Trail Overview
Sloan Cabin Spur - FS 12N99A is a 1.6-mile hard-packed dirt route. Interestingly, the road sign/stake at the start states "no motorized vehicle traffic," though there is clear evidence of regular/recent vehicle use. The trail begins as a wide, single-lane road with no initial overgrowth or ruts. Proceed 0.5 miles, and on your right there is a turnout leading to a dispersed campsite. Up to this point, the road is very user-friendly and can be navigated without high clearance. However, past the campsite, the conditions degrade significantly. The second half of the trail becomes less forgiving, featuring increased rutting, overgrowth, bumps, and tree obstacles. The route ultimately dead-ends at the boundary line between Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) and the El Dorado National Forest, terminating at a roundabout with no signs of an additional campsite. The trail is primarily used by campers and forest service workers.
Difficulty
The trail earns a Level 2 rating for the first 0.5 miles leading up to the campsite, offering an easy drive that doesn't require high clearance. Beyond the campsite, it escalates to a Level 3 due to noticeable rutting, overgrowth, bumps, and tree obstacles that make a high-clearance 4x4 highly recommended.
