Trail Overview
Approaching from the Gold Valley OHV Trail, Snake Lake (FS 12E67) wastes no time letting you know exactly what kind of ride you are in for. The trail immediately greets you with a steep, incredibly loose, and rocky climb. Early on, you will navigate a densely wooded area heavily impacted by timber fall, where the path has been actively diverted around massive downed trees. This bypass makes for a very technical, low-traction uphill battle right out of the gate. As you push higher into the forest—passing striking pines adorned with bright green lichen- the trail remains relentlessly chunky. The photos showcase long stretches of exposed, sun-drenched hillsides filled with loose cobble and deep, powdery dust that will test your traction. Once you finally crest the ridgeline, the terrain mercifully mellows out. The ultimate reward is Snake Lake itself, an absolutely stunning body of water featuring a picturesque small island and excellent opportunities for dispersed camping. However, as seen in the photos, the final approach to the water involves navigating a severely steep, 50-yard descent that is heavily webbed with exposed tree roots and loose gravel.
Difficulty
While you will not find massive, vehicle-swallowing vertical ledges here, the sheer endurance required to conquer the continuous loose rock is fatiguing. The extended rock gardens, stretching up to 150 yards long, demand careful tire placement, excellent ground clearance, and steady momentum management to avoid bogging down in the dust. Furthermore, that final steep, root-covered pitch leading down to the lake is a formidable obstacle on the way back out, requiring aggressive traction. As evidenced by the lifted red SUV seen tackling the steep side-hill in the photos, this is not a trail for casual crossovers; only serious, purpose-built 4x4 rigs and capable dirt bikes should attempt this route.
