Trail Overview
Nestled within the Tahoe National Forest, Canyon 2 Spur (FS 0894-008-04) delivers an adventurous connector route descending from high mountain ridges down to the Truckee River canyon on Stampede Meadows Road. Accessed directly off of main Forest Road 072, this 1.2-mile narrow single-lane trail links upper ridge networks with the paved corridor adjacent to Boyington Mill Campground. The environment begins across open, meadowy ridge slopes peppered with sagebrush before transitioning into a dense coniferous forest carpeted with pine needles and duff. Recreators primarily utilize this route to transition down from Verdi Peak lookout roads, access streamside camping along the river, or explore remote forest pockets. The driving surface consists of an unmaintained single-track dirt path layered with loose rounded cobbles near the top and pine needles below, earning a technical Grade 3 difficulty rating. Departing FR 072, the path descends smoothly through mountain meadows before narrowing noticeably along timbered slopes. The final descent features a tight bench cut directly above the Boyington Mill Campground entrance, where off-camber angles, uneven erosion holes, and loose rock require careful wheel placement before meeting the pavement.
Difficulty
Earning a technical Grade 3 difficulty rating, this 1.2-mile single-lane connector presents notable angle, surface, and clearance challenges along an unmaintained right-of-way. As visible in the photos, primary obstacles include loose rounded rocks on upper ridge sections, narrow brushy squeezes, and a pronounced off-camber slope with erosion holes along the final descent above the paved road. Drivers should proceed with caution, maintain a slow and controlled speed, carefully choose lines over loose cobbles, and straddle or steer around deep dip holes on off-camber turns to prevent underbody scraping or sliding. Saturated spring conditions or heavy rainfall can also turn the fine dirt into slippery mud holes.
