Trail Overview

This 7-mile climb begins in dense forest on a well-maintained forest service road. As the trail climbs, occasional breaks in the trees reveal glimpses of the valley below. Starting at mile 4, the road condition becomes somewhat degraded with mild rutting, narrow, brushy sections, and some areas of rockfall waiting to assault an unsuspecting sidewall. Grouse are abundant in the area, and black bears have also been sighted. There are a few dispersed camping opportunities along the route. Climbing higher, the views begin to open up, and you can see miles in every direction. The trail ends at the Johnson Ridge trailhead, a fairly popular trail, so expect to see some traffic.

Photos of Johnson Ridge Trail

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Difficulty

This road should be easy to travel with any 4WD vehicle, and most 2WD vehicles. The ruts are not deep, but be mindful of large rocks.

Technical Rating

Ash S.

May 23, 2026

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Open

NormalDusty

Trail is currently cleared and fully passable. There are a few sections with light ruts, but we were able to clear them easily with no issues. Several fallen trees have already been removed from the road, though there are still a few low-hanging branches that lifted vehicles may make contact with in some spots. We made it all the way to the top without any problems, and there was even a Honda CR-V at the top as well. No mud, standing water, or water pooling encountered during our run.

NW 4x4

Dec 28, 2025

Open

Snow/Ice

A good amount of snow, about 30”, at 3,600 ft just before the trailhead parking area, which was the turnaround point for the day. Lower on the trail, a large partially cleared tree is across the trail, which could be tight for a full-size rig. Otherwise, no issues. Beckler Road was mostly clear to the Johnson Ridge Trail. A sinkhole was marked at the beginning of the road, and a few areas where water left debris on the road or is still running over the road.