Forest Service Road 04S43

Trail Overview

Starting off Gorge Road, this trail begins as a once-paved surface now broken with potholes and deteriorating asphalt. It quickly transitions into sand and dirt, offering early views of Casa Diablo Mountain with the White Mountains rising behind. From the junction with Casa Diablo Road, the trail climbs about 300 feet in less than 2 miles. After passing through a gate, conditions become noticeably rougher with sandy dirt, scattered rocks, ruts, whoops, and off-camber sections. The track alternates between one vehicle wide and two vehicles wide, requiring caution in the tighter spots. At Mile 1, the landscape opens up with sweeping views of the Eastern Sierras, including Mount Tom. Despite its roughness, the trail has well-established bypasses around the largest and deepest rutted sections, keeping the route passable.

Photos of Forest Service Road 04S43

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Difficulty

This trail is best suited for high-clearance 4x4s. Expect ruts, off-camber stretches, and rocky patches that require attention, though bypasses help keep obstacles manageable.

History

Gorge Road is part of the historic Sherwin Grade, an early pioneer road where mule-drawn wagons cut deep ruts into the volcanic Bishop Tuff landscape in the late 1800s, eventually becoming the Wagon Wheel trail. The Owens River Gorge itself, which the road overlooks, formed over thousands of years as the Owens River carved through the tuff deposited by a massive volcanic eruption approximately 760,000 years ago, creating the Volcanic Tableland.

Technical Rating

Forest Service Road 04S43 can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike