Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Placerville, California

This is a nice little adventure close to town where you will switchback underneath the powerlines and make your way towards Iowa Hill. The trail is not too difficult--mostly just forest roads--but there are some side spurs to explore and some spots to camp. At the end is a bald mountain with some vi...
Learn more about Iowa Hill

This is a short loop trail off of the Rock Creek Loop that is unmarked at both entrances and is kind of hidden due to forestry work along the Rock Creek Loop. The west end starts out on a dry, exposed hilltop, then goes through low tunnels of California black oak trees and manzanita trees. The trail...
Learn more about Trail 1-5 (11E51)

This is a short cutoff trail that bails you out from Trail 5, back to the road portion of Rock Creek Loop, and out to Rock Creek Road. The trail is 1.2 miles long, and mostly gradually ascends from south to north, gaining about 450 feet in elevation. The trail is shelfy, but not overly narrow, as it...
Learn more about Trail 5-1 (11E32)

This is a 1.5-mile-long dirt bike trail that makes a loop with part of Trail 6. Most of it is a wide shelf-road-like trail, lined with tall oaks and pines and thickets. It’s mostly flat and straight, on smooth dirt, with a few dips and some gradual curves. The south end starts at a marked intersecti...
Learn more about Trail 6-2 (11E52)

This route alternates between gravel and native dirt surfaces, generally single-vehicle wide with periodic pullouts for passing. Four-wheel drive (4WD) is recommended. Portions narrow into a shelf road that winds through tight forest and canyon walls, creating a cool, shaded corridor for much of the...
Learn more about Rock Creek

This trail is 1.1 miles of fun and easy winding single track through a dry and dusty forest of firs and pines. The trail has lots of big roots present, with tight twisty turns, and silty banked corners. Expect some deeper ruts as well, and natural drop-offs from the roots and ruts. The roots are dry...
Learn more about Trail 5-2 (11E29)

Gasparni takes you through the pine trees and brush connecting the dirt section of Forebay to the pavement leading to Brush Creek Reservoir. Nearly all of the trail is wide enough for a full-width truck, except one section about 100 yards long nearest to the pavement is too narrow.
Learn more about Gasparni

Forebay Road is a short but fun forest road that snakes through the trees and brush with plenty of opportunity for fun hill climbs off either side. Loosely following the high power lines, Forebay can connect you to a few different forest roads and trails with glimpses of the Sierras at times.
Learn more about Forebay

The north end of this trail starts out very wide, like a shelf road, lined with tall sugar pines, then goes into the trees on a narrower path. It stays smooth and obstacle-free for the entire route, winding through the trees with light dips and bumps, but not many rocks. You have to watch out for so...
Learn more about Trail 4-3 (11E34)

This is a short connector trail between Trail 10 and Trail 4. It’s a wide path between low manzanita tree branches, like a tree tunnel. The surface is lightly covered in small loose rocks and pinecones, a bit troughed and rutted at times, and you need to watch out for small sticks and roots. It has ...
Learn more about Trail 4-1 (11E35)

This is a fun little road if you are in Georgetown, whether in a Jeep or on an OHV. There are a few creeks from spring runoff that make it a pretty road! It's more of an out-and-back since it ends in private property. It has barriers, but it's still fun!
Learn more about No Way Out

This half of Trail 9 is a steady and gradual descent from the intersection with Trail 4-2. It’s easy overall, with small loose rocks, gradual curves, waterbars, banked corners, troughs, ruts, and dips. It drops down to a flatter path that widens up on the forest floor. The trail continues through th...
Learn more about Trail 9 (11E13)

This trail starts out at the intersection with Rock Creek Loop (Trail 1) just south of the Bald Mountain Staging Area. It starts out as a wide shelf road that is smooth and flat, in a dry and sparse forest of Ponderosa pines. It is gradual and flat for the entire route, making it super easy for ride...
Learn more about Trail 1-3 (11E30)

Bottle Hill is a good trail to learn how your vehicle feels on dirt, rock, and mud;or to check the off-road capability of your vehicle after making modifications or repairs. It is also a nice, relaxing trail to run for more experienced off-roaders. There is a cellular signal from multiple carriers t...
Learn more about Bottle Hill

This is NOT the Rubicon Trail. This is US Forestry Service fire road route number 13N66, known as Rubicon Road located in the Volcanoville area of Georgetown, California. It is located inside the Mosquito Fire Scar area. As such, the landscape continues to shift as dead trees fall and new trees grow...
Learn more about Rubicon Road - 13N66

Latrobe Road is a scenic dirt road that passes through the rolling foothills outside the Sacramento Valley and provides ample views of the surrounding area. The trail passes through agricultural land, cattle grazing areas, and the 4000 acre Deer Creek Preserve, which is owned/managed by the Sacramen...
Learn more about Latrobe Road

Volcanoville is a good beginner trail that can be completed by most stock 4x4 SUVs, as well as many AWD vehicles with AT tires and at least 8 inches of clearance. The trail does get progressively more difficult, with plenty of opportunities to turn around safely. Private parcels are well marked and ...
Learn more about Volcanoville

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 tight sections, with some spots where fallen trees have been cleared just enough ...
Learn more about Gold Note 4WD

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 accessible for most riders. However, conditions can vary significantly based on the seaso...
Learn more about Upper Gold Note

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 access to large dispersed camping sites and OHV staging areas. A restroom facility is ava...
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Gasparni takes you through the pine trees and brush connecting the dirt section of Forebay to the pavement leading to Brush Creek Reservoir. Nearly all of the trail is wide enough for a full-width truck, except one section about 100 yards long nearest to the pavement is too narrow.
Learn more about Gasparni

Forebay Road is a short but fun forest road that snakes through the trees and brush with plenty of opportunity for fun hill climbs off either side. Loosely following the high power lines, Forebay can connect you to a few different forest roads and trails with glimpses of the Sierras at times.
Learn more about Forebay

This is a fun little road if you are in Georgetown, whether in a Jeep or on an OHV. There are a few creeks from spring runoff that make it a pretty road! It's more of an out-and-back since it ends in private property. It has barriers, but it's still fun!
Learn more about No Way Out

Bottle Hill is a good trail to learn how your vehicle feels on dirt, rock, and mud;or to check the off-road capability of your vehicle after making modifications or repairs. It is also a nice, relaxing trail to run for more experienced off-roaders. There is a cellular signal from multiple carriers t...
Learn more about Bottle Hill

Gasparni takes you through the pine trees and brush connecting the dirt section of Forebay to the pavement leading to Brush Creek Reservoir. Nearly all of the trail is wide enough for a full-width truck, except one section about 100 yards long nearest to the pavement is too narrow.
Learn more about Gasparni

Forebay Road is a short but fun forest road that snakes through the trees and brush with plenty of opportunity for fun hill climbs off either side. Loosely following the high power lines, Forebay can connect you to a few different forest roads and trails with glimpses of the Sierras at times.
Learn more about Forebay

This is a fun little road if you are in Georgetown, whether in a Jeep or on an OHV. There are a few creeks from spring runoff that make it a pretty road! It's more of an out-and-back since it ends in private property. It has barriers, but it's still fun!
Learn more about No Way Out

Bottle Hill is a good trail to learn how your vehicle feels on dirt, rock, and mud;or to check the off-road capability of your vehicle after making modifications or repairs. It is also a nice, relaxing trail to run for more experienced off-roaders. There is a cellular signal from multiple carriers t...
Learn more about Bottle Hill