Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Plumas Lake, California
Shirttail Canyon
Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Volcanoville
Volcanoville is a good beginner trail that can be completed by most stock 4x4 SUVs, as well as many AWD vehicles with AT tires and at least 8 inches of clearance. The trail does get… Learn more about Volcanoville
Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
Devilhead Road
This is an easy fire road in dry weather and a fun mud run in wet weather. The road doubles as the southern entrance to Knoxville OHV and further on, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.… Learn more about Devilhead Road
Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Bear Valley Road Trail
Easy dirt trail with connections to the Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument area Trails with wildflower sights in Spring and the main road to The Wilbur Hot Springs. Beautiful scenery of the Bear Valley in Lake… Learn more about Bear Valley Road Trail
Total Miles
13.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi
Cement Creek
This trail has great views throughout with a spectacular view of Lake Berryessa at its highest elevation point. Expect to drive dirt, gravel and mud along the out and back trail. There are also many… Learn more about Cement Creek
Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Dunnigan Hill
The main connector between the north and south entrances of the Knoxville OHV area. Very active with power sports vehicles, as many marked and unmarked trails crisscross this trail. An easy trail with good views… Learn more about Dunnigan Hill
Total Miles
14.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Mitchell Mine
Mitchell Mine is a nice, easy in-and-out summer trail for a leisurely stroll through the forest. It's also a good trail for beginners to get used to how their vehicle feels while off-road. The surface… Learn more about Mitchell Mine
Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Walker Ridge Road to Indian Valley Reservoir Road
Walker Ridge Road is one of the main entrances to the Indian Valley Reservoir (CDFW), and the Walker Ridge Recreation Area (BLM). The road is gravel and accessible by most high clearance vehicles. There are… Learn more about Walker Ridge Road to Indian Valley Reservoir Road
Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Bartlett Springs Road
Bartlett Springs Road begins southeast of Mendocino National Forest and boasts excellent views. This route passes through BLM land, and there are plenty of offshoots from the trail. There are also opportunities for camping, hiking,… Learn more about Bartlett Springs Road
Total Miles
9.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp / Wi
Cold Spring
This trail will take you to a wetland area where multiple springs emerge from the mountainside. There is a dispersed camping area at the end where it turns into some hiking trails that give an… Learn more about Cold Spring
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Boman Lake
The first part of the trail is paved. About 2/3rds of the way in, it becomes rocky and dirty. High clearance is recommended. There is one tricky hairpin about 1 mile from camp. Other than… Learn more about Boman Lake
Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su
Deer Lake, Gold Valley
Total Miles
37.9
Tech Rating
2
Moderate
Best Time
Su
Letts Lake
This trail is a little less than 4 miles and leads to Letts Lake and campground. As the only lake in the lower half of Mendocino NF, it is worth visiting. There are four campsites… Learn more about Letts Lake
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Bonta Creek - NF23N33
Graded Forest Service road above the CA-70 highway in Graeagle, California that accesses Bonta Ridge, Penman Saddle, and other points to the North in the Plumas National Forest. There is a great brewery - the… Learn more about Bonta Creek - NF23N33
Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y
Bonta Ridge is an occasionally maintained gravel Forest Service road that climbs from Bonta Creek Road above the CA-70 highway up to Penman Saddle and points beyond in this section of the Plumas National Forest.… Learn more about Bonta Ridge - NF23N05Y
Total Miles
4.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Happy Valley Ridgeline
Mix of fire roads and old logging roads. The area has been scorched by fire recently. There are a lot of downed trees that cross the trail, be prepared with a chain saw or chain/rope.… Learn more about Happy Valley Ridgeline
Total Miles
33.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Eel's Cliff
This route will take you from Upper Lake all the way to Eel River/Lake Pillsbury. It begins with great views of the valley, plenty of camping and resting spots in-between, and ends with your choice… Learn more about Eel's Cliff
Total Miles
46.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Wrights Lake Rd - 11N26A
This is a smooth, out-and-back dirt trail that's single lane. The trail has very little change in elevation and can be driven with a 2WD SUV. A wide turn-around circle is located at one mile… Learn more about Wrights Lake Rd - 11N26A
Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Sugarpine - NF22N55
Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This looks to be the primary route accessing the summit from town. The road is wider and looks… Learn more about Sugarpine - NF22N55
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A
Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This spur accesses the communications tower equipment on private property at the summit of Beckwourth Peak. There is… Learn more about Sugarpine Spur A - NF22N55A
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Beckwourth - NF23N03
Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. This is one of the primary routes into this section of the forest from town. These roads are… Learn more about Beckwourth - NF23N03
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Bear Valley Loop Trail
Bear Valley Loop Trail is a beginner trail located off Hwy 89 starting right at "Little Truckee Summit". The loop takes off and ends at the Bear Valley Campground. Head in on Cottonwood Road off… Learn more about Bear Valley Loop Trail
Total Miles
19.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB
Dirt Forest Service road accessing a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside of Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start… Learn more about Beckwourth Tie Spur - NF23N03YB
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Willow Lake Road 29N14
Willow Lake Road takes you to Willow Lake Campground where there are opportunities for fishing, hiking, hot springs, geysers and wildlife viewing. The road in is doable in any high clearance vehicle. When approaching the… Learn more about Willow Lake Road 29N14
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Airola Meadow Loop
Nice views along a graded in the begging logging road. The road becomes ungraded but really good all the way back. Some brush, nothing to pinstripe your rig. Early season, may want to bring a… Learn more about Airola Meadow Loop
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y
Dirt Forest Service Road accesses a network of roads climbing Beckwourth Mountain just outside Portola, California. These roads are seldom maintained and are occasionally clogged with manzanita overgrowth. Pinstriping is likely. These roads start at… Learn more about Beckwourth Tie - NF23N03Y
Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop
The trail has smooth flowing sections, loose, rocky climbs, and hardpacked rocky roads with seasonal low water crossings. The road up to the lookout is steep with loose rock. Leading up to and past Taylor… Learn more about Taylor Lake/Lucky S Mine/Kettle Rock Lookout Loop
Total Miles
18.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Buck Ranch
Easy graded logging road in the beginning 1st mile, then it becomes decent rocky terrain, some small climbs, nothing hard. Once you take off from the green route on OnX, this is a really easy… Learn more about Buck Ranch
Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Mendo-Lake Road
An easy scenic route over mountain ridges through South Cow Mountain OHV that connects lakeport to Ukiah. This is the main dirt road through cow mountain that has multiple harder trails off either side and… Learn more about Mendo-Lake Road
Total Miles
12.4
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Boca Hill
Boca Hill Trail is a 2.5 mile trail. The trail passes the peak of Boca Hill, a great place to stop and get some pictures from above I-80 with many peaks in the background. The… Learn more about Boca Hill