Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Murphys, California

Lug Nut Ledge is a short but fun trail with moderate obstacles, including rocky sections, rutted sections, and water crossings. The namesake Lug Nut Ledge features a mild rock step that requires good tire placement…
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This a very easy trail and is mostly forest roads that zig-zag up the hill to the Forebay. This can be accessed from many ways whether it be from Columbia, Twain Harte, or Camp 9.…
Learn more about Stanislaus Forebay

This is a super pretty drive as it descends into the canyons and back up to the mountaintops. On your way to the lookout, you will drive through the Italian Bar/Lost Dutchman Mining Camp, which…
Learn more about American Camp Lookout

This trail is a connector between the American Camp Lookout and the Forebay trail. Connect all these 3 trails for a fun weekend or day trip full of adventure and fishing/exploring! There is a creek…
Learn more about Forebay to American Camp

As of May 26, 2023. This road is accessible by vehicles of higher clearance than sedans. This is due to the fire road are not as flat and maintained as Google Maps makes it out…
Learn more about Candy Rock Road

As of May 26, 2023. This road is accessible by vehicles of higher clearance than sedans. This is because the fire roads are not as flat and maintained as Google Maps makes them out to…
Learn more about Candy Rock Road P.2

This trail is steep, overgrown, and narrow. Typically home to lots of poison oak and fallen trees but the reward at the end is totally worth it! Keltz Mine road takes you down to the…
Learn more about Keltz Mine

Nice views along a graded in the begging logging road. The road becomes ungraded but really good all the way back. Some brush, nothing to pinstripe your rig. Early season, may want to bring a…
Learn more about Airola Meadow Loop

Red Hills Recreation (BLM) area is a scenic day use only location. There are tons of hiking trails in the area, as well as the Serpentine Loop Trail which is a mild to moderate trail…
Learn more about Red Hills Road/Serpentine loop

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…
Learn more about Buck Ranch

Fraser Flat Road East is a 7-mile point-to-point trail that climbs over 300 feet and drops just over 300 feet. The trail is made of white crushed gravel and is 1 to 1.5 vehicles wide.…
Learn more about Fraser Flat Road East - FS 4N01

From the Highway 4 side, this all-day adventure is on ungraded logging roads. They still log here on these roads, so please drive slowly and be aware of logging trucks possibly coming at you. You…
Learn more about Soda Creek Logging Camp

This trail is a great spot to retreat for the weekend. The trail follows the South Fork of the Stanislaus from 4N01 (Frasier Flat) to the inlet of Lyons Reservoir. You can no longer get…
Learn more about South Fork Stanislaus River Trail (4N90)

This is a lightly traveled dirt road with some ruts, loose rock, slight inclines, and narrow passages due to brush. Other challenges include snow in the winter snow and water crossings up to a foot…
Learn more about Rowdy Cow

This 2.04-mile point-to-point trail gains and drops almost 200 feet from Fraser Flat Road to FS4N39. The compact dirt and sand surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, running through a large pine forest in…
Learn more about Spring Gap Road - FS 4N14

Strawberry Peak (FS 4N39) is a 5.9-mile point-to-point trail running east to west, climbing just under 200 feet and dropping almost 1,200 feet. The trail starts just off Highway 108 on the east end and…
Learn more about Strawberry Peak - FS 4N39

This is a scenic trail with views looking back towards Highway 108. The trail follows along the ridge and has smaller rock obstacles that shouldn't be much of an issue for most 4x4 vehicles. This…
Learn more about Dodge Ridge

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…
Learn more about Bailey Ridge

This 2.04-mile point-to-point trail gains and drops almost 200 feet from Fraser Flat Road to FS4N39. The compact dirt and sand surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, running through a large pine forest in…
Learn more about FS 4N61

This just under 4-mile point-to-point trail climbs over 700 feet and drops just over 200 feet. The trail starts on a short paved section in a residential area, then transitions to hard-packed dirt and gravel…
Learn more about Fraser Flat Road - FS 4N13

This trail starts just off Highway 120, located 2.7 miles east of the Groveland District Ranger Office, and begins as a 1.5-vehicle-wide gravel trail with some sand sections. Lined with Ponderosa pine trees and bushes,…
Learn more about Boneyard Road - FS 1S07

This 3-mile out-and-back trail climbs just over 100 feet and drops over 200 feet, starting and ending at FS4N18Y. The hard-packed dirt surface is 1 to 1.5 vehicles wide, cutting through a mature pine forest.…
Learn more about FS 4N33Y

Five Corners (FS 8N54) is an easy trail that connects multiple trail systems in the area. Located at an elevation of approximately 4,100 feet, it offers several dispersed camping spots along its route, making it…
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This 6-mile out-and-back trail starts and ends on Beardsley Lake Reservoir Road, 1.5 miles from Highway 108, dropping over 800 feet in 3 miles. The hard-packed dirt surface is 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide, cutting…
Learn more about FS 4N18Y

Gold Note (FS 8N55) is an easy trail in the Eldorado National Forest, sitting at approximately 4,400 feet. It acts as a critical connector, linking various trails within the Gold Note trail system and providing…
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This is a mostly dirt road into Trout Creek. This is a great trail to pair with other surrounding trails to make a nice trip or weekend out of it. There is a bridge crossing…
Learn more about Trout Creek

Upper Gold Note (FS 8N57) is a relatively easy trail connecting Gold Note and North-South Road. Located at approximately 4,100 feet, the trail offers a mix of loose dirt and occasional rocky sections, making it…
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Gold Note 4WD (FS 8N91) is a moderately challenging Gold Note trail system segment. The trail is single-vehicle width and features areas of overgrown brush, adding to the difficulty. Riders will encounter deep ruts and…
Learn more about Gold Note 4WD

This trail climbs over 600 feet and drops almost 1,200 feet across just over 5 miles of diverse terrain that spans BLM land and Stanislaus National Forest, though it begins on private land requiring respectful…
Learn more about Wagner Ridge Road - FS 2S08

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…
Learn more about Camp Wolfeboro