Oriflamme Canyon Loop

Total Miles
14.7

Elevation

1,263.22 ft

Duration

2.5 Hours

Technical Rating

3

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Show in App
Oriflamme Canyon Loop 20

Trail Overview

This trail starts and ends in Banner and loops around Chariot Mountain and goes into the Oriflamme Canyon. The trail is open to all types of 4x4s and dirt bikes, although the entrance through Banner is only open to highway-legal vehicles as that entrance is only accessible by the highway. You will encounter a variety of obstacles such as steep switchbacks with deep ruts, rocky sections with large drop-offs, and unmaintained dirt scattered with mud puddles (depending on the time of year). A total of 3 gates will be on the trail, they will be closed but not locked, please leave the gates as you found them. Some sections of the trail are very tight and about the width of one car. There are also many trails in the area that intersect the main loop trail.

Photos of Oriflamme Canyon Loop

Oriflamme Canyon Loop
Oriflamme Canyon Loop
Oriflamme Canyon Loop

Difficulty

Most of the trail is relatively easy with a technical rating of 1. From around miles 6 to 7.5, the difficulty increases with large rocks and drop-offs up to 12". The trail is very uneven at times and very tight in some areas.

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

Steven Hockensmith
Mar 29, 2024
4x4
Open
Got on the trail from Banner. At the first fork went left. Was pretty easy with some off camber spots. Half the whole trail is pretty easy. There's a few spots that's a bit sketchy. Rutted and washed out. We managed without lockers. Lockers would definitely help a lot. We're both on leveling kits and we had a few spots of scraping the undercarriage. Scout ahead and have a spotter if possible in some spots and you'll be fine. The shelf road is pretty off putting. If you can make it up something while on the shelf road.. Good luck, only spots to turn around are at the switchbacks which are right past the obstacle.
Austin Grimes
Mar 23, 2024
2023 Ford Bronco
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Most of the trail is very tame and scenic. There are lots of opportunities for pinstriping and some tight shelf roads with long drops. The issue is about three obstacles that have been badly washed out. I lifted tires with my sway bar disconnected and used my rear locker to get through. Bronco handled it like a champ, but would not take a pickup or a vehicle without a locker through here unless you have lots of articulation, skill, or both.
Akos Danko
Mar 21, 2024
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
Incredible day. Trail is highly eroded. Very rocky, big ruts. I personally believe stock non wrangler is out of the question at this point. Lots of flex. A bit technical through the switchback part of the trail on the backside. Recommend swinging a left and going clockwise along the loop, uphills to the switchbacks. Great ride. 2.5 lift 35in tires disconnected sway bar will handled just fine.
Brian Mackey
Mar 17, 2024
4x4
Open
Rough/Deteriorated
This trail is gnarly! Starting from Highway 78 in Banner and going right to enter the loop, the 1st 6 miles were relatively mild. After that, the downhill switchbacks on the Mason Valley Truck Trail increased difficulty at each turn. Major ruts combined with protruding rocks made the trail impassable in my stock 2023 Tacoma 4WD TRD OR at the 6.4-mile mark (33.004312, -116.509577). I turned around and began the return ascent, only to get stuck on one of the rocky shelves (around 33.004710, -116.510086). Fortunately my traction boards got me out of it. I saw a Youtube video showing a truck stuck on the same rock formation getting pulled out by multiple vehicles. I had a fun adventure (1st time stuck!!), but I don't recommend it unless you have a very high clearance 4WD and lots of off-roading experience.

Access Description

The trail can be found right off of the CA-78 and is named the California Riding and Hiking Trail. There is a small store across the road which is a good place to air down and up.

Popular Trails

High Times

High Times

Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
RC3331 Rattlesnake Canyon

RC3331 Rattlesnake Canyon

Total Miles
15.8
Tech Rating
4 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Cut Across Trail

Cut Across Trail

Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi / Su
EMHT Segment 3: Rocky Ridge to Fenner

EMHT Segment 3: Rocky Ridge to Fenner

Total Miles
230.2
Tech Rating
5 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Fa

Go Farther

Try onX Offroad Elite for free for a week — no strings attached. Get access to thousands of off-road dirt trails and snowmobile trails across the nation. View your favorite zones in 3D. Send trails to friends. Start planning the trip of a lifetime now.