Trail Overview
Set within a high-elevation coniferous forest featuring dense pine stands, sagebrush slopes, and small aspen groves in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Hawkins Spur C - FS 31019C offers an adventurous, off-the-beaten-path mountain excursion. Accessed directly off Hawkins Peak Road - FS 31019, this 0.6-mile single-track dirt road is a secluded out-and-back spur branching deeper into the woods. Backcountry explorers and campers travel this route to seek out remote primitive camping spots or take in elevated mountain views toward nearby peaks like Hawkins Peak. The driving surface consists of a single-lane hard-packed dirt track that becomes progressively narrower and more overgrown, earning an accessible grade 2 difficulty rating. Leaving the main road, the track begins relatively clear before pine branches close in to form a tight, scratchy canopy. Near 0.5 miles, a noticeable erosion cut creates a sharp drop and steep rise across the path. Shortly beyond this dip, the roadway devolves into a faint game trail within an aspen grove, where dense forest halts further forward progress.
Difficulty
Earning a grade 2 difficulty rating, this 0.6-mile out-and-back spur has a hard-packed dirt surface marked by heavy brush encroachment and a localized erosion washout. Near the 0.5-mile mark, a significant erosion cut creates a steep dip and immediate incline that requires slow momentum and mindful wheel placement to clear without making underbody or bumper contact. Past the washout, low-hanging pine boughs form a narrow tree tunnel that will brush against vehicle sides, eventually terminating in a tight aspen grove where turning around requires a careful multi-point maneuver.
