. Scenic views of Mono Lake and the sur...
Learn more about FS 2N104

This narrow dirt-and-gravel trail travels along the hillside with direct views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountain range. Overgrown vegetation is present, although pinstriping is generally avoidable with careful driving. Rock gardens are common throughout, with rocks ranging from 4–8 inches in...
Learn more about FS 2N12

This narrow, rocky trail begins at the end of a neighborhood cul-de-sac and immediately descends into frequent rock gardens. Within the first 100 yards, an 8-inch-deep water crossing contains rocks measuring 10–12 inches in diameter. After the crossing, the route climbs uphill through an extended ro...
Learn more about FS 2N105

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail begins in the Mono City neighborhood, with BLM access through an empty lot between two homes. The route transitions from BLM land into Inyo National Forest around 0.8 miles, offering scenic views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains along the way. The trail is v...
Learn more about Wilson Creek

This narrow, fine-dirt trail begins near Mill Creek and travels deeper into the surrounding forest and hills. Although there is little room for vehicles to pass, several pullouts are available along the route. More than three pullouts provide places to park and walk down to Mill Creek. Rock gardens ...
Learn more about FS 2N14

This 5-mile track begins just north of the Mono Lake Visitor Center and immediately delivers sweeping views of Mono Lake and its unique tufas. The road starts paved, but by mile 1.2, it transitions into gravel. Along the way, you’ll notice remnants of a recent wildfire that still mark the landscape....
Learn more about Cemetery Road

This route is accessed off Cemetery Road, just east of Highway 395, and offers some of the best views of Mono Lake and its islands, along with great views of the Eastern Sierras and the Bodie Mountains. The area is open to bicycles and vehicles, but you cannot go off-road or drive on any hiking trai...
Learn more about Black Point - FS 2N42

This extremely narrow trail follows fine, loose dirt along and over the hillside, offering expansive views of Mono Lake. Ruts begin around 2–5 inches deep, while heavy, overgrown vegetation makes pinstriping unavoidable. Toward the end, the surface becomes extremely sandy, increasing the difficulty ...
Learn more about FS 2N106

This narrow trail branches directly from the main paved highway, and the entrance can be difficult to spot, so use caution when exiting the highway. The route travels toward Dechambeau Ranch over very fine sand, with initial ruts around 2–3 inches deep and scenic views of Mono Lake and the surroundi...
Learn more about Dechambeau Pipeline

This very narrow, fine-dirt trail offers scenic views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains throughout the drive. Expect heavy overgrown vegetation that makes pinstriping likely, little room for vehicles to pass, and ruts ranging from 6–10 inches deep. The fine dirt can become more difficult wh...
Learn more about Dechambeau Ranch

This seasonally graded gravel road offers sweeping views of Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra, with unique boulder formations, old farmhouses, and the historic Conway Ranch along the route. In season, yellow wildflowers add vibrant color as the road descends 362 feet toward the lake. The road begins ...
Learn more about Conway Ranch Road

This route runs parallel to Mono Lake, providing 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains. You can see the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, including Mount Dana, Mount Gibbs, and Tioga Peak, which form the Sierra Crest to the west. You can also see the volcanic features of the Mono Craters to t...
Learn more about FS 2N19

This fine-dirt trail offers a scenic drive toward the hot springs, with Mono Lake to the right and expansive mountain views ahead. Ruts begin around 2–4 inches deep, with no significant obstacles along the route. Overgrown vegetation makes pinstriping likely, although the trail remains relatively ea...
Learn more about Dechambeau Hot Springs

This short, fine-dirt trail offers exceptional views of Mono Lake, traveling closer to the shoreline than many surrounding routes. Around 0.1 miles, the trail begins a steep descent over extremely soft dirt and sand, requiring 4WD or AWD. Near the end of the route before it loops back, a scenic over...
Learn more about FS 2N108

