Trail Overview
Legend has it, at least for the sake of this trail description, that Outhouse Draw was once marked by a solitary outhouse at its entrance. Today, however, no such structure exists, so if you are looking for relief before hitting the dirt, you will have to find a more natural solution! This out-and-back route is a fantastic drive that heads up from the valley floor and deep into the foothills, offering great connectivity to other trails in the area. As you ascend, you will pass through a densely burned section of juniper trees before reaching a stark fire line where the burn ends and the live tree line begins. The views are magnificent: you will face stunning, rugged mountain ranges as you head up, and look behind you for equally outstanding, sweeping views of the valley below. If you time your trip right, you will also be treated to vibrant seasonal wildflowers lining the route. You will encounter cattle gates along the way. Always leave them exactly as you found them. While you may catch a couple of bars of LTE at the bottom of the trail, your signal will completely disappear the further up into the hills you go. Download your onX Offroad maps for offline use.
Difficulty
Navigating the trail is generally quite easy, though it earns its 3 rating due to some slight off-camber sections, occasional washouts, and a few rocky patches. * Vehicle Size Limitations: Pay close attention as you approach the live tree line (where the fire scar ends). At this point, the trail narrows significantly and is impassable for full-size vehicles. Continuing past this point is strictly for narrow UTVs, ATVs, or motorcycles.
History
While the mythical entrance outhouse might be local trail lore, the name "Draw" points to the area's genuine geological and historical significance. Draws, natural terrain depressions that funnel water runoff, have been critical to survival in the Great Basin for centuries. Early ranchers and Basque sheepherders relied on these natural funnels to locate seasonal water sources for their livestock. Furthermore, the stark contrast you see between the burned juniper stands and the untouched tree line is a visual history lesson in wildland firefighting, showing exactly where a historical blaze was successfully halted to protect the upper forest.
Offroad