Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Three Rocks, California

Beginning at the BLM gate southwest of New Idria Dam, this trail winds around the westerly side of the lake and canyon above the former mining town of New Idria. Descending 1,200 feet in elevation, the route will take you along an unpaved dirt path through several areas of switchbacks and narrow she...
Learn more about New Idria Dam to Ghost Town

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 to either side, inviting you to venture deeper into the area's rugged beauty. The m...
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, rated as a 2, making it accessible for many vehicles. Be aware that there is no cell service alon...
Learn more about R1 Clear Creek Road

La Gloria Road is a graded, well-maintained dirt road that connects the Salinas Valley and US-101 with SR-25 in San Benito County. It is the closest connecting road between Eastern and Western Pinnacles (there is no road through Pinnacles). Access starts at the intersection with Camphora-Gloria Road...
Learn more about La Gloria Road

This is a beautiful, graded, well-maintained dirt road surrounded by the Ventana Wilderness. The road initially climbs an easy grade to Chews Ridge, then narrows and starts to descend a slightly more rocky and steep grade with incredible views of Black Butte, Black Cone, and Junipero Sera Peak, ulti...
Learn more about Tassajara

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

West Malum Ridge (FS 7S075) is a relaxed, scenic cruiser that invites you to roll down the windows and breathe in the Sierra air. This easy dirt road serves primarily as an access route to some prime real estate for dispersed campers. The trail meanders through a mixed forest of oak and pine, offeri...
Learn more about West Malum Ridge - FS 7S075

San Martin is an easy, 1.8-mile ridgeline trail in the Los Padres National Forest that is perfect for scenic campers and drivers of stock four-wheel-drive vehicles seeking expansive views of the Pacific Ocean from high above the fog line. Branching off from the South Coast Ridge Road as Forest Route...
Learn more about San Martin

Annex Sale (FS 7S062Y) is a short, sweet, and incredibly useful out-and-back trail for anyone looking to escape the crowds near Bass Lake. Branching off the paved Highland Drive, this easy dirt two-track climbs gently through a mixed conifer forest, serving essentially as a mile-long driveway to som...
Learn more about Annex Sale - FS 7S062Y

Peckinpah Trail (FS Route 8S009) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest that challenges experienced offroaders with its rocky climbs and tight forested passages. Ideal for high-clearance 4WDs, dirt bikes, and ATVs, this technical trail offers a rewarding escape for those seeking...
Learn more about Peckinpah

This short trail is a single vehicle-width bypass off Peckinpah Road on the slope of Peckinpah Mountain. The surface is primarily dirt with embedded rocks and a short rocky ledge section. There can be shallow ruts and tight vegetation along the route. The trail can be traveled in either direction, b...
Learn more about Pah - FS 23E276

23E298 is a 1.1-mile-long easy ATV trail through the Whisky Falls trail system in the Sierra National Forest. The south end starts off wide and easy, between scrub oaks and tall pines, with gradual corners, great visibility, a little bit of whoops, but mostly smooth dirt covered in pinecones and pi...
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This is a point-to-point trail that creates a loop with Peckinpah Road. It runs past a large meadow area as well as along the mountainside, providing great scenic views of North Fork. The route is at least as wide as a full-size vehicle and has many wider areas allowing vehicles to pass each other e...
Learn more about Peckinpah Meadow - FS 8S26

Sonny Meadow (FS 5S016) acts as a rugged "sampler platter" of Sierra road conditions, serving as a key access point into the National Forest from the west side. The trail begins with a long, slow climb that winds its way up through the timber, immediately establishing that this isn't your average gr...
Learn more about Sonny Meadow - FS 5S016

This is a main FS road that will take you out towards Whiskey Ridge and through the Fish and Ross Creek areas, where you can access several other trailheads. Panoramic views of the surrounding forest are possible in sections of this route as it passes along the side of the mountain. The road is gene...
Learn more about Fish Creek West - FS 7S007

China Wells (FS 6S015) serves as the primary "spinal cord" of the Miami Mountain OHV system. This wide, well-graded forest service road runs north-south through the network, connecting the popular Kamook Staging Area to the southern reaches of the trail system. Unlike the tight, twisty spurs that br...
Learn more about China Wells - FS 6S015

Ponderosa Fire Line - Lower (FS 6S017) is the friendly, welcoming face of a trail with a split personality. Situated below the junction with Hugh Ryan, this section behaves like a civilized forest boulevard compared to its rowdier upper half. It’s a wide and easy one-lane road that invites you to ro...
Learn more about Ponderosa Fire Line - Lower - FS 6S017

This point-to-point connector trail runs through wooded sections and a large meadow area near Roush Creek. The route is at least as wide as a full-size vehicle and has wider areas to allow vehicles to pass each other easily. The surface is primarily dirt with small embedded rocks. There can be occas...
Learn more about Ellis Meadow - FS 7S076

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 to either side, inviting you to venture deeper into the area's rugged beauty. The m...
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, rated as a 2, making it accessible for many vehicles. Be aware that there is no cell service alon...
Learn more about R1 Clear Creek Road

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

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 to either side, inviting you to venture deeper into the area's rugged beauty. The m...
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, rated as a 2, making it accessible for many vehicles. Be aware that there is no cell service alon...
Learn more about R1 Clear Creek Road

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006