Off-Road Trails Near Shaver Lake, California

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

This is an essential, short 1.1-mile spur providing high-clearance access to a unique ridge-top viewpoint. The trail climbs rapidly through a mixed-severity 2020 Creek Wildfire burn zone, which has exposed the dramatic granite formations and opened up panoramic views. The surface is a mix of rock an...
Learn more about Azalea Creek - FS 9S014B

This is an extremely short, 0.7-mile spur trail that provides direct access to a spectacular summit and the Bald Mountain fire watchtower destination. The trail starts as a relatively clear two-track, but the difficulty ramps up quickly as it climbs. The final portion of the climb crests onto an exp...
Learn more about Tower - FS 25E314

Bald Mountain (FS 26E219) is the crown jewel of the area, a legendary "two-track" trail that serves up a perfect cocktail of high Sierra granite terrain. The route climbs steadily from the Green Gate toward the summit, offering a dynamic surface mix of loose dirt, decomposed granite (DG), and grippy...
Learn more about Bald Mountain - FS 26E219

This is an easy, short 2.6-mile spur that leads to a scenic access at a spectacular campsite at a rock grouping above Azeala Creek with regional views out over Shaver Lake. The trail is a loose two-track running through the highly exposed 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar. The surface is loose dirt with...
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9S014

This 2.0-mile spur trail provides a fun twisty experience leading to a technical climb to a high-alpine granite knob, offering panoramic views over Shaver Lake below and the surrounding country. The trail is defined by a persistently rocky and steep tread with embedded and loose granite (visible in ...
Learn more about Lazy M - FS 9s045

Bow Tie (FS 25E208) is a classic High Sierra connector that feels like a "greatest hits" album of the Bald Mountain region. Starting from Rock Creek Road, this trail winds south, linking up with Tower (FS 25E314) and eventually terminating at Plain (FS 25E315). The tread is that signature Sierra mix...
Learn more about Bow Tie - FS 25E208

This 1.2-mile trail is a fun, technical connector defined by a mandatory rocky creek crossing and a couple of challenging climbs. The trail is a narrow two-track that runs through a patchy burn scar from the 2020 Creek Wildfire, where aggressive brush is rapidly regrowing, making for a tight, scratc...
Learn more about String - FS 25E210

This 1.44-mile spur delivers a challenging, rewarding climb to a level dispersed camping area just below a panoramic granite knob overlook. The trail is a rough two-track defined by steep, low-traction sections of loose dirt and embedded rock (visible in photos), requiring careful application of pow...
Learn more about Top O Hill - FS 25E308

This 2.8-mile road is a key connector designed for efficient travel through the high country. The trail is a wide, smooth two-track that traverses a vast expanse of the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar (visible in photos), granting incredible exposure and panoramic views. The roadbed is predominantly s...
Learn more about Lodgepole - FS 9s027

Rock Creek Road (FS 9S090) is the essential spinal cord of the Bald Mountain OHV area, a 12.7-mile journey that changes its personality more often than a moody teenager. Connecting Highway 168 at the Tamarack Ridge Snowpark to Dinkey Creek Road, this route is the primary artery for accessing the reg...
Learn more about Rock Creek Road - FS 9S090

Don't let the name fool you—Plain (FS 26E211) is anything but boring. This delightful connector trail serves as a scenic bridge between the popular Bald Mountain (FS 26E219) route and the more technical Basecamp (FS 26E328) trail. The drive is a quintessential High Sierra experience, featuring a dyn...
Learn more about Plain - FS 26E211

This 0.7-mile connector trail in the Bald Mountain trail network is a short, twisty, and fun two-track trail that is essential for linking the high-elevation roads in the area ( between Lazy M and Bow Tie). The trail features punchy climbs and minor off-camber bits that demand driver attention despi...
Learn more about 45 Cutoff - FS 25E309

This 0.7-mile trail is a high-elevation, single-lane Forest Service road that connects the top of Lodgepole over to Bawdy around the peak of Tamarack Mountain. The entire trail traverses a highly exposed landscape within the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar, creating dramatic vistas but eliminating mos...
Learn more about Mountain Top - FS 9S040A

This is an easy, wide 2.1-mile dirt forest service road designed for fast transit through the high country. The road runs through a massive, high-severity burn scar from the 2020 Creek Wildfire (visible in photos), leaving the area wide open and exposed. The roadbed is predominantly smooth, loose du...
Learn more about Lower Tamarack - FS 9s026

Bald Rush is a serious contender for one of the most engaging technical trails in the Bald Mountain network. It’s not just a drive; it’s a full-body workout for your suspension. The trail tread is a classic Sierra cocktail of dirt, sand, and decomposed granite (DG), but the main event is the relentl...
Learn more about Bald Rush - FS 26E311

This 1.1-mile two-track is a forest service road that provides a quick transit connector between other roads in this ridge system. The trail runs entirely through a vast, exposed landscape that was severely burned during the 2020 Creek Wildfire. The roadbed is wide and graded, consisting of smooth, ...
Learn more about Upper Tamarack Mountain - FS 9s028

This 1.6-mile forest service road is a high-elevation, single-lane administrative road designed for access to maintain an overhead power line passing through the area. The entire road traverses a highly exposed landscape within the 2020 Creek Wildfire burn scar, creating dramatic vistas but eliminat...
Learn more about Bawdy - FS 9s040

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

Bald Mountain (FS 26E219) is the crown jewel of the area, a legendary "two-track" trail that serves up a perfect cocktail of high Sierra granite terrain. The route climbs steadily from the Green Gate toward the summit, offering a dynamic surface mix of loose dirt, decomposed granite (DG), and grippy...
Learn more about Bald Mountain - FS 26E219

Rector Line (Forest Service Road 9S006) is a rugged backcountry route in the Sierra National Forest, best suited for high-clearance 4x4 rigs and seasoned drivers looking for a remote challenge near Shaver Lake. This trail stands out for its mix of decomposed granite, embedded rock, and steep, off-ca...
Learn more about Rector Line 9S006

This is the primary dirt road running through the Jose Creek Basin in the Sierra National Forest and connects the north end of Jose Basin Road to Auberry Road/Highway 168. It is wide enough in most places to allow vehicles to pass each other. Depending on the weather, there could be occasional muddy...
Learn more about Jose Basin

This is a point-to-point single vehicle-width trail in the Jose Creek Basin area. The surface is primarily packed dirt with short stretches of gravel. There can also be shallow ruts and mud holes frequently along the route. This trail will pass through both a section of forest with fire damage and a...
Learn more about Sugarloaf - FS 9S08

Bald Mountain (FS 26E219) is the crown jewel of the area, a legendary "two-track" trail that serves up a perfect cocktail of high Sierra granite terrain. The route climbs steadily from the Green Gate toward the summit, offering a dynamic surface mix of loose dirt, decomposed granite (DG), and grippy...
Learn more about Bald Mountain - FS 26E219