Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Riverdale, California

Aurora Cutoff R14 is a narrow two-track trail that traces the top of a ridge, leading you toward the historic Aurora Mine. This scenic route offers plenty of opportunities to explore single-track trails branching off…
Learn more about Aurora Cutoff R14

R1 Clear Creek Road lives up to its namesake by following the crisp, flowing waters of Clear Creek as it twists and winds through the canyon toward the hills. This trail provides an enjoyable adventure,…
Learn more about R1 Clear Creek Road

This is an extremely short, 0.7-mile spur trail that provides direct access to a spectacular summit and the Bald Mountain fire watchtower destination. The trail starts as a relatively clear two-track, but the difficulty ramps…
Learn more about Tower - FS 25E314

This is a Sierra foothill road near Bass Lake, which is not visible on this trek. It is a clear dirt road with very little pinstriping. Some rutting but very manageable. There are several ways…
Learn more about Chepo Saddle 6S13

This is an essential, short 1.1-mile spur providing high-clearance access to a unique ridge-top viewpoint. The trail climbs rapidly through a mixed-severity 2020 Creek Wildfire burn zone, which has exposed the dramatic granite formations and…
Learn more about Azalea Creek - FS 9S014B

This is an easy, short 2.6-mile spur that leads to a scenic access at a spectacular campsite at a rock grouping above Azeala Creek with regional views out over Shaver Lake. The trail is a…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9S014

This 0.7-mile connector trail in the Bald Mountain trail network is a short, twisty, and fun two-track trail that is essential for linking the high-elevation roads in the area ( between Lazy M and Bow…
Learn more about 45 Cutoff - FS 25E309

Enter through the National Park fee booth and follow the signs to Grant Grove Village and the Cedar Grove area. The signs for the Boole Tree Trailhead will be along road 180 just past the…
Learn more about Boole Tree Trailhead

This 2.8-mile road is a key connector designed for efficient travel through the high country. The trail is a wide, smooth two-track that traverses a vast expanse of the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar (visible…
Learn more about Lodgepole - FS 9s027

This is an easy, wide 2.1-mile dirt forest service road designed for fast transit through the high country. The road runs through a massive, high-severity burn scar from the 2020 Creek Wildfire (visible in photos),…
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9s026

This 1.1-mile two-track is a forest service road that provides a quick transit connector between other roads in this ridge system. The trail runs entirely through a vast, exposed landscape that was severely burned during…
Learn more about Upper Tamarack Mountain - FS 9s028

This 1.6-mile forest service road is a high-elevation, single-lane administrative road designed for access to maintain an overhead power line passing through the area. The entire road traverses a highly exposed landscape within the 2020…
Learn more about Bawdy - FS 9s040

This is a challenging, 2.2-mile drive defined by extreme surface conditions and environmental hazards. The route begins briefly in a healthy, shaded stand of trees before immediately entering a vast, exposed burn scar from the…
Learn more about Upper South Fork Tamarack Creek - FS 9s023

This is an easy, fast, and fun 8.1-mile forest service road offering high-speed transit through a beautiful, healthy section of the high country. The road is a wide, two-lane track primarily comprised of well-graded gravel,…
Learn more about Foster Ridge - FS 9s010

This 7.9-mile road is a high-elevation artery providing fast, efficient access to the heart of the high-country trail network, including hiking trails accessing the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness. This road connects between CA 168 and FS…
Learn more about South Fork Tamarack - FS 9s069

A primary, 6.4-mile Forest Service access road that transitions from graded gravel (easy, fast travel) to a rutted dirt track as it moves into the western end, which was affected by past wildfires. It is…
Learn more about Miami Mountain Road - FS 6S014

This 1.9-mile trail spur is a scenic and easy access road, designed for fast transit to one of the high country's primary ridgeline overlooks. The road is a clear two-track with a smooth, firm base…
Learn more about Outlook - FS 9s010w

This is a short loop dirt road in Sequoia National Forest. Along the loop, you can find a few spots perfect for tent camping, with plenty of room for up to 2 to 3 tents…
Learn more about Converse - 13S07/13S50

This 1.9-mile road is a dead-end spur. The trail is a clear one-lane track with a smooth, packed dirt and decomposed granite (DG) surface, allowing for quick speeds, confirmed by the efficient travel time. While…
Learn more about Tamarack Creek - FS 9s066

This is a fast, wide, graded forest service road that serves as the essential gateway to the highly challenging Mirror, Strawberry, and Coyote Lakes trail network. This major 6.2-mile high-country road is designed for speed,…
Learn more about Red Mountain - FS 8S010

This 0.9-mile two-track is a smooth, easy trail in the high-country road network, serving as a direct continuation of the 8S035 (Boneridge) trail. It leads directly to a large, scenic group campsite located on an…
Learn more about Hewn - FS 25E319

This 2.0-mile trail is a smooth and fast single-lane road designed for scenic travel along the ridge, offering expansive views through the open canopy. The roadbed is predominantly composed of well-graded decomposed granite (DG) and…
Learn more about Boneridge - FS 8s035

FS 14S13 is part of the Sequoia National Forest. It is a sandy, dusty trail that takes you through a pine forest with rock formations. There are various sections that were recently burned by a…
Learn more about Woodcock Meadow - 14S13

This is a fast, fun, single-lane connector road that links the 10 Mile Spur to Miami Mountain Road (6S014). The route is predominantly hard-packed dirt under a dense canopy of pine and cedar. Driving at…
Learn more about Wolf Leap - FS 6S009

This is an unmaintained, overgrown dirt road through a severely burned and recovering forest. The route is defined by deep ruts, exposed rocks, and pinstriping brush. This road serves as a remote access or connector…
Learn more about Sugar Pine - FS 6S090

This 3.1-mile road is a dead-end spur. The trail is a clear one-lane track with a smooth, packed dirt and decomposed granite (DG) surface, allowing for quick speeds, confirmed by the efficient travel time. While…
Learn more about Frog Pond -FS 9s030

This is a short connector route and bypass for the nearby portion of Ten Mile Grade that passes through the private property of the adjacent Yosemite Mountain Ranch. This is a fast, single-lane dirt Forest…
Learn more about Ten Mile Spur - FS 5S062

This is a historically significant, long single-lane dirt road that is generally easy (Rated 1) but is NOT a through route due to closures. The surface is a mix of packed dirt, embedded rock, and…
Learn more about Ten Mile Grade - FS 4S004

This is an easy, fast 2.3-mile forest service road that provides efficient transit from the high ridge network back down toward Highway 168. The road is a clear two-track with a primarily packed dirt and…
Learn more about Snowball - FS 8S099

This is an easy, scenic, and well-maintained dirt/gravel road that serves as a secondary access point from Highway 41 into the historic area of Sugar Pine. The route runs through a beautiful mid-elevation forest, parallels…
Learn more about Lower Speckerman Fire - FS 5S017