Trail Overview
Branching directly off Highway 20, Excelsior Point (FS 20-017) operates as a highly accessible and inviting out-and-back forest spur. The pathway wanders through a beautiful, heavily timbered pine canopy, offering a shaded and tranquil woodland environment for outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors are greeted right at the entrance by a fenced cattle grate that provides a spacious, convenient staging area to prepare for the drive. As a prime destination for backcountry overnighters, the route features several excellent dispersed campsites very early in the journey. Just a tenth of a mile in, travelers will discover a large clearing capable of comfortably accommodating up to four vehicles, followed closely by a second, slightly more intimate site suitable for two rigs. The driving surface begins as a wide, well-maintained gravel track before smoothly transitioning into a packed dirt corridor near the half-mile mark, earning a highly approachable Grade 1 difficulty rating. The public thoroughfare officially concludes after roughly two miles, dead-ending at a prominent fork designated as private land. Heavy signage explicitly warns visitors to keep out and notes a lack of turnaround space ahead, making it imperative to respect the boundaries and reverse course.
Difficulty
Earning an effortless Grade 1 difficulty rating, this wide out-and-back forest spur presents a consistently smooth and straightforward driving experience. The route features a stable gravel foundation that eventually gives way to a firm, packed dirt surface, remaining entirely free of severe technical off-road challenges. Deep, impassable mud bogs, intimidating rock crawls, and treacherous shelf drop-offs are completely absent from the easygoing journey. While the track is incredibly simple to navigate under normal dry conditions, travelers must remain attentive to the trail's end to ensure they do not inadvertently trespass past the heavily signed, gated private property markers where turnaround space is restricted.
