Trail Overview
Monarch Spur - FS 93-002-03 offers a short but wonderfully scenic drive. This half-mile spur branches off from Monarch Road and gently winds its way up through a beautiful, tall pine forest. The surface is mostly packed reddish-orange dirt mixed with a fair amount of loose gravel and small rocks, but it is a relatively smooth, single-lane path. As you navigate the gentle, winding climb, you will eventually come across a marked crossing for the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Please keep your eyes peeled and drive slowly here, as you will likely spot some weary hikers crossing your path! Right near this junction, there is a lovely, flat dispersed campsite tucked under the trees. It makes for a perfect, shaded spot to park and relax if you are meeting friends hiking through this section of the PCT. Just keep in mind that at the end of this half-mile stretch, the road turns into the Sierra Buttes Trail, which gets significantly steeper, rockier and harder; that transition makes a great turn-around point for a low-clearance vehicle.
Difficulty
For a novice driver in a standard AWD vehicle like a Subaru, this is a very doable and rewarding drive, provided you simply take your time. The primary challenges are the loose surface gravel and mildly uneven dirt sections that can occasionally test your traction on the uphill climb. You will not need massive ground clearance, but you should definitely steer carefully to avoid the minor ruts, exposed tree roots, and small embedded rocks resting on the edges of the trail. Just maintain a steady, slow momentum, keep your eyes on the path, and your vehicle's AWD system will handle this climb beautifully.
