Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Tahoma, California

Logan House Loop 14n33

This trail has beautiful scenery that includes tree-filtered views of Lake Tahoe, Aspen groves, grassy meadows, a couple of small year-round streams, and the classic Sierra Nevada Mountain Forest. It is recommended for 4WD or…
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Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Genoa Peak Road - 41306

You'll get some great views of Lake Tahoe from this trail. It's a wide, single-lane gravel trail that's moderately to heavily used during the summer. There are gates at both ends of the road which…
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Total Miles
10.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Fruit Smuggler

Dirt trail with potential for loose rocks, sandy washes, and water crossings less than a foot deep. Potential for mud holes and trail obstacles up to 12" including ledges and short, steep grades. One vehicle…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

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…
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Total Miles
0.9
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…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Burnside Lake Road - 31019

The 5.5-mile out and back dirt road will take you from HWY 88/89 intersection to Burnside Lake. The dirt road is relatively smooth and wide enough for two vehicles to pass. This is a well-traveled…
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Total Miles
5.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Crystal Peak Mine Loop

This loop trail offers wide panoramas of endless mountain forests and picturesque views of multiple reservoirs all along an easily traversed dirt road. An exciting surprise awaits at the midway point of the trail--the Crystal…
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Total Miles
26.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Hawkins Peak Road

Hawkins Peak Road begins as a gradual accent and is typically one vehicle wide with places to pass on this double track dirt trail. The trail gradually ascends from an elevation of 7,057 feet to…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pistol Point Trail

Pistol Point Trail is one vehicle wide with places to pass on this double track dirt trail. The trail ascends from an elevation of 8,820 feet to a maximum elevation of 9,286 feet. There is…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pine Nut Mountains Vista Trail

Located in the Johnson OHV park, this trail has views of Minden, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Pine Nut Mountains. A man-made dirt pile is meant to block the trail at 4.82 miles. At this…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Sunrise Pass Road

This graded dirt county road begins at the Johnson Lane OHV Park located east of Minden, NV. As the road gradually ascends, it traverses alluvial plains covered in sage and low canyons with juniper trees.…
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Total Miles
23
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Brunswick Canyon

Brunswick Canyon Road is fairly easy; 85% of the trail is single vehicle wide with tight switchbacks. Mostly packed gravel trail with areas of loose rocks and a couple of water crossings. The Northern end…
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Total Miles
11.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Pony Express Trail

The historic Pony Express Trail is one of the few domestic overland routes accessible to the public. This route follows as closely as possible to the original trail ridden over 160 years ago on horseback.Make…
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Total Miles
463.7
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…
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Total Miles
19.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

1947 Bunker Trail

This trail starts off on a wide graded dirt road. Then turning Northeast you proceed up a narrow double track trail. This portion of the trail ascends up a flat topped ridge which is lined…
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Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Utopian Mine Trail

This road takes you to the Utopian Mine located in the Pine Nut Mountains in Carson City County, Nevada. The graded dirt road is wide and flat for the first four miles. As you cross…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Peavine Prospector Run

Spectacular views of Reno abound from high above on this trail that traverses historic Peavine Mountain. In stark contrast to the urban hustle and bustle of Reno, Peavine showcases the desolate beauty of the harsh…
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Total Miles
11.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / 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…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
16.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Big Buck Meadows Trail

Big Buck Meadows Trail follows the power line service road for about 1.5 miles. This portion of the trail consists of a single vehicle-wide trail with a few easy hairpin switchbacks. Ascending about 800 feet…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Old Como Road

This road begins at Dayton, Nevada, and gradually rises in elevation from 4367' to 7128' into the Pine Nut Mountains and is located on mostly BLM lands. The trail starts off over a flat alluvial…
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Total Miles
18.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Bailey Ridge

A 5-mile stretch of connecting forest service roads. It is a particularly useful trail if you are driving a non street legal vehicle and camping at Black Springs or off of 7N23. The trail features…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Elephant Lake

This trail follows the South Fork of the John Day River and crosses a very remote area. It's a great area for camping and hiking. Destinations include Blacks Canyon, Izee Falls, and several historical sites.…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Sapps Hill

An easy trail with a few mud holes after a summer thunderstorm. There are plenty of places for dispersed camping along the route, and if you drive all the way to the end, you will…
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Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
3 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…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Pine Tunnel

This trail is lined with pine trees and features a baby rock garden. It is no longer maintained by the Forest Service and ends where it is blocked by multiple fallen trees. Dispersed camping can…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Berdoo Canyon Road

This is a fantastic trail that can be run in either direction. The trail is relatively easy, but there are a few obstacles that can give you trouble if you don't have enough clearance and…
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Total Miles
23
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wild Horse Trail

This route takes you from the outskirts of Dayton, Nevada to Clifton Flats. The trail head starts at the unlocked wild horse protection gate. Make sure to properly close and latch the gate. The trail…
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Total Miles
11.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp / Wi

Old Tamarack

This trail was once known as "Tamarack OHV 4x4" and has been closed since 2014. The start of the trail is still open and leads to a dispersed campsite before it is blocked by many…
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Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Dry Lakes Loop

The trail starts at a cattle guard after you leave the staging area. The first few miles are soft sand with little to no obstruction. The area to the north side of the trail is…
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Total Miles
20.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi