Dirt Bike Trails in Northern California

Northern California is an outdoor enthusiast's delight, its geography ranging from the beaches along the Pacific Ocean to forested and mountainous areas on the eastern side of the state. With this kind of topography, it is only natural that the area would abound with trails for dirt bikers. These trails are usually found on public lands and vary in terms of difficulty and terrain.

  1. Miami Creek Trails

    • The Miami Creek trails are situated in the Sierra National Forest in the northern and eastern part of the state. Open to dirt bike riders and ATVs, the trails are 60 miles in length and are generally in the low to moderate range in terms of difficulty. Some of the shorter parts of the trails are for expert riders. The maximum width for all the trails is 40 inches. The trails are also used by hikers and horseback riders. An hour north from Fresno, the Miami Creek Trails have two staging areas. The trails wind their way through pine forests and some areas with thick brush. Most of the trails are marked. The elevations in this area range from 3,600 to 4,800 feet. The best time to ride these trails is from the first fall rains until they get dusty in the spring.

    Samoa Dunes Recreation Area

    • The Samoa Dunes Recreation Area is located in the northeastern corner of California. Slightly north of the city of Eureka and west of the Klamath National Forest, Samoa Dunes is a 300-acre park that is set along the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the dirt biking opportunities, visitors can hike, fish and go beach combing. The park has a staging area for OHV riders. Facilities include an unloading ramp, restrooms, tables and grills for cooking. Dirt bike riders have access to 140 acres of largely open terrain that have numerous trails and go on the beach strands, which are areas of a beach above the normal high tide. There is also a 75-acre area riding known as Eureka Dunes that runs approximately one mile north of the park.

    Tahoe National Forest

    • Situated in northern California near Lake Tahoe and the Nevada state line, the Tahoe National Forest has a variety of trails for dirt bikers. According to its website, the primary area for dirt biking is known as the Prosser Pits, which are located off Highway 89 north of Truckee. The Prosser Pit trails also connect to the trails along the Boca Reservoir in the east. A handful of other trails are also in the Tahoe National Forest, many of which open after the snow melts. This scenic area is at an elevation of 5,600 to 6,660 feet. The trails vary in difficulty and wind their way through forested areas with elevation changes. Riders must stay on designated routes only to avoid large fines. Riders also have access to fishing, hiking and camping in this area.