Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Orland, California

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307

Branching off Alder Springs Road (Forest Highway 7), Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65 is a scenic, single-lane out-and-back spur that gently descends along a prominent mountain spine. Situated within Mendocino National Forest, the surrounding terrain features chaparral slopes and sparse tree stands acti...
Learn more about Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65

This trail starts off looking like it was freshly graded and then turns into a rutted-out trail. Nothing too difficult, just some sections where water was flowing down and created a rut in the road. This trail does have a few spots where you can pull off to camp as well, with some beautiful views.
Learn more about Alder Springs W.C. - FS 21N30

Winding through a starkly beautiful forest recovering from wildfire with dense brush understory and standing burnt snags, Eagle Rock (FS 24N36) offers a scenic backcountry ridge spur within the Mendocino National Forest. Accessed directly off of the Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at a broad, open ...
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 24N36

Winding through a mix of towering pine timber, oak groves, and actively managed forestlands within the Mendocino National Forest, Elder Creek (FS 25N09) offers a tranquil and broad mountain drive. Accessed directly off Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at the prominent four-way junction, this gently ...
Learn more about Elder Creek - FS 25N09

Set within a partially burnt coniferous forest with emerging shrub understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Whitlock (FS 24N19) offers a rustic mountain slope climb. Accessed directly near Whitlock Campground, this dirt spur branches upward into quieter backcountry terrain. Outdoor enthusiasts p...
Learn more about Whitlock - FS 24N19

Branching off from the main artery of Forest Road M2, Lower Alltop - FS 24N56 is a gentle out-and-back spur that dips down along the mountainside in the Mendocino National Forest. Navigating through an environment recovering from the massive 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route features standing ...
Learn more about Lower Alltop - FS 24N56

Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64 branches directly off Forest Highway M3, winding through a quiet stretch of Mendocino National Forest. This single-track dirt path acts as a forest connector road that loops over to Clover Creek - FS 20N41 and links to additional backcountry spurs, though seasonal downed ...
Learn more about Tool Cache Ridge - FS 20N64

Set within an open, high-country pine forest with scattered snags and brush understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Ball Rock Ridge (FS 24N41) climbs gracefully toward Tatham Ridge. Accessed from a prominent three-way forest intersection, this double-wide route serves as a scenic connection bet...
Learn more about Ball Rock Ridge - FS 24N41

Set within a dry, mixed pine and oak woodland recovering from past fire impacts in the Mendocino National Forest, Section 17 (FS 25N09B) provides a peaceful side excursion. Accessed directly off of Elder Creek Road (FS 25N09) near the Paskenta-Eel River Road corridor, this route stems off to the rig...
Learn more about Section 17 - FS 25N09B

Set within a scenic high-country pine forest with manzanita brush understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Felkner - FS 19N06 provides an enjoyable mountain ridge drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3, this 4.8-mile single-lane dirt spur climbs up to Felkner Ridge, acting as a connec...
Learn more about Felkner - FS 19N06

Rain Gauge - FS 19N71 turns off Forest Highway M3, offering an inviting journey along the sloped ridgelines of Mendocino National Forest. Operating as an out-and-back spur, this wide single-track dirt road gently winds along the mountainside before concluding at 1.2-miles where it meets an intersect...
Learn more about Rain Gauge - FS 19N71

This slightly over 2-mile trail definitely lives up to its name. While it remains a two-track route, thick brush crowds the trail in several sections, making for a tight squeeze at times. There are also a few small washes along the edges of the trail, so some caution is recommended. The route offer...
Learn more about Brushy Ridge - 19N29

Kern Point - FS 20N55 is an ascending 1.7-mile single-track dirt spur located in Mendocino National Forest, accessed directly off Forest Highway M3 at the Ivory Mill saddle area. Climbing steadily along a pine-dotted ridge line recovering from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route runs nearly ...
Learn more about Kern Point - FS 20N55

