Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Stevinson, California

Red Hills Recreation (BLM) area is a scenic day use only location. There are tons of hiking trails in the area, as well as the Serpentine Loop Trail which is a mild to moderate trail with tons of seasonal water crossings and picnic areas near the water. Accessible to most 4x4 and AWD vehicles, small...
Learn more about Red Hills Road/Serpentine loop

SRI Loop begins with a steep, winding descent on hardpack dirt. The trail follows a narrow, mostly groomed path with rolling terrain, featuring several steep climbs and descents along the way. Expect light rutting in places, but few significant obstacles. After the loop, you can enter the Golden Eag...
Learn more about Sri Loop

Golden Eagle Trail is a mellow hardpack dirt route that serves as a connector to SRI Loop and several other trails within the network. The trail is generally smooth and easy to follow, with a mix of steep climbs and descents along the way. Riders traveling toward SRI Loop will need to cross a paved ...
Learn more about Golden Eagle

Kiln Trail is one of the primary entrances to the park. The route begins as a mellow hardpack dirt road leading to the park boundary, where signs outline park regulations and warn visitors about mountain lions. Shortly after entering, riders encounter the first notable obstacle: a steep climb with l...
Learn more about Kiln Trail

Juniper Trail is one of the park's primary connector routes, linking riders to the broader trail network. The trail features mostly smooth hardpack dirt with a mix of winding turns, climbs, and descents that make for an enjoyable ride. As the route progresses, riders gain access to several steeper h...
Learn more about Red Trail

Badger Trail runs parallel to Ridge Trail, following the same hillside at a lower elevation. The route consists of firm hardpack dirt and a series of winding turns that contour along the slope. Technical obstacles are minimal, with few rocks or ruts to navigate. However, the steep hillside and narro...
Learn more about Badger

The Los Osos Trail is one of the park's main connector routes, providing access to many of the surrounding trails and trail networks. The trail consists mostly of smooth, well-groomed hardpack dirt and offers an easy, enjoyable ride through the park. Expect a mix of winding turns, gradual climbs, an...
Learn more about Los Osos Trail

Juniper Trail is one of the park's primary connector routes, linking riders to the broader trail network. The trail features mostly smooth hardpack dirt with a mix of winding turns, climbs, and descents that make for an enjoyable ride. As the route progresses, riders gain access to several steeper h...
Learn more about Juniper Trail

This trail climbs over 600 feet and drops almost 1,200 feet across just over 5 miles of diverse terrain that spans BLM land and Stanislaus National Forest, though it begins on private land requiring respectful passage. Starting at Smith Station Road and ending on Wild Rose Road, the route begins as ...
Learn more about Wagner Ridge Road - FS 2S08

Discover an exciting off-road trail tailored to 4x4 vehicles, combining moderate terrain with thrilling elements. While mostly easy to navigate, you'll encounter occasional gentle inclines and 12-inch deep ruts, adding a dash of excitement without overwhelming the adventure. Perfect for those seekin...
Learn more about High Times

This short but intense spur descends nearly 1,500 feet in just over a mile. The trail is narrow, rocky, and exposed, featuring loose shale and shelf sections that demand careful driving. While suitable for high-clearance 4x4 vehicles, drivers should anticipate tight lines, steep grades, and minimal ...
Learn more about Low Times

This trail starts just off Highway 120, located 2.7 miles east of the Groveland District Ranger Office, and begins as a 1.5-vehicle-wide gravel trail with some sand sections. Lined with Ponderosa pine trees and bushes, the route provides a pleasant forest driving experience within the Stanislaus Nat...
Learn more about Boneyard Road - FS 1S07

This is a lightly traveled trail with a dirt floor. Uneven, rutted dirt trail with erosion. Potential water crossings up to a foot deep, in the winter, and in some spots the rut is 3ft deep steep grades. Roads are typically one vehicle wide with places to pass. The wet season sky rockets the rating ...
Learn more about The Rut

This trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail that drops almost 700 feet and climbs over 100 feet in just under 2 miles. The trail sometimes runs along shelf roads lined with trees and brush, providing natural corridors and periodic exposure as it descends toward the valley floor. Pleasant views of fa...
Learn more about FS 2S37

