Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Onyx, California

Starting at the PCT trail crossing parking lot, this sandy shelf road overlooks the valley below, creating elevated vantage points. Stunning wildflowers emerge in spring, transforming the landscape with color. Switchbacks guide descent into the…
Learn more about Bird Spring Canyon Road West BLM SC120

Bartolas FS 24S14 winds through pine trees and brush within Sequoia National Forest. Downed trees are present along the route and require maneuvering around in several spots. The trail currently ends early at 1.4 miles,…
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Juniper Flat is a smooth, easy cruise through BLM land on a hard-packed sandy two-track lined with notably large juniper trees that give the trail its name. At a Rating 1, this is about as…
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Patterson Lane (FS 26S34) departs from California Route 198 and enters the South Fork Wildlife Area within Sequoia National Forest, offering a gentle and scenic drive through protected forest land. The hard-packed sand surface and…
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Little Dry Meadow is a compact but punchy out-and-back trail that climbs sharply from the southeast corner of South Lake toward the Sequoia National Forest boundary. Gaining 560 feet in under 1.5 miles, the trail…
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South Lake winds along the eastern edge of the South Lake village boundary, departing from Juniper Flat and tracing a course through open BLM land with the Sequoia National Forest mountains as a constant backdrop.…
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Rattlesnake (FS 26S34B) branches off Patterson Lane and runs along the south shore of Lake Isabella through an open grass meadow ringed by the foothills of the Sequoia National Forest. The lakeside access makes this…
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Taylor FS 24S13 winds through a pine forest within Sequoia National Forest, dropping over 500 feet across just over 4 miles with minimal elevation gain on the return. The wide two-lane surface is a mix…
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The North Rattlesnake Loop serves as a cut-off connector linking two sides of trail Taylor FS24S13, cutting through lots of sagebrush and large pine trees within Sequoia National Forest. The trail is fairly smooth throughout…
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Climbing over a thousand feet in just under 3 miles along a shelf road, this route delivers dramatic and stunning views of valleys below from elevated vantage points. Spring transforms the landscape with amazing blooming…
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Dropping over 700 feet in under 2 miles, this one vehicle wide route combines mostly sand and gravel while descending rapidly. Lined with sagebrush, large groups of Joshua trees, and seasonal blooming wildflowers, creating a…
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Church FS24S32 winds through sagebrush and varying sized pine trees within Sequoia National Forest, running partially along a shelf road before ending at Taylor Meadow. Pine needles and pine cones scattered across the surface give…
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Cherry Hill Road South FS 22S12 picks up after Big Meadow and serves as the southern artery deeper into Sequoia National Forest, providing access to Long Meadow, Taylor Meadow, and various other trails along its…
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Taylor Creek FS 24S43 winds through tall pine trees and sagebrush within Sequoia National Forest, with pine needles and overgrown brush encroaching into the middle of the trail throughout. Groupings of boulders punctuate the landscape…
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This is a fun loop that starts off with SC39 and SC47. It begins with long downhill sections of s-turns and the trail is several feet below the main desert floor with Yuccas on both…
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Mount Mesa (FS 26S40A) departs from California Route 198 and rolls through a large open meadow running parallel to Kissack Bay on Lake Isabella before looping around the bay. The meadow and bay setting delivers…
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Kissack Cove runs along the shoreline of Kissack Cove on Lake Isabella through open grassland, offering one of the more relaxed and scenic drives in the area. The lake views are consistent throughout, with the…
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Cannell FS24S12 is a 10 mile out and back that winds through young and mature pine trees within Sequoia National Forest, climbing over 900 feet and dropping over 550 feet across just over 6 miles…
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The Upper Dry Lake trail climbs nearly 150 feet in approximately a mile through young pine trees and other brush within Sequoia National Forest. Various flat open areas along the route provide good dispersed camping…
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This route consists of two main trails, SC47 and SC328. The trail can be accessed on the West from Kelso Valley Road and from the East at the actual Dove Springs. My route includes the…
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Cannell Meadow FS 24S56 is a 7-mile out-and-back winding through young pine trees within Sequoia National Forest, passing by Cannell Station and the Cannell Meadow Public Horse Camp along the way. The gentle and balanced…
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Starting at BLM LA1, this fine sand route runs 1.5 to 2 vehicles wide along the Eastern Sierra Mountain foothills. Alternating between hard pack and deeper soft sand creates variable traction conditions. The trail is…
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Winding into Bird Spring Canyon, this soft sandy route runs just over one vehicle wide through terrain lined with desert brush, Joshua trees, and blooming wildflowers that intensify deeper in the canyon. Various established campsite…
Learn more about Bird Spring Canyon Road East BLM 120

Starting at Highway 14 at Robbers Roost Mini Mart with public bathrooms, this sandy out-and-back trail heads to Cow Heaven Canyon on BLM limited-use land, requiring staying on designated trails. Fine sand surface can be…
Learn more about Cow Heaven Canyon Road BLM SC51

Big Meadow FS 23S07 loops around Big Meadow, one of the most popular and beloved meadows in the area, set within thick pine forest in Sequoia National Forest. Camp Andrew Brown sits along the trail,…
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This very sandy one vehicle wide route cuts through a small, shallow canyon surrounded by very small desert brush and a few Joshua trees. Interesting boulder rock formations appear throughout the canyon. Although mostly sandy,…
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This one vehicle-wide loose sand route threads through terrain surrounded by creosote bushes, Joshua trees, other desert flora, and seasonally blooming wildflowers. The trail is prettiest traveling south to north for optimal scenery appreciation. Beautiful…
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A long scenic route crosses the sprawling high desert from Jawbone OHV Area, climbs above 8,000 feet across the Piute Mountain Range inside Sequoia National Forest, and then descends quickly to Lake Isabella. There are…
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This is a fun winding trail that starts right off of SC173 and quickly drops down into a soft wide sand wash. The trail narrows with a tight s-turn between large boulders then opens up…
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Cherry Hill Road North FS 22S12 is the primary artery into this district of Sequoia National Forest, departing from Sherman Pass Road and serving as the only route in and out of the Horse Meadow…
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