Trail Overview

This route climbs over 1,000 feet and drops just over 300 feet before peaking at 10,308 feet. The trail runs through an open meadow surrounded by hills and the Eastern Sierra Range, offering scenic high-country terrain throughout the journey. Several spur trails branch off for exploration, including Funnel Lake Loop FS 32E304 and FS 32E302. The route ends at a fenced opening. Continuing south gets much more difficult, and 4x4 high clearance vehicles should only attempt.

Photos of FS 32E303 East

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Difficulty

This trail earns a easy-moderate difficulty rating with its sandy surface featuring lots of gravel and some larger rocks. As probably the most heavily used road in the area, it has developed some ruts and off-camber sections that require attention. The trail is mostly sandy with many small rock gardens dispersed throughout the route.

Technical Rating

Scott V

May 24, 2026

Open

I entered Onion Canyon from the north after a full day of traversing Coyote Flats, descending 32E302, and passing through the gate at the summit. There's a sign there — something to the effect of "Most Difficult — Modified 4x4 Required" — and it means every word. This write-up covers only the section where 32E303 meets 32E302, heading south through that gate for roughly 2–3 miles toward Big Pine. Worth noting: this segment is unrated on OnX, which should itself be a warning. South of the summit, the trail turns nasty fast — relentless rock crawling, deep rutted mud, and walls so narrow there's no room to think, let alone turn around. I spent hours stacking rocks just to make forward progress, and still came home with a dinged driveshaft and a tow truck bill. Go in with eyes open, or don't go in at all.