Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Olancha, California

Walker Creek Road begins just off Old US-395 south of Olancha, starting as a wide two-track sand trail before gradually narrowing as it gains elevation. Shortly after leaving the highway, the trail crosses over the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the new US-395 corridor, then makes a direct push toward the...
Learn more about Walker Creek Road - FS 19S01

BLM SE743 is a short, accessible out-and-back spur that branches off Walker Creek Road and makes for an easy add-on to that route or a standalone mellow desert run. The trail travels through open BLM land before terminating at a locked gate marking the boundary of private property, which is the site...
Learn more about BLM SE743

BLM SE740 is a trail tracing a course parallel to US-395 beneath a series of power line corridors. The route offers a useful link trail in the Olancha area network while delivering a solid mix of soft sand, light technical terrain, and open desert scenery. The surface is soft sand throughout, with e...
Learn more about BLM SE740

North Haiwee Road departs from the CA-190 / US-395 junction and makes a run through open desert toward the North Haiwee Reservoir, one of the storage facilities in the Los Angeles Aqueduct system. The hard-packed sand surface and generous two-vehicle width make this one of the more approachable trai...
Learn more about North Haiwee Road

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms the surface as it slowly climbs from the reservoir. The route is open to both...
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

This 1.5 vehicle-wide sandy trail follows power lines while offering views of both the Coso Range Mountains and Eastern Sierra Mountains, creating layered scenery. Nice views of the Haiwee Reservoir appear as you navigate. The route is lined with lots of smoke trees and other brush, with a few Joshu...
Learn more about BLM SE781

Starting just off Highway 395 on the north side with no access from southbound lanes, this sandy route navigates through lush desert flora, including large Joshua trees, smoke trees, and creosote bushes, creating unusually dense vegetation. Overgrown bushes crowd the middle of the path, growing thic...
Learn more about BLM 37E402

Scenic off-road route through Monache Meadows in the southern Sierra Nevada. The trail travels through a large high-elevation meadow surrounded by pine-covered mountains, with wide-open views, sandy two-track roads, and access to the South Fork of the Kern River. Most of the route is relatively easy...
Learn more about Monache Meadow - 20S05 Loop

This is another great trail here--a nice wide single track winding through the forest. It passes through a couple of nice meadows and there are quite a few creek crossings to look out for. The rock sections are not too bad. There are a couple of sand sections but they're not too serious.
Learn more about Albinita

Monache Meadows is a scenic, remote off-highway haven perfect for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, offering access to one of the largest meadows in the Sierra Nevada. This 9-mile route weaves through a high-elevation valley situated between 7,800 and 8,600 feet, surrounded by pristine wilde...
Learn more about Monache Meadows

Forest Service Road 20S22 is an easy-to-moderate backcountry route on the Kern Plateau that serves as the gateway to some of the Southern Sierra's most scenic and remote destinations and the connector trail to get to Monache Meadows. The road winds through pine forest and open mountain terrain befor...
Learn more about FS 20S22

FS 20S39 is a scenic mountain route that winds through the southern Sierra Nevada, offering expansive views, granite outcrops, and forests of pinyon pine and Jeffrey pine. The road is generally easy to follow but features several rutted sections and scattered larger rocks that make a high-clearance ...
Learn more about FS 20S39

This 2-mile "loop" starts at 5,285 feet of elevation and rises to 5,865 feet. The trail is sandy with a few rocky sections. There are also a few sections with ruts due to snowmelt and rain run-off. High-clearance vehicles are recommended. The trail turns more challenging as you rise into the canyon....
Learn more about South Fork Lubken Creek Canyon Loop

This is another fun scenic single track that comes equipped with a couple of rock sections and some sand. There are a couple of creek crossings, one of which could get a little spicy with the runoff from the snowmelt. Overall, it's a great trail to hit from the nearby campground.
Learn more about Beach Ridge Trail

Smith Mountain Road (FS 21S37) is a scenic backcountry route that branches off Sherman Pass Road in the Sequoia National Forest. Due to its length, steep grades, and rugged terrain, the route is straightforward for experienced high-clearance 4WD drivers in dry conditions. Expect a combination of roc...
Learn more about Smith Mountain Road - FS 21S37

Albanita (FS 21S01) is an easy forest road that branches off Sherman Pass Road and winds through the scenic backcountry of the Kern Plateau in Sequoia National Forest. The route travels through beautiful stands of pine and old-growth aspens before ending near Jackass Meadow and providing access to F...
Learn more about Albanita - FS 21S01

A nice, easy, and wide single track that has a really nice flow to it, this trail connects Troy Meadow Campground with Fish Creek Campground, another super fun single track in the area. There will be hikers, mountain bikers, and people strolling around in the area, so be aware.
Learn more about Campground Connector

This route runs from Boulder Creek RV camp to the Reward Mine area. There are dirt trails shown next to Highway 136, but they are gone and fenced off, so you need to run 0.7 miles on asphalt. Most of this is wide open, two-lane, but near the Owens River, it is a single vehicle trail.
Learn more about Reward Access

This route bypasses a section that would normally run through a salt pond (on the way back, we took that route, and it was firm, not recommended though). Running on mostly engineered raised berms and gravel/dirt roads- It is the old state Highway. Towards the end, it cuts through some sand mounds.
Learn more about Keeler Route

FS 23S32 is an easy, scenic backcountry route through the remote high-country forests of the Sequoia National Forest. The well-maintained dirt road winds through mixed conifer forest and offers a peaceful drive with very little traffic, making it a great choice for anyone looking to escape the crowd...
Learn more about Mahogany - FS 21S32

BLM SE743 is a short, accessible out-and-back spur that branches off Walker Creek Road and makes for an easy add-on to that route or a standalone mellow desert run. The trail travels through open BLM land before terminating at a locked gate marking the boundary of private property, which is the site...
Learn more about BLM SE743

BLM SE740 is a trail tracing a course parallel to US-395 beneath a series of power line corridors. The route offers a useful link trail in the Olancha area network while delivering a solid mix of soft sand, light technical terrain, and open desert scenery. The surface is soft sand throughout, with e...
Learn more about BLM SE740

North Haiwee Road departs from the CA-190 / US-395 junction and makes a run through open desert toward the North Haiwee Reservoir, one of the storage facilities in the Los Angeles Aqueduct system. The hard-packed sand surface and generous two-vehicle width make this one of the more approachable trai...
Learn more about North Haiwee Road

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms the surface as it slowly climbs from the reservoir. The route is open to both...
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

BLM SE743 is a short, accessible out-and-back spur that branches off Walker Creek Road and makes for an easy add-on to that route or a standalone mellow desert run. The trail travels through open BLM land before terminating at a locked gate marking the boundary of private property, which is the site...
Learn more about BLM SE743

BLM SE740 is a trail tracing a course parallel to US-395 beneath a series of power line corridors. The route offers a useful link trail in the Olancha area network while delivering a solid mix of soft sand, light technical terrain, and open desert scenery. The surface is soft sand throughout, with e...
Learn more about BLM SE740

North Haiwee Road departs from the CA-190 / US-395 junction and makes a run through open desert toward the North Haiwee Reservoir, one of the storage facilities in the Los Angeles Aqueduct system. The hard-packed sand surface and generous two-vehicle width make this one of the more approachable trai...
Learn more about North Haiwee Road

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms the surface as it slowly climbs from the reservoir. The route is open to both...
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776