Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Washington, California

The trail begins just beyond the charming town of Washington, nestled among towering, lush green pine trees. Shortly after the town, the well-maintained gravel road winds through dense forests of pine and spruce trees, traversing…
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The first part of the trail is paved. About 2/3rds of the way in, it becomes rocky and dirty. High clearance is recommended. There is one tricky hairpin about 1 mile from camp. Other than…
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Fulda Ridge (FS-19-028) is an easy, and well maintained trail just off of I-80 at Nyack. It's easy to get to and has cellular signal along the majority of the trail. It is a great…
Learn more about Fulda Ridge -FS19-028

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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Giant Gap (FS 26-006) is a beautiful 2.5-mile-long trail that starts and ends along Elliot Ranch Road (FS 26). It is part of the Foresthill OHV area and can be run in either direction. The…
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Elliot Ranch Road in Foresthill, California, is a rugged, unpaved route in the Tahoe National Forest, offering access to various recreational activities. It serves as the starting point for challenging trails like the Green Valley…
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Sawmill Lake Trail begins with a gentle climb from the Faucherie Lake Trail. As you crest the first hill, you'll catch your first glimpse of Sawmill Lake. There are campsites on the lakeside of the…
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Brimstone (FS 24) is a fairly well-maintained road that connects Finning Mill Road, and Elliot Ranch Road. It is an easy route with multiple dirt-bike trail crossings, and access to three separate staging areas (Brimstone,…
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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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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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Finning Mill Road is a great off-road alternative to get to the Foresthill OHV area, instead of staying on paved roads to get there. It is a well-maintained gravel road that cuts through privately owned…
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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…
Learn more about Austin Meadows

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

Mitchell Mine is a nice, easy in-and-out summer trail for a leisurely stroll through the forest. It's also a good trail for beginners to get used to how their vehicle feels while off-road. The surface…
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Open to ALL Vehicles 4/1-12/31. Mountain Chief connects to multiple motorcycle trails within the Sugar Pine area of the Tahoe National Forest American River. This dirt road connects Foresthill Road and Sugar Pine Road. Taking…
Learn more about Mountain Chief - FS 10-006

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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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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The main attraction of this route is a popular swimming hole below Colfax-Foresthill Suspension Bridge. Our round-about way of getting there follows a paved road through historic Iowa Hill, then continues on a narrow, winding…
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This trail starts across from Packer Lake. There is a staging area at the bottom if you need to trailer your rig. The trail heads up to Tamarack Lakes. The two lakes are almost the…
Learn more about Tamarack Lakes 12E33

Trail begins with an easy climb to a high scenic ridge above beautiful Deer Lake. The route then descends into rugged Gold Valley and heads north past mines and lakes. To modify the trip, you…
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Open to ALL Vehicles 4/1-12/31 (Be Cautious of Others). Last Chance Road co-mingles with a main motorcycle trail for the Tahoe National Forest, which leads either to Michigan Bluff, China Wall, or even over to…
Learn more about Last Chance Road 13E17/FS 44-022

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

Open to Highway Legal Vehicles Yearlong, except during Hunting Season; 9/22-11/04 when ALL Vehicles are allowed. (Be Cautious of Others). First half is a dirt path with light to no tree due to a recent…
Learn more about Peavine - FS 33

This is a secondary entrance to the Shirttail Canyon trail. This trail meanders down the canyon, surrounded by mossy trees and waterfalls during certain times of the year. If coming from the Foresthill side, this…
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Open to ALL Vehicles:5/1-11/01. Transversing into the burn-scarred forest thinned out but still provided ample shade along the pine trees. Keep an eye out for the deer. A short section of overgrowth is a reminder…
Learn more about Mosquito Ridge Lookout FS 96-010

Open to All Vehicles (Be Cautious of Others). Shortcut is quaint while taking in the secret pocket areas found in established forest ecology. Hearing the sounds of woodpeckers and catching a glimpse of a lodgepole…
Learn more about Shortcut - FS 96-034

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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This trail features a narrow path with a mix of terrains. The trail is lush with cedar and pine trees, there is a section of cleared trees to tuck away and camp. Big Tree Picnic…
Learn more about Bear Spring - FS 96-034-02

This dirt trail is easy for any vehicle to traverse the forest full of cedars and pines. Big Trees Picnic Site is nearby along with numerous hiking trails and off-road trails to take in the…
Learn more about Spruce Creek - FS 16

Open to All Vehicles (Be Cautious of Others). Pine Nut offers beautiful views of Pine Nut Canyon, ending at the intersection of two hiking trails. Don't be alarmed by federal mining claims in the area,…
Learn more about Pine Nut - FS 16-046