Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Truckee, California

Old Reno Road offers a scenic and easy off-road experience, particularly during the summer months. Starting from Road 886 near Highway 89, this trail transitions into Boca Springs Road, connecting to an extensive network of…
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Begin either from Boca Campground or off Highway 89 / 886--either way, this flat route is just the start of what's out there to explore. Following well-maintained Forest Service roads, it's a quick, easy side…
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Boca Hill Trail is a 2.5 mile trail. The trail passes the peak of Boca Hill, a great place to stop and get some pictures from above I-80 with many peaks in the background. The…
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From Highway 89 near the Sagehen Creek Trailhead, this easy route leads to Stampede Reservoir, with options to continue to Dog Valley, Boca Reservoir, or down to Crystal Peak Mine. The trail starts wide enough…
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Summit Lake Trail is a 2.6-mile out-and-back trail located near Truckee, California. The start of the trail is relatively smooth as it winds through Johnson Canyon, with a great view of Donner Lake when you…
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This loop trail offers wide panoramas of endless mountain forests and picturesque views of multiple reservoirs all along an easily traversed dirt road. An exciting surprise awaits at the midway point of the trail--the Crystal…
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As you begin from Verdi, the paved road is great, then you begin the uphill, which is a very hard-packed 1.5 1.5-wide road with some small, sharp, pointed rocks. As you get closer to the…
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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…
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Looking to explore the stunning landscapes of Dog Valley while taking a more adventurous and less-traveled route? This scenic drive is perfect for those who enjoy a bit more challenge and want to avoid the…
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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…
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Bear Lake is a great place to camp or fish located near lake Tahoe. The road to get to Bear Lake has many places to pull off with amazing views. You can get to Bear…
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Ellis Lake trail is just a spur trail off Ellis Peak Trail. This trail takes you to Ellis Lake where you will find camping, hiking, and great views. It is important to note that this…
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This trail gets you close to the top of Ellis Peak. This is just a short trail however the views are worth the trip. Check out the Ellis Lake Trail and hike the Ellis Peak…
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You will cross a short bridge as you leave the pavement behind. As you head up the trail there are a few rocks less than a foot tall other than that it's a fairly smooth…
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Spectacular views of Reno abound from high above on this trail that traverses historic Peavine Mountain. In stark contrast to the urban hustle and bustle of Reno, Peavine showcases the desolate beauty of the harsh…
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The route starts at the end of Virginia Street, crossing some railroad tracks and turning into a graded dirt road. There are some washboard sections, and during early spring, it is quite muddy. Of course,…
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This short 1.8-mile point-to-point trail connects Rattlesnake Road and Signal Hill Trail. Service vehicles typically use this trail to access the Signal towers on top of Signal Hill. It is also the back way out…
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Tucked in the South-West corner of Reno, Blue Truck Fork is a great way to get out of the city and escape to some nearby nature. This trail offers some great sights of the surrounding…
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Lake Shore offers beautiful views of French Meadows Reservoir, along with some great secret camp spots above the rest on a gravel road. There is no reception here, but there are numerous hiking trails, a…
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This 14.9 mile point-to-point trail takes you pass Lake Valley Reservoir up Monumental Ridge and towards Texas Hill. This trail has great views of the Big Valley Canyon. The trail is mostly single vehicle width…
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Open to All Highway Legal Vehicles 4/1-12/31, Upper Portion Open to ALL Vehicles 4/1-12/31 (Be Cautious of Others). Robinson Flat is a gravel road that connects to Foretell Divide Road at the Robinson Flat Campground.…
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Access Golden Fleece Mine Road from Headliner Trail at the top of Peavine, the main Peavine Access Road, Horizon Hills Staging Area, or Raleigh Heights Staging Area. No matter which route you take, this trail…
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This trail has beautiful scenery that includes tree-filtered views of Lake Tahoe, Aspen groves, grassy meadows, a couple of small year-round streams, and the classic Sierra Nevada Mountain Forest. It is recommended for 4WD or…
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You'll get some great views of Lake Tahoe from this trail. It's a wide, single-lane gravel trail that's moderately to heavily used during the summer. The gates at both ends of the road are locked…
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This trail begins just east of Bowman Lake at the Jackson Creek Campground. The trail is marked with a few signs and features a large pullout at the starting point. It offers a bumpy, rocky…
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This is an easy, high-speed trail for most of the distance but includes a few moderate hill climbs along the way. Hard-packed roads with some larger, avoidable rocks here and there. Expect heavy foot and…
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Meadow Lake Road is the continuation of the Bowman Lake Road trail. The scenery is breathtaking and the camping and recreational opportunities are plentiful. This area of the Sierra Nevada usually is snow-free sometime in…
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This trail is perfect for beginners and is relatively smooth, with shady roads and a small water crossing. It's pretty scenic and relaxing. Camping is available, but there was a fire restriction when I was…
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This short 1.9-mile out-and-back trail takes you out to an old fire watch outpost. The structure has been removed and only the footings are left. The view from the point is breathtaking as you can…
Learn more about Big Valley Bluff Lookout Trail

Open to Highway Legal Vehicles 4/1-12/31. Driving along this gravel road, taking in the views of various canyons, quail, pine, and chipmunks amongst the manzanitas. While it may be easy to glance at the shimmering…
Learn more about Canyon Deep Road/Cavanah Deep - FS 44