Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Sierraville, California

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off of Hwy 89 to find the trailhead. The Loop consists of mostly loose dirt and fire roads, with the occasion...
Learn more about Bear Valley Loop Trail

Spurs on spurs. Set along a timbered hillside covered in tall pines and dense underbrush within the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15B) offers a secluded backcountry detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15-05), this 1.0-mile single-track dirt path bran...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15B

Within an open conifer forest filled with tall ponderosa pines and broad-leafed ground flora in the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15-05 provides a quiet forest detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Road - FS 0450-005, this 0.6-mile single-track dirt spur functions as a...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15-05

Set within an open, sun-dappled conifer forest dominated by tall Jeffrey pines and firs in the Tahoe National Forest, Old Fibreboard - FS 0007-010 serves as a broad and well-traveled mountain connector. Accessed off of Fibreboard Road - FS 7 near the Independence Lake turnoff, this 6.1-mile dirt and...
Learn more about Old Fibreboard - FS 0007-010

Set within an open conifer forest with sparse underbrush in the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie - FS 0450-005 provides a tranquil mountain spur drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 0450, this 2.5-mile out-and-back gravel path branches into gentle hillside terrain. Outdoor enthusia...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie - FS 0450-005

Set within the conifer-rich mountain environment of the Tahoe National Forest near Truckee, Mini Tie - FS 0007-010-15 serves as a scenic connector route climbing toward Independence Lake. Branching off of Forest Service Road 0007-010, this 2.0-mile single-lane dirt track ascends through tall pines b...
Learn more about Mini Tie - FS 0007-010-15

Set within an alpine environment of tall ponderosa pines, sagebrush flats, and expansive mountain meadows in the Eldorado National Forest, Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015 offers a charming high-country traverse. Accessed directly off main Forest Service Road 0450, this 1.5-mile single-lane dirt con...
Learn more about Lemon Canyon Ridge - FS 0450-015

Accessed directly from Highway 49 via Chapman Calpine, the beautiful Chapman Saddle Road takes you on a sweeping journey through a towering evergreen forest. As you cruise along this wide, inviting path, you will notice that the landscape periodically opens up to reveal areas of recent forest thinni...
Learn more about Chapman Saddle - FS 21N09

Tucked within a tall conifer forest of Jeffrey pines, white firs, and low shrubbery in the Tahoe National Forest, Holcombs Road Spur - FS 0260-050 provides an inviting backcountry detour. Accessed directly off Holcombs Road - FS 0260, this 0.7-mile out-and-back single-track spur travels north into q...
Learn more about Holcombs Rd Spur - FS 0260-050

Accessed directly from Chapman Saddle, this route takes you on a peaceful journey through a dense, towering evergreen forest. Because the thick, tightly packed trees line the shoulders so closely, you will not find any sweeping scenic vistas or open clearings suitable for dispersed camping anywhere ...
Learn more about Mark - FS 21N83

This section of the Chapman Calpine road begins just off Highway 89 in the town of Calpine, serving as one of two distinct routes sharing this name that do not actually physically connect. The journey starts as a wonderfully smooth, wide dirt road flanked by evergreen trees before opening up into a ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Nestled within a conifer forest of tall ponderosa pines, firs, and dense manzanita brush in the Eldorado National Forest, East Kyburz - FS 0450-020 offers a tranquil Sierra Nevada mountain retreat. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 0450, this 2.7-mile single-track dirt spur functions as a...
Learn more about East Kyburz - FS 0450-020

Set within a high-elevation mountain environment of Jeffrey pines, fir groves, and sagebrush slopes in the Tahoe National Forest, Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075 offers a scenic ridgeline drive. Accessed directly off of Forest Service Road 650, this 5.3-mile single-lane dirt connector climbs steeply into...
Learn more about Sardine Peak - FS 0650-075

Haskell Sheep Ranch, a wonderfully varied loop that branches off the Mohawk Chapman route and reconnects just below Chapman Saddle. The journey begins with a flat, easy quarter-mile stretch before transitioning into a steady, gradual incline through beautifully dense pine forests. You will encounter...
Learn more about Haskell Sheep Ranch - FS 21N27

Set within a lush, towering pine forest in the Tahoe National Forest, Sagehen Creek (FS 0011) provides a highly scenic and accessible mountain passage. Functioning as a vital connector route, this broad dirt and gravel trail links Forest Service Road 260 to Carpenter Ridge and South Sagehen Creek, w...
Learn more about Sagehen Creek - FS 0011

Meadow Lake Road makes a loop from Webber Lake to Jackson Meadows, with Meadow Lake situated in the middle. The section that begins just past Webber Lake is a fairly well-maintained, graded road used by campers and trailers heading to Meadow Lake. This part of the road starts approximately 1.4 miles...
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Situated within a vibrant, moss-draped conifer forest in the Tahoe National Forest, South Sagehen Creek (FS 0011-010) offers a remarkably scenic and lush backcountry traverse. Functioning as a vital connector route, this single-lane dirt and rocky path links the terminus of Forest Service Road 11 to...
Learn more about South Sagehen Creek - FS 0011-010

Most of the trail to the lake is relatively easy and straightforward. However, the final descent down to the lakeshore is the most challenging section of the entire route. Once you reach an open meadow near the lake, you'll have a few options: Turn right for a steeper descent to the dam area on the ...
Learn more about White Rock Lake

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off of Hwy 89 to find the trailhead. The Loop consists of mostly loose dirt and fire roads, with the occasion...
Learn more about Bear Valley Loop Trail

Spurs on spurs. Set along a timbered hillside covered in tall pines and dense underbrush within the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15B) offers a secluded backcountry detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15-05), this 1.0-mile single-track dirt path bran...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15B

Starting right off Highway 49, this segment of the Chapman Calpine trail acts as a fantastic, welcoming gateway that crosses the boundary line into the beautiful Plumas National Forest. It is important to note that there are two separate trails with this exact name that do not physically connect to ...
Learn more about Chapman Calpine - FS 52

Set within a pine forest featuring rolling sagebrush hillsides and expansive mountain vistas in the Tahoe National Forest, Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060 offers a scenic backcountry passage. Accessible directly off Highway 89 or via Cottonwood Road, this 5.0-mile single-lane connector road links key...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek - FS 0089-060

Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off of Hwy 89 to find the trailhead. The Loop consists of mostly loose dirt and fire roads, with the occasion...
Learn more about Bear Valley Loop Trail

Spurs on spurs. Set along a timbered hillside covered in tall pines and dense underbrush within the Tahoe National Forest, Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15B) offers a secluded backcountry detour. Accessed directly off of Wheeler Tie Spur (FS 0450-005-15-05), this 1.0-mile single-track dirt path bran...
Learn more about Wheeler Tie Spur - FS 0450-005-15B