Trail Overview
This trail starts on Packard Canyon Road just up from Highway 120 and immediately transitions onto a shelf road configuration that overlooks the valley below, providing scenic views of mountains across the way from the very beginning. The hard-packed sand surface with some gravel maintains a width of one to one and a half vehicles throughout its length. Lined with trees, brush, and wildflowers, the route creates an attractive natural corridor with diverse vegetation and seasonal color. Within half a mile, remnants of a previous forest fire become visible, serving as a reminder of the area's fire history and the importance of observing seasonal fire restrictions that may affect access during high-risk periods. The trail surface remains relatively smooth with only a few small ruts that require minimal attention, making for comfortable driving conditions on the elevated shelf road. A couple of spots present significant exposure very close to the cliff edge, though these hazardous areas are clearly marked by stakes to alert drivers to the danger. The trail terminates at Forest Service Road 1S14, providing a clear endpoint for the scenic shelf road journey.
Difficulty
This trail has an easy difficulty rating based on the relatively smooth surface and minimal obstacles. The shelf road configuration with cliff exposure marked by stakes, a few small ruts, and a hard-packed surface with some gravel creates manageable conditions that primarily require attention to the cliff edge hazards rather than technical driving challenges.
