Trail Overview
Set within a mixed pine and chaparral woodland recovering from the 2018 Ranch Fire in the Mendocino National Forest, Miner - FS 17N62 provides a short and scenic mountain drive. Accessed directly off of New Miner Trail, this 1.3-mile round-trip out-and-back dirt spur travels along elevated slopes to serve as an access route to surrounding OHV networks. Outdoor recreationists and trail riders primarily explore this path to reach the scenic 0.3-mile saddle viewpoint, stage off-road vehicles, or connect with OHV trails. The trail surface consists of a well-maintained single-lane dirt and gravel road with light pine litter, earning an easy Grade 1 difficulty rating. Departing New Miner, the track climbs smoothly to a panoramic saddle, offering broad views across the surrounding mountain terrain. At 0.7 miles, the road abruptly transitions into an OHV-only trail, requiring full-width vehicles to turn around at the fork.
Difficulty
This single-lane dirt spur offers an exceptionally smooth and forgiving driving surface. Technical obstacles, deep washouts, and ground-clearance challenges are completely absent along the entire route. Standard stock vehicles can easily traverse the track during dry seasonal conditions by maintaining a steady speed and remaining centered on the established roadway. Drivers should simply slow down near the 0.7-mile mark and execute a simple turnaround at the fork where full-size vehicle access terminates.
