Beginner Off-Road Trails Near West Sacramento, California
Shirttail Canyon
Total Miles
23.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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… Learn more about Berdoo Canyon Road
Total Miles
23
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / 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… Learn more about Bailey Ridge
Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Deer Lake, Gold Valley
Total Miles
37.9
Tech Rating
2
Moderate
Best Time
Su
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
Soda Creek Logging Camp
From Hwy 4 side the all-day adventure was on ungraded logging roads. They still log here on these roads so please drive slow and be aware of logging trucks possibly coming at you. You will… Learn more about Soda Creek Logging Camp
Total Miles
17.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Rowdy Cow
This is a lightly traveled dirt road with some ruts, loose rock, slight inclines, and narrow passages due to brush. Other challenges include snow in the winter snow and water crossings up to a foot… Learn more about Rowdy Cow
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2
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
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… Learn more about Sapps Hill
Total Miles
0.9
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… Learn more about Pine Tunnel
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su
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… Learn more about Old Tamarack
Total Miles
0.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
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
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.… Learn more about Elephant Lake
Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
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
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… Learn more about Fruit Smuggler