Trail Overview
Branching off Forest Road M61, Goat ORV - FS 20N42 is a peaceful, single-lane out-and-back dirt spur that ventures into the timbered high country. Set within Mendocino National Forest, the surrounding landscape features tall evergreen canopies and regenerating brush continuing natural recovery following the 2020 August Complex Fire. This gentle forest route consists of a packed-dirt surface cushioned with pine needle duff, earning an approachable Technical Rating of 1. The spur starts wide and open before ducking into the shaded forest, passing three spacious dispersed camping clearings at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 miles that offer excellent tree cover and flat ground for multiple vehicles. As the trail travels deeper, it navigates exposed surface roots at 0.2 miles and a narrow passage through a cut log at 0.3 miles. The road concludes at 0.5 miles where thick buckthorn brush and a fallen tree cross the roadbed. Outdoor recreationists frequently utilize this short spur to secure secluded, shaded campsites just off the main road or to access quiet woodland turnouts.
Difficulty
Earning an easy Technical Rating of 1, this dirt spur presents a generally flat and smooth driving surface under dry conditions. Drivers should roll smoothly over exposed surface roots around the 0.2-mile mark and maintain a centered line through the cut log gap at 0.3 miles. Past the final camp turnout, encroaching buckthorn brush narrows the corridor and can cause light paint scuffs. Forward progress halts at 0.5 miles at a downed tree, requiring a careful turnaround in the available road space.