This route runs parallel to Mono Lake, starting on Forest Service Road 2N43 and ending on Highway 167. The trail offers 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains and Mono Lake throughout the journey. At 0.75 miles from the southwest entrance, the terrain features deeper sand, and at 1 mile i...
Learn more about Wadford Springs Cutoff - FS 2N47

This trail starts just off Virginia Lakes Road, which is open seasonally from late May to mid-October as weather allows. The gravel, well-graded trail runs along Virginia Creek and crosses over it a few times throughout the journey. This trail is part of the East Lower Virginia Creek Campground, fea...
Learn more about Castle Rock Road - FS 32139

This trail is a side spur trail off of the Log Cabin Mine Ridge Trail. The trail takes you to a spot with 360 views of Mono Lake, the surrounding Eastern Sierra Peaks, and into Yosemite National Park. It is a rocky and bumpy track. Be cautious of a few unknowing dips while climbing to the top.
Learn more about 1N03C

The Copper Mountain trail is an exceptional high-country route designed for scenic-minded offroaders looking for a peaceful escape with sweeping panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada. This roughly 8-mile journey begins off Virginia Lakes Road and ascends from 8,285 feet to a peak elevation of 9,816 f...
Learn more about Copper Mountain

This trail is composed of packed dirt and sand with lots of small rocks embedded in the surface. Near the top, vegetation is sparse, likely due to high winds, but the views of the Virginia Lakes area, surrounding mountains, the Bodie Mountains, and Highway 395 below are spectacular. The trail quickl...
Learn more about Dog Creek Loop

This wide, fine-dirt trail climbs up and over the hills with expansive views of the surrounding mountains, lake, and valley. Ruts remain under 2 inches deep, with only minor rock gardens and plenty of room for vehicles to pass. Camping is plentiful and scenic throughout. Around 0.2 miles, a level hi...
Learn more about Pond Spur Road

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail branches directly from the highway, with a difficult-to-spot entrance next to a National Forest visitor information sign. The beginning is wide enough for vehicles to pass, with some vegetation but generally avoidable pinstriping. Scenic views of Mono Lake and the sur...
Learn more about FS 2N104

This narrow dirt-and-gravel trail travels along the hillside with direct views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountain range. Overgrown vegetation is present, although pinstriping is generally avoidable with careful driving. Rock gardens are common throughout, with rocks ranging from 4–8 inches in...
Learn more about FS 2N12

This narrow, rocky trail begins at the end of a neighborhood cul-de-sac and immediately descends into frequent rock gardens. Within the first 100 yards, an 8-inch-deep water crossing contains rocks measuring 10–12 inches in diameter. After the crossing, the route climbs uphill through an extended ro...
Learn more about FS 2N105

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail begins in the Mono City neighborhood, with BLM access through an empty lot between two homes. The route transitions from BLM land into Inyo National Forest around 0.8 miles, offering scenic views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains along the way. The trail is v...
Learn more about Wilson Creek

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail branches directly from the highway, with a difficult-to-spot entrance next to a National Forest visitor information sign. The beginning is wide enough for vehicles to pass, with some vegetation but generally avoidable pinstriping. Scenic views of Mono Lake and the sur...
Learn more about FS 2N104

This narrow dirt-and-gravel trail travels along the hillside with direct views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountain range. Overgrown vegetation is present, although pinstriping is generally avoidable with careful driving. Rock gardens are common throughout, with rocks ranging from 4–8 inches in...
Learn more about FS 2N12

This narrow, rocky trail begins at the end of a neighborhood cul-de-sac and immediately descends into frequent rock gardens. Within the first 100 yards, an 8-inch-deep water crossing contains rocks measuring 10–12 inches in diameter. After the crossing, the route climbs uphill through an extended ro...
Learn more about FS 2N105

This fine dirt-and-gravel trail begins in the Mono City neighborhood, with BLM access through an empty lot between two homes. The route transitions from BLM land into Inyo National Forest around 0.8 miles, offering scenic views of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains along the way. The trail is v...
Learn more about Wilson Creek