Pilot Springs

Total Miles 6.6
Technical Rating
3 Easy
Best Time Summer, Fall, Spring
Trail Type Full-Width Road
Accessible By
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Pilot Springs trail photo

Trail Overview

This 9-mile point-to-point trail climbs almost 500 feet and drops over 1,500 feet from Highway 120 to Crooked Meadow Road West. This heavily used track is 1 to 1.5 vehicles wide with beautiful views of the Eastern Sierras. The trail travels through pine forest, burnt forest, and open meadows. Starting from Crooked Meadow Road West, it begins in open meadow for miles before entering recently burned forest. After a mile, the road gets smoother with larger pines and open meadows offering dispersed camping. After Pilot Springs around mile 5, the trail widens and smooths out as it's seasonally graded. McLaughlin Springs and Pilot Springs are on this road. Be aware of seasonal fire restrictions. This is a very dusty trail.

Photos of Pilot Springs

Difficulty

This trail features lots of ruts and whoops due to heavy side-by-side traffic, and some ruts from water runoff up to 12 inches deep. The first section in the burnt forest is pretty worn with lots of whoops,

Technical Rating

3

Status Reports

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Mathilda Hall
Jun 12, 2026
Open
Fun little road, featuring some good whoops, ruts, and volcanic ash. One whoop in particular reminded us that we forgot to vent the fuel pressure in the lantern. I believe it was closer to the Wickie Up junction where a tree was down across the road.

Pilot Springs Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

  • Single Track
  • 50 Inch
  • 60 Inch
  • High Clearance
  • Full Width

Pilot Springs Map

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