Set within an elevated conifer forest recovering from the 2020 August Complex Fire in the Mendocino National Forest, Ivory Mill Adm - FS 20N45 serves as a scenic ridgeline connector route. Accessed directly off of Forest Highway M3 at Ivory Mill Saddle, this single-lane mountain road climbs continuo...
Learn more about Ivory Mill Adm - FS 20N45

Branching off a busy multi-road junction, Bigelow - FS 24N41D is a scenic out-and-back mountain spur traversing the eastern slopes of the Mendocino National Forest. Navigating an ecosystem rebounding from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route winds through a mixture of standing burned trees, d...
Learn more about Bigelow - FS 24N41D

Cedar Ridge - FS 20N24 is a 4.7-mile out-and-back mountain spur in the Mendocino National Forest, accessed directly off Forest Highway M3 or via a connecting spur from M6. Traversing a subalpine landscape actively recovering from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire, the route winds past charred standin...
Learn more about Cedar Ridge - FS 20N24

At the beginning of the trail, there is a sign that states "closed at creek crossing". However, we did not encounter a creek crossing or any closures along this trail before it meets at M3. Where the road continues after M3 states that it's closed. This trail is a gravel trail with some rutted out s...
Learn more about Road 311

Accessed directly off Tatham Ridge, Postpile - FS 24N38 is an engaging 3.3-mile single-track bypass road traversing the eastern flank of the mountain. Situated within the Mendocino National Forest, the track passes through a localized burn scar from the 2020 August Complex Wildfire before breaking o...
Learn more about Postpile - FS 24N38

This trail can be accessed by Main Road 306. It goes through private property for a short bit and a water crossing before reaching national forest land. There are many ruts throughout the trail due to water flow and some dips. The trail is nice and easy otherwise. There are beautiful views along the...
Learn more about Open Ridge Black Diamond East - FS 18N02

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307

Branching off Alder Springs Road (Forest Highway 7), Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65 is a scenic, single-lane out-and-back spur that gently descends along a prominent mountain spine. Situated within Mendocino National Forest, the surrounding terrain features chaparral slopes and sparse tree stands acti...
Learn more about Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65

This trail starts off looking like it was freshly graded and then turns into a rutted-out trail. Nothing too difficult, just some sections where water was flowing down and created a rut in the road. This trail does have a few spots where you can pull off to camp as well, with some beautiful views.
Learn more about Alder Springs W.C. - FS 21N30

Winding through a starkly beautiful forest recovering from wildfire with dense brush understory and standing burnt snags, Eagle Rock (FS 24N36) offers a scenic backcountry ridge spur within the Mendocino National Forest. Accessed directly off of the Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at a broad, open ...
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 24N36

This trail is a combination of dirt and gravel. The trail is fairly flat with the occasional rutted wash from water flow. Not far down the trail is the Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial and the trailhead leading to their gravesites. This road states that it is not maintained in inclement weather. The...
Learn more about Road 307

Branching off Alder Springs Road (Forest Highway 7), Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65 is a scenic, single-lane out-and-back spur that gently descends along a prominent mountain spine. Situated within Mendocino National Forest, the surrounding terrain features chaparral slopes and sparse tree stands acti...
Learn more about Grindstone Canyon - FS 21N65

This trail starts off looking like it was freshly graded and then turns into a rutted-out trail. Nothing too difficult, just some sections where water was flowing down and created a rut in the road. This trail does have a few spots where you can pull off to camp as well, with some beautiful views.
Learn more about Alder Springs W.C. - FS 21N30

Winding through a starkly beautiful forest recovering from wildfire with dense brush understory and standing burnt snags, Eagle Rock (FS 24N36) offers a scenic backcountry ridge spur within the Mendocino National Forest. Accessed directly off of the Paskenta-Eel River Road (Hwy M2) at a broad, open ...
Learn more about Eagle Rock - FS 24N36