Trail Overview
Mc Gilvery Creek (FS 6S036) is a rugged, tight, and thoroughly engaging High Sierra trail that demands your full attention. Winding through a stunning older-growth forest, the route offers deep shade and towering timber, a welcome change from the open burn scars in the region. However, the beauty comes with a price: this is a tight, scratchy squeeze. The vegetation crowds the narrow two-track, guaranteeing "Sierra Pinstriping" for any vehicle mid-size or larger. The tread is a challenging mix of deep, eroded ruts and long, steep rocky climbs that will test your traction and articulation. Drivers should be prepared for sudden washouts and loose, chunky hill climbs that require steady momentum. It’s a true driver’s trail—scenic, technical, and a little bit mean to your clear coat.
Difficulty
This trail earns a solid Rating 4 due to the combination of deep erosion ruts and loose, low-traction climbs. The ruts in several sections are deep enough to high-center stock vehicles or force drivers into off-camber lines. The ascents feature loose dirt mixed with chunky rocks, requiring 4WD Low and diff lockers (or very effective traction control) to maintain forward progress without excessive wheel spin. High clearance is mandatory to navigate the washouts and embedded rocks without undercarriage damage.
