Off-Road

There is nothing quite like the Carson Valley off-road experience. Situated between two mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada’s Carson Range to the west and the Pine Nuts to the east, Carson Valley is the jumping-off place for off-road adventure of all kinds. To the west you will find over 200 off-road and wilderness trails in the northern Sierra. Many are suitable for stock SUVs, but others can be negotiated only by modified vehicles, motorcycles, or ATVs. To drive on some trails you will need a wilderness permit from the Forest Service, but others are open to all. Note that some of the trails, particularly at the higher elevations, are closed much of the year due to heavy snow. Off-roaders are advised to get trail maps and check the weather before heading out. Information is available at the Carson Valley Visitors’ Center.

On the east side of Carson Valley you’ll find  a remarkable playground for off-road motorcyclists and ATV riders, with hundreds of miles of single-track trails through the Pine Nut Mountains. These trails loop through every kind of terrain, from sand washes to rocky ridges, with lots of up and down and whoop-de-doos. From the Carson Valley you can go cross-country to Eldorado Canyon, or Brunswick Canyon and on up into the fabled Comstock mining district. Or you can head east and hook up with the historic Masonic-Bodie Stage Road and follow it to the ghost town of Bodie. To the south you can ride the Topaz Lake/Smith Valley trails. Many of these trails are also suitable for dune buggies and four-wheel-drive jeeps and trucks.

Camping is available on public land, but there are no facilities. So if you want to go off-road camping, be sure to take enough food, water, and gas to get you out and back. Watch out for hazards like abandoned mine shafts. And please be a good neighbor while off-roading. Carry your trash out with you, don’t leave it behind for others to deal with; don’t tear up the trails or the landscape; stay off of trails designated for non-motorized vehicles; and be courteous to other off-roaders you may encounter.
Lake Tahoe Adventures
P. O. Box 11521(map)
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
Phone: 530-577-2940
http://www.laketahoeadventures.com/

ATV, ATV Buggy, Jeep and Hummer high mountain tours to scenic Carson Valley, the majestic High Sierra, and the challenging Rubicon Trail. Snowmobile tours featuring scenic, ultimate off-trail and specialty excursions. Group, family, corporate retreats and more. Tours, transportation, lodging and meals available. Reservations recommended.

Pine Nut Mountain Trail
The beginning of the trail is located in South Gardnerville off of U.S. Highway 395.  Going South on U.S. Highway 395 turn left onto Pinenut Road.  At the fork in the road stay to the left, you will still be on Pinenut Road; the right fork is Dump Road.  Proceed on Pinenut Road for approximately 0.7 miles where Pinenut Rd. becomes a dirt road/trail.  From here you can access miles of trails in the scenic Pine Nut Mountain range.  There are a number of mines in the vicinity as well as geocaching sites (www.geocaching.com).  You can connect to other trails to the north that will take you through the Fish Springs area eventually connecting to Sunrise Pass Road.
 
If you continue to right at the fork in the road you will come to Pinenut Road II.  By taking this road you can find trails that will eventually take you to the Smith Valley area.  On this road, approximately 1.9 miles from the first fork, you will find an area designated for non-motorized vehicles.  The trailhead is designated by a large parking area with a tree in the middle of the lot.  There is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) map on the southern end of the parking lot showing the available trails.  This area is specifically for non-motorized use only and is well traveled by mountain bikers. For further trail information and directions stop by the Carson Valley Visitors Center.
Visitors Center.

Sunrise Pass Trail
Trail starts at the end of Johnson Lane, approximately 3.9 miles east of U.S. Highway 395 in Minden.  Johnson Lane becomes a dirt road and turns into Sunrise Pass Road.  The road connects to a number of trails.  As you travel you will pass Painted Rock on your left, approximately 1.9 miles from the end of Johnson Lane, and can proceed into mountainous terrain or continue straight further into Sunrise Pass which can eventually lead to Wellington and Yerington connections.  For further trail information and directions stop by the Carson Valley Visitors Center.

Picketts Junction
Only a 15-minute drive west of Gardnerville on Highway 88 is Hope Valley.  You can pick up a picnic lunch at Woodfords Station and head out to Picketts Junction (intersection of Highway 88 & Highway 89).  You will find a small parking lot on the south side of the intersection.  This lot is the start of the dirt road to Burnside Lake.  During late spring through fall (weather dependent) you can take the road all the way to Burnside Lake, approximately 6.5 miles from the intersection of SR 88 and SR 89.  The road is dirt and can be traveled on using most SUV type vehicles.  For further trail information and directions stop by the Carson Valley Visitors Center.
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