This trail drops over 800 feet in just over 4.5 miles, starting on Smith Station Road (FS J132). The route begins in a neighborhood area requiring respectful behavior, initially following a crushed granite gravel road surface. After the first mile, private land ends and the trail continues through t...
Learn more about Jordan Creek Road - FS 2S17

Bull Creek Road South climbs 622 feet and drops just over 300 feet in 4.4 miles. The surface is packed dirt and sand, starting off about one and a half vehicles wide before narrowing in sections. This is a shelf road that climbs steadily after Burma Grade, providing expansive views of the valleys be...
Learn more about Bull Creek Road South

Ponderosa Way Cutoff serves as a convenient shortcut connecting Ponderosa Way and Bull Creek Road, following a relatively flat route that still incorporates ups and downs over various hills throughout its length. The trail offers excellent views of the surrounding forest and valleys, providing sceni...
Learn more about Ponderosa Way Cutoff

This gravel road starts behind the Briceburg Visitor Center, across the bridge, and follows the Merced River for its entire length, providing continuous water views and sounds throughout the journey. The track maintains a width of one and a half to two vehicles on a well-maintained gravel surface, t...
Learn more about Briceburg Road - Merced River

Burma Grade climbs almost 1,400 feet in 3 miles. The trail starts at Bull Creek Road and ends at Bull Creek Road South. To access it, take Briceburg Road behind the Briceburg Visitor Center and cross the bridge. The trail is managed by the BLM. The road is hard-packed dirt, about 1.5 vehicles wide, ...
Learn more about Burma Grade Road

This 5-mile out-and-back trail starts at Forest Service Road 3S02 and drops over 600 feet while gaining over 300 feet in less than 3 miles, creating varied elevation changes throughout the journey. The route follows a shelf road configuration for its entire length, providing elevated perspectives o...
Learn more about FS 3S15

SRI Loop begins with a steep, winding descent on hardpack dirt. The trail follows a narrow, mostly groomed path with rolling terrain, featuring several steep climbs and descents along the way. Expect light rutting in places, but few significant obstacles. After the loop, you can enter the Golden Eag...
Learn more about Sri Loop

Golden Eagle Trail is a mellow hardpack dirt route that serves as a connector to SRI Loop and several other trails within the network. The trail is generally smooth and easy to follow, with a mix of steep climbs and descents along the way. Riders traveling toward SRI Loop will need to cross a paved ...
Learn more about Golden Eagle

Kiln Trail is one of the primary entrances to the park. The route begins as a mellow hardpack dirt road leading to the park boundary, where signs outline park regulations and warn visitors about mountain lions. Shortly after entering, riders encounter the first notable obstacle: a steep climb with l...
Learn more about Kiln Trail

Juniper Trail is one of the park's primary connector routes, linking riders to the broader trail network. The trail features mostly smooth hardpack dirt with a mix of winding turns, climbs, and descents that make for an enjoyable ride. As the route progresses, riders gain access to several steeper h...
Learn more about Red Trail

Kiln Trail is one of the primary entrances to the park. The route begins as a mellow hardpack dirt road leading to the park boundary, where signs outline park regulations and warn visitors about mountain lions. Shortly after entering, riders encounter the first notable obstacle: a steep climb with l...
Learn more about Kiln Trail

The Los Osos Trail is one of the park's main connector routes, providing access to many of the surrounding trails and trail networks. The trail consists mostly of smooth, well-groomed hardpack dirt and offers an easy, enjoyable ride through the park. Expect a mix of winding turns, gradual climbs, an...
Learn more about Los Osos Trail

Juniper Trail is one of the park's primary connector routes, linking riders to the broader trail network. The trail features mostly smooth hardpack dirt with a mix of winding turns, climbs, and descents that make for an enjoyable ride. As the route progresses, riders gain access to several steeper h...
Learn more about Juniper Trail

Discover an exciting off-road trail tailored to 4x4 vehicles, combining moderate terrain with thrilling elements. While mostly easy to navigate, you'll encounter occasional gentle inclines and 12-inch deep ruts, adding a dash of excitement without overwhelming the adventure. Perfect for those seekin...
Learn more about High Times