Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Virginia Lakes, California

This twelve-mile sandy graded road travels from north to south from Hwy 395, near Bridgeport, down to the Virginia Lakes Road. It is an easy trail that offers beautiful views of the Eastern Sierras to…
Learn more about Dunderberg Meadows

Cool dirt trail running slightly parallel with 395. A nice place to pull off the pavement for a side mission if traveling the corridor. A few good spots to glass deer and elk in the…
Learn more about Dunderburg Mill

The Copper Mountain Trail is a scenic, moderately rough two-track that winds through pine forest and open high-country terrain, offering expansive views and a peaceful escape from more crowded off-road areas. It's a one-lane route…
Learn more about Copper Mountain

This trail starts just off Virginia Lakes Road, which is open seasonally from late May to mid-October as weather allows. The gravel, well-graded trail runs along Virginia Creek and crosses over it a few times…
Learn more about Castle Rock Road - FS 32139

This 11-mile out-and-back trail starts at Dunderberg Mill Road and climbs over 400 feet over just over 5.4 miles. It is a very popular, well-maintained trail. The trail starts directly on a shelf road, so…
Learn more about Green Creek Road - FS 32146

This rugged 6-mile trail drops about 700 feet before climbing nearly 1,600 feet, offering a dynamic ride through the historic Gold Rush area called Dog Town. It begins off Dunderberg Mill Road, traveling below Dunderberg…
Learn more about Dog Creek Valley

This trail is composed of packed dirt and sand with lots of small rocks embedded in the surface. Near the top, vegetation is sparse, likely due to high winds, but the views of the Virginia…
Learn more about Dog Creek Loop

This seasonally graded gravel road offers sweeping views of Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra, with unique boulder formations, old farmhouses, and the historic Conway Ranch along the route. In season, yellow wildflowers add vibrant…
Learn more about Conway Ranch Road

This route is a dirt and sand trail with lots of rocks embedded along the path. The trail climbs over 700 feet in just more than 1.5 miles and is just over one vehicle wide…
Learn more about Cameron Canyon

This 16-mile out-and-back trail starts on Dunderberg Mill Road, one mile from Highway 395. The sand and gravel trail begins very wide with stunning views from the beginning of the Eastern Sierra mountains, including various…
Learn more about Upper Summer Meadows Road - FS 32144

This 5-mile track begins just north of the Mono Lake Visitor Center and immediately delivers sweeping views of Mono Lake and its unique tufas. The road starts paved, but by mile 1.2, it transitions into…
Learn more about Cemetery Road

This route starts at Cottonwood Canyon Road and ends at Highway 167 near the junction of Highway 395. The sandy graded road runs parallel to Mono Lake and offers good views of Mono Lake and…
Learn more about Goat Ranch Cutoff

This trail is part of the old Green Creek Road and serves as a short but fun off-road challenge, perfect for those new to four-wheeling. The route climbs almost 200 feet in just under a…
Learn more about Old Green Creek Road

This is a simple route of hard-packed dirt and sand that follows the line of power poles as it cuts through Dog Creek Valley. The track is a single-vehicle width, with a few mild ruts…
Learn more about Pole Line Cutoff

This trail is a side spur trail off of the Log Cabin Mine Ridge Trail. The trail takes you to a spot with 360 views of Mono Lake, the surrounding Eastern Sierra Peaks, and into…
Learn more about 1N03C

Scenic Eastern Sierra route beginning 1.4 miles off Highway 395 via Dunderberg Mill Road. The trail features a packed sand and dirt surface with embedded rocks throughout. It traverses varied terrain, including dry wash crossings,…
Learn more about Dogtown Spur A

This route is accessed off Cemetery Road, just east of Highway 395, and offers some of the best views of Mono Lake and its islands, along with great views of the Eastern Sierras and the…
Learn more about Black Point - FS 2N42

This well-graded Forest Service road takes you along a cliff overlooking the 120 below. It offers stunning views of the East Sierras into Yosemite National Park. After the cliff, it meanders into the forest and…
Learn more about IN05 to Roberts Station

This scenic 3-mile out-and-back trail climbs nearly 300 feet in just over 2 miles and runs parallel to Twin Lakes Road, offering a quiet dirt alternative to the pavement. The route begins just past the…
Learn more about LaBrosse Creek Road - FS 32176

This short but steep out-and-back trail climbs over 600 feet in less than a mile and a half, making it a quick route to big views. The road is a mix of sand and gravel…
Learn more about El Camino Estate Road - FS 32150

Starting from the Bodie Rd, this route drops almost 900 feet and climbs over 300 feet in just over 6.5 miles. The trail immediately starts cutting through the canyon with low brush and rolling hills,…
Learn more about Coyote Springs Road

This route runs parallel to Mono Lake, providing 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains. You can see the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, including Mount Dana, Mount Gibbs, and Tioga Peak, which form the…
Learn more about FS 2N19

This short track is accessed from Highway 395. It is a sandy, easy road. Horse Meadow is a pretty meadow that offers beautiful views of Eastern Sierra. Currently, the trail is closed 1.23 miles down…
Learn more about Horse Meadows

Farrington Siphon North Trail is a well-graded gravel road. It hugs a cliff edge 350 feet above Highway 395. It offers beautiful views of Mono Lake, Mono Craters, and the surrounding mountain peaks. It can…
Learn more about Farrington Siphon North

This route runs parallel to Mono Lake, starting on Forest Service Road 2N43 and ending on Highway 167. The trail offers 360-degree views of all the surrounding mountains and Mono Lake throughout the journey. At…
Learn more about Wadford Springs Cutoff - FS 2N47

The trail starts as a paved road but quickly turns into a hard-packed dirt and gravel road that is about two and a half vehicles wide. It climbs high above the valley below, gaining over…
Learn more about Buckeye Robinson Creek South

This scenic route runs parallel to the south side of Mono Lake, taking you past the historic South Tufa formations where you can learn about the area's geological history. The trail climbs just under 100…
Learn more about Test Station Road

This bouncy trail gains access to the Walker Lake Trailhead. It starts off with more sand and rocks. As it climbs in elevation, it turns into gravel and rocks. The trail goes through a pinyon…
Learn more about Walker Lake Trailhead

This gravel trail is well-graded for most of the year. It takes you on a scenic journey through Sawmill Canyon. It offers beautiful views of Mt. Gibbs, Mt. Lewis, Parker Peak, Blacktop Peak, Mono Lake,…
Learn more about Farrington Siphon South

This route runs parallel to Highway 395, passing by the June Lake utility district and offering beautiful views of Crater Mountain, the Eastern Sierras, and Mono Lake throughout the journey. The trail is one vehicle…
Learn more about Old State Highway - FS1S29D