Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Three Rocks, 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…
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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,…
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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…
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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

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…
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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…
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Pilot Peak - Lower (FS 5S012A) serves as the appetizer to the main Pilot Peak experience. This section is a tight and twisty affair that winds its way through a mix of oak and conifer…
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This sandy and dusty trail winds through canyon terrain, dropping 1,600 feet and climbing just over 400 feet across just over 5 miles of diverse landscape. Starting at the Stairway Trail and Sweetwater Trail junction…
Learn more about Feliciana Mountain Road - FS 4S012

Chowchilla Mountain Road (FS 5S09) is the legendary "backdoor" into Yosemite National Park that every overland explorer dreams of finding. Starting from Harris Cut Off Road, the trail begins deceptively tame as a well-graded double-track.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Kamook (FS 6S041) is the breezy, open-air sibling in the Miami Mountain family. Serving as the primary east-west artery through the Miami Mountain OHV system, this 1.5-lane gravel forest road is designed for speed and…
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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…
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Starting from Highway 140, this rugged track drops nearly 1,500 feet and climbs less than 300 feet in under 4 miles before connecting with Ponderosa Way at the top. The trail averages 1 to 1.5…
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Ponderosa Fire Line - Upper (FS 6S017) is the rowdy, untamed sibling of the gentle lower road. While the section below Hugh Ryan is a smooth cruise, crossing that junction acts like a portal to…
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Hugh Ryan (FS 6S024) is the surprisingly scenic backbone of the Miami Mountain network, acting as a wide, welcoming bridge between Highway 41 and the western slopes near Highway 49/Worman Road. This easy, graded forest…
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Pilot Cutoff (FS 6S063A) is a trail that comes with a serious warning label: "Horribly Tight." While it appears on the map as a useful connector within the Silver Knob/Miami network, in reality, it is…
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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 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

Central Camp (FS 6S042) is the bustling, dusty artery of the Bass Lake high country. This wide two-lane dirt road serves as a critical link, climbing steadily from Malum Ridge Road on the east side…
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This trail is a challenging off-road adventure known for its steep inclines, deep ruts, and rugged terrain. The path climbs sharply from the base, demanding both driver skill and a well-equipped 4x4 vehicle. Traction becomes…
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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…
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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…
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This is a scenic, 9.5-mile single-lane dirt road that rapidly gains elevation as it climbs through the forest impacted by the 2022 Oak Wildfire. The route offers dramatic, expansive views due to the lack of…
Learn more about Footman Ridge - FS 5S025

San Martin is a short trail dotted with many campsites along the San Martin Ridgeline. The trail stays mostly above the fog line, offering beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. The trail dead-ends at a…
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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…
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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

Buffalo Gulch begins from Feliciana Mountain Road and winds for nearly 2 miles along a narrow shelf road. The track is one vehicle wide, composed of hard-packed sand, and sees a gentle gain of 120…
Learn more about Buffalo Gulch - FS 4S11

McCleod Flat (5S007Z) might be short on mileage, but it is high on utility, acting as the dusty red carpet to a playground of Sierra adventures. This quick, quarter-mile spur is the definition of "short…
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