Trail Overview
Set along a sun-drenched mountain ridge recovering from past wildfires with sparse standing timber and brushy understory in the Mendocino National Forest, Trough Ridge Spur A (FS 24N05A) provides an airy, scenic detour. Accessed directly off of Trough Ridge Road (FS 24N05), this gentle side track is primarily traveled by outdoor enthusiasts seeking vast, panoramic vistas extending across the valleys to the south and west or hunting for a solitary backcountry campsite. The route consists of a graded, single-track dirt road coated in dry pine needles and light grassy growth, earning a mild Grade 1 difficulty rating. Departing the main ridge road, the path descends gently past a convenient dispersed camping pullout at 0.4 miles. Near 0.8 miles, the track narrows as vegetation encroaches along a steep cliffside drop-off, leading to a tight pass around a fallen log at 0.9 miles. The journey concludes at 1.1 miles at a turnaround clearing where the trail fades into the hillside amidst multiple fallen trees.
Difficulty
Earning an easy Grade 1 difficulty rating, this single-lane dirt spur presents a smooth, non-technical driving surface without steep rocky steps or deep mud trenches. Key points requiring attention include a narrow cliffside stretch near 0.8 miles where side brush encroaches on the roadway, followed by a tight squeeze around a fallen tree trunk at 0.9 miles. Drivers should maintain a slow, controlled pace, watch side clearance along brushy cliff edges, and pick clean lines around minor surface debris. The trail becomes impassable at 1.1 miles due to a cluster of fallen timber across the hillside, where a simple three-point turnaround completes the drive.
