Driving Tips Many backcountry roads can be accessed by passenger cars, but use wise judgment when entering unfamiliar territory. SUV or 4x4 may be required for some roads. Know your cars limits. Most of these back roads are one lane & narrow. Be aware of on-coming traffic. Pass slowly & cautiously. Drive with lights on, even in the day time. You can see lights thru bushes easier than a dark vehicle. If road seems to be worsening, chances are it will get a lot worse a few miles down. Pick a good spot to turn around when you are hestitant or unsure. Try not to travel these roads at night, unless you are familiar with it. There are no markers & can be very dangerous. A patch of snow on a dirt road in spring/summer may look harmless, but there is guaranteed thick mud underneath. Be weary of snow on dirt roads if you don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Try not to stop or even slow down in soft sandy washes. Chances are you will get stuck, unless you have 4 wheel drive & then it is sometimes still questionable. Beginners should not speed on dirt roads, especially on long straight aways. Dips & slight bumps & turns can be dangerous at a high rate of speed. Vehicles handle a lot differently on dirt roads. Down shift, instead of braking, around curves to control your grip. Straddle a deep rut in the road. Placing tires on each side of the trench, to prevent unbalanced driving. Go slowly over big dips in order to prevent bottoming out your vehicle. Bring emergency gear when traveling on back roads: flashlight, shovel, matches, blankets, water, tow strap, cell phone More Thoughts A sign for '4x4 required' usually means difficult or bumpy terrain ahead. Know how to use your vehicle & if you are at hestitant (maybe your SUV is only 2WD or AWD), you can come back at a later date with a 4x4 pal for further exploration. National Forest maps show dirt roads, lakes, creeks & campgrounds; Benchmark California Atlas is a great overview for the entire state & Tom Harrison makes waterproof back roads maps for popular California destinations. Safety Soft Sand: Don't stop in soft sand. Even 4WD vehicles can get stuck. Bring a shovel, old lumber pieces or an old blanket to help get out of super soft sandy spots. Or best yet, another vehicle with a tow strap. Fire Danger: Your catalytic converter can cause a wildfire if you are parked ontop of dry brush for more than a few seconds. Be caustious as to where you pull over & pick a clear spot without weeds or dry wildflowers. Recent Rains: Dirt roads conditions can change with each season, as the earth's erosion does it's thing. If he road quality is in question, walk the worst parts first to chevck it out. Watch for boulders in the road way. Snow patches can be decieving. There may be one foot of deep mud under that 6 inches of old icy hard snow. Use 4WD or you may end up walking for help.

RIGHT OF WAY on a one lane dirt road Passing on steep hills - the driver with the nearest pull out should reverse to that spot. But if no pull outs are in sight... When two vehicles meet on a steep road where neither can pass, the vehicle facing downhill must back up until the vehicle going uphill can pass. (The driver facing downhill has the greater amount of control when in reverse, cuz they don't have the gravity to deal with)

Please respect the private lands along these roads & help keep the cattle in their place. Close the gate along the backroads!

remember when traveling w/ a group or caravan, communication is key

Forest Service Signage

Take NOTE: High Clearance 2WD vs. AWD vs. 4X4 Know your vehicles capabilties, bring another rig along when possible & always have a map.

National Forest route signs:

posted at road entrances & maybe at dirt road intersections
(if you're lucky)

white numbers on brown background

the route numbers are found on forest maps & topo maps & on Total Escape's newest California back roads mega list

Maintained Roads:

• horizontal signs for roads kept up for passenger cars
• pavement, gravel, dirt (or a combination of surfaces)

Non-Maintained Roads:

• minimal up keep, usually bumpy dirt roads
• vertical signs for high clearance vehicles
• not maintained for passenger cars

See DanaMite's favorite forest service roads in California by number!

There are plenty of dirt roads to be explored in California. Leading to such scenic interest as meadows, waterfalls, indian pictographs, great view points & most of all, seclusion. It's time to use that new Sport Utility Vehicle for what it's made for & a perfect way to really get away from the crowds. Most of these are located in National Forest or BLM land. Read all entrance signs & remember, 'private roads' are most likely no entry. Do not even think of taking a road marked 'closed'.

National Forest Service Maps are extremely helpful when venturing off pavement to dirt roads. Most really good primitive camping areas are located on these dirt side roads. Get off the beaten path & find that perfect meadow, waterfall or creek side spot.

Great Areas with Dirt Roads in California

Find Southern California Backroads

Sierra Nevada & California Desert Backroads
region name	general area	nearby town
Black Canyon BLM	north of I-15, west of Barstow	Barstow CA
Canebrake / Chimney Pk	north off Hwy 178	Kernville CA
El Dorado National Forest	areas east of Historic Gold Country	Placerville CA
Hollister Hills OHV	oak foothills Central Valley	Hollister CA
Inyo National Forest	Eastern Sierra off Hwy. 395	Bishop CA
Los Padres NF	Coast regions around Nacimiento Rd	Big Sur CA
Mojave National Preserve	between I-15 & I-40, near Essex	Barstow CA
Plumas National Forest	anywhere off of Hwy. 70	Quincy CA
Sequoia National Forest	Hwy.190, Western Divide Hwy. & SM99	Ponderosa CA
Sierra National Forest	Hwy 168 near Shaver Lake	Lakeshore CA
Stanislaus National Forest	Hwy. 108/Beardsly Lake, E Gold Co	Sonora CA
Tahoe National Forest	I-80 & all around the vicinity	Truckee CA
Toiyabe National Forest	Eastern Sierra off Hwy. 395	Bridgeport CA
4x4 routes, dirt roads, california back roads, 4 wheel drive trails, baja backroads, dirt trails 4WD
Northern California Backroads
region name	general area	nearby town
Klamath National Forest	W of Interstate 5, west of Mt. Shasta	Yreka CA
Mendocino National Forest	W of Interstate 5, above Clear Lake	Ukiah CA
Modoc National Forest	NE California, N Hwy. 395	Alturas CA
Six Rivers National Forest	E of north coast, Hwy.36, 299 & 96	Eureka CA
Shasta Trinity National Forest	W of Shasta Lake & Interstate 5	Dunsmuir CA