Beginner Off-Road Trails Near North Fork, California

This is a Sierra foothill road near Bass Lake, which is not visible on this trek. It is a clear dirt road with very little pinstriping. Some rutting but very manageable. There are several ways…
Learn more about Chepo Saddle 6S13

This is an unmaintained, overgrown dirt road through a severely burned and recovering forest. The route is defined by deep ruts, exposed rocks, and pinstriping brush. This road serves as a remote access or connector…
Learn more about Sugar Pine - FS 6S090

The high-elevation, upper portion of Sky Ranch Road serves as a critical trunk route to multiple backcountry destinations. It is the eastern portion of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway. This two-lane road is characterized by…
Learn more about Upper Sky Ranch Road - FS 6S010A

This is a scenic, single-lane, high-elevation road characterized by rough embedded rock sections that demand slow, careful driving. The route travels through a dense, unburned subalpine forest with heavy tree cover. This road is an…
Learn more about Iron Mountain - FS 5S092

This is an easy, scenic, and well-maintained dirt/gravel road that serves as a secondary access point from Highway 41 into the historic area of Sugar Pine. The route runs through a beautiful mid-elevation forest, parallels…
Learn more about Lower Speckerman Fire - FS 5S017

A primary, 6.4-mile Forest Service access road that transitions from graded gravel (easy, fast travel) to a rutted dirt track as it moves into the western end, which was affected by past wildfires. It is…
Learn more about Miami Mountain Road - FS 6S014

This is a short, easy, single-lane connector road that provides direct access from Highway 41 (near the Westfall Ranger Station) to the Lower Speckerman Fire Road (FS 5S017). The road surface is dry, packed dirt…
Learn more about Westfall Tie - FS 5S017X

This is a historically significant, long single-lane dirt road that is generally easy (Rated 1) but is NOT a through route due to closures. The surface is a mix of packed dirt, embedded rock, and…
Learn more about Ten Mile Grade - FS 4S004

This is a fast, fun, single-lane connector road that links the 10 Mile Spur to Miami Mountain Road (6S014). The route is predominantly hard-packed dirt under a dense canopy of pine and cedar. Driving at…
Learn more about Wolf Leap - FS 6S009

This high alpine traverse is a tale of two forest service roads. It starts on the northern side as a rough, rocky scramble with lots of embedded granite that slows travel and requires focus. However,…
Learn more about Quartz Mountain - FS 5S040Y

This is a short, easy, two-track dirt spur that drops quickly to access Chiquito Creek. The trail passes through an area impacted by the 2020 Creek Wildfire, resulting in expanded regional views but a landscape…
Learn more about Minarets Number 80 - FS 5S012Y

This is a short connector route and bypass for the nearby portion of Ten Mile Grade that passes through the private property of the adjacent Yosemite Mountain Ranch. This is a fast, single-lane dirt Forest…
Learn more about Ten Mile Spur - FS 5S062

This is a very short, single-track dirt spur that dead-ends at an access point above Chiquito Creek. The route is tight and heavily encroached by dense scrub brush, forcing a slow and cautious pace, but…
Learn more about Minarets No 80 YA Spur - FS 5S012YA

An easy, two-lane forest service road that efficiently climbs out of the Fish Camp area and connects to the high-country Chowchilla Mtn Road network. The surface is a mixed bag of graded dirt, loose gravel,…
Learn more about Summit - FS 5S009

A very short, slightly bumpy and picturesque access spur off the main Beasore Road, leading directly to high-quality dispersed campsites and the Chiquito Creek (great for cold morning dips!). The main feature is a shallow…
Learn more about Beasore - A Spur - FS 5s007a

The Western half of the Quartz Mountain summit loop, connecting with the Quartz Mountain Top spur (FS 5S040XD). This two-track route climbs to over 9,000 feet, offering spectacular views to the East over the Ansel…
Learn more about Prospect Mine - FS 5S040X

This 2.8-mile road is a key connector designed for efficient travel through the high country. The trail is a wide, smooth two-track that traverses a vast expanse of the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar (visible…
Learn more about Lodgepole - FS 9s027

This 15.5-mile high-country road is designed for speed. The main surface is wide and smooth, composed of fast, packed decomposed granite, allowing for quick transit. However, the entire route runs through the extensive 2020 Creek…
Learn more about Kaiser Loop - FS 6S002

Welcome to the high-country burn scar! This short, intense two-track scrambles up through the devastating 2020 Creek Wildfire burn above 7,900 feet, towards the Ansel Adams Wilderness boundary. The trail offers a dramatic, otherworldly experience…
Learn more about Sharks - FS 5S057

This two-track route is a connector between Graveyard (FS 5S008) and Jackass Creek (FS 5S002). The trail runs entirely through the severe 2020 Creek Fire burn scar, which means lots of downed trees, loose dirt,…
Learn more about Graveyard Creek - FS 5S055

This is an essential, short 1.1-mile spur providing high-clearance access to a unique ridge-top viewpoint. The trail climbs rapidly through a mixed-severity 2020 Creek Wildfire burn zone, which has exposed the dramatic granite formations and…
Learn more about Azalea Creek - FS 9S014B

This 1.6-mile forest service road is a high-elevation, single-lane administrative road designed for access to maintain an overhead power line passing through the area. The entire road traverses a highly exposed landscape within the 2020…
Learn more about Bawdy - FS 9s040

This 1.1-mile two-track is a forest service road that provides a quick transit connector between other roads in this ridge system. The trail runs entirely through a vast, exposed landscape that was severely burned during…
Learn more about Upper Tamarack Mountain - FS 9s028

This is an easy, wide 2.1-mile dirt forest service road designed for fast transit through the high country. The road runs through a massive, high-severity burn scar from the 2020 Creek Wildfire (visible in photos),…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9s026

This 0.9-mile two-track is a smooth, easy trail in the high-country road network, serving as a direct continuation of the 8S035 (Boneridge) trail. It leads directly to a large, scenic group campsite located on an…
Learn more about Hewn - FS 25E319

This is an easy, short 2.6-mile spur that leads to a scenic access at a spectacular campsite at a rock grouping above Azeala Creek with regional views out over Shaver Lake. The trail is a…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9S014

This is a short, fun, and easy dirt Jeep trail through a dense forest environment. The trail features sections of powdery ruts and packed earth that can be driven quickly, making it an excellent connector…
Learn more about Battalion - FS 21E252

This is an easy, two-lane Forest Service road that efficiently climbs out of the Fish Camp area and connects to the high-country Chowchilla Mountain Road network. The surface is a mixed bag of graded dirt,…
Learn more about Summit Cutoff - 5S009X

This is a fast, wide, graded forest service road that serves as the essential gateway to the highly challenging Mirror, Strawberry, and Coyote Lakes trail network. This major 6.2-mile high-country road is designed for speed,…
Learn more about Red Mountain - FS 8S010

This is a fast, smooth, and easy 4.9-mile Forest Service road. The roadbed is composed primarily of decomposed granite tread, perfect for maintaining speed and enjoying the scenery. The route runs high, offering stunning, exposed…
Learn more about Luman Loop - FS 6S086