Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Pollock Pines, 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

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

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

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 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 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)

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 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 trail circumnavigates the Big Hill fire lookout tower. Make sure to pop up the short road to the lookout as this provides dramatic 360 views of the surrounding gorgeous wilderness, and there is an official scenic lookout viewing platform. The tower is also actively manned during the fire seaso...
Learn more about Big Hill Lookout

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 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)

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 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

Short connector trail between the Mormon Emigrant Trail and the Alder Creek area trails. Utilizing Houtts as part of the route, one can traverse between the Mormon Emigrant Trail and Highway 50. The entrance to the trail comes up quickly, and there's a small area to air down immediately to the righ...
Learn more about Houtts - FS 10N44

Alder Creek (FS 11N46) is a well-maintained route that travels between US Highway 50 near Kyburz and Mormon Emigrant Trail south of Morrison. While Alder Creek itself is not terribly challenging, it does connect at least 12 spurs and ties. This is an excellent trail to see the ongoing recovery after...
Learn more about Alder Creek - FS 11N46

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

Webber Mill is an easy gravel road that follows an 8-mile section of the Pony Express Trail and is also a small part of the Northern California BDR. The trail winds along the side of the mountain from just east of Sand Flat Campground to Ice House Road and overlooks the South Fork of the American Ri...
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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

Expect a mellow route as you drop down to the South Fork of the American River. Leave water crossings behind as you traverse dense forests, cross over private lands, and finally meet up with Carpenter Creek (11N47) to make the final descent and cross the river. This trail is a dirt and gravel surfac...
Learn more about Carpenter Creek - FS 11N47

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

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

This trail circumnavigates the Big Hill fire lookout tower. Make sure to pop up the short road to the lookout as this provides dramatic 360 views of the surrounding gorgeous wilderness, and there is an official scenic lookout viewing platform. The tower is also actively manned during the fire seaso...
Learn more about Big Hill Lookout

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

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

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

This trail circumnavigates the Big Hill fire lookout tower. Make sure to pop up the short road to the lookout as this provides dramatic 360 views of the surrounding gorgeous wilderness, and there is an official scenic lookout viewing platform. The tower is also actively manned during the fire seaso...
Learn more about Big Hill Lookout

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