Looking for the best dirt bike trails near Sacramento? We’ve got you covered.
There’s nothing quite like getting out and exploring new terrain on your dirt bike—and California offers plenty of opportunities to do just that.
And while there might not be any dirt bike trails within the capital city itself, there are plenty of great options nearby. Within just a short drive from Sacramento, you’ll find rolling hills and lush wilderness just waiting to be explored.
Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite spots and everything you need to know about them. Let’s dive into it!
The Top 10 Dirt Bike Trails Near Sacramento
1. Prairie City SVRA
Prairie City SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) is the closest dirt bike trail to Sacramento. It offers 50 miles of off-road motorcycle trails spread across over 800 acres of land. The landscape is a mixture of grasslands, rolling hills, and old gold dredging areas, and there are trails to suit all skill levels
You can reach Prairie City SVRA within 30 minutes by car from downtown Sacramento. Just head east down the US50 for around 20 miles, then turn south down Prairie City Road for around 2 miles. Finally, turn right at White Rock Road and left at Aerojet Road to get to the trailhead.
If your dirt bike has a red sticker, you can only use Prairie City SVRA from September 1st to April 30th.
2. Mammoth Bar OHV Area
Mammoth Bar is another one of the most popular spots to ride dirt bikes and other OHVs near Sacramento. It offers 50 miles of off-road dirt bike trails spread over 1,200 acres and is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 30 miles northeast of the city.
Mammoth Bar has been used by off-road enthusiasts for around 35 years and is open year-round for red sticker vehicles. The area opens daily (weather permitting) but OHVs are only permitted on Ride Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
3. Foresthill OHV
Foresthill OHV is another great spot located about 1 hour 15 northwest of Sacramento by car. The area offers lots of shade, with narrow winding trails and multiple staging areas.
The trails are a bit rocky at first but they get smoother as you get deeper in. The trail also gets dusty during dry periods as silt tends to build up.
The landscape is beautiful, with deep forest pines that look great against the reddish dirt. There are multiple creek crossings on the trail and free primitive campsites that you can use along the stream. There are also paid campsites at the nearby lake.
Whether Foresthill OHV is open or not depends on the soil moisture and closure status can change from day to day depending on weather conditions, so always call ahead.
4. Knoxville OHV Park
Knoxville OHV park is around a 2-hour drive northwest of Sacramento, near Lower Lake. It offers 17,700 acres of land for dirt biking. The landscape consists of steep rolling hills and varied terrain, from scattered hardwoods and grasses to dense brush.
5. Stonyford OHV Park
Stonyford OHV Park (also known as Davis Flat) is another great place to ride your dirt bikes northwest of Sacramento. It’s a little further north than Knoxville but you can still reach it in around 2 hours 10 minutes by car. It has 200 miles of trails for dirt biking.
6. Marysville Tracks
There are two tracks near Marysville about a 40-minute drive north of Sacramento: E Street MX and Riverfront Park. E Street MX is free and located underneath the bridge on highway 70. It features a fine sand track and a nice mix of natural and man-made terrain.
Riverfront Park isn’t free but it does have lights for night riding. It’s built to be fun, safe, and challenging for riders of all ages and skill levels: from pros training for a race to beginners just looking for a fun day out.
7. Clay Pit Off-Road Area
Clay Pit Off-Road Area is a little further north of the Marysville Tracks. You can reach it in around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sacramento (a little under 70 miles). It’s located in the huge 28k+ acre Lake Oroville State Recreation Area and offers 220 acres of off-road motorcycle trails.
8. Sly Park
Sly Park is a hidden gem a short drive east of the city. It’s much less well-known than the other areas on this list, so it’s great for riders who are looking for somewhere quieter and more private.
You can reach Sly Park by heading east for around 60 miles up Highway 50 East, then exiting to the right at Sly Park. When you reach Park Creek, turn left and follow the road for around half a mile until you hit a dirt turn-around area. From there, it’s all dirt. You can jump on your dirt bike and ride for miles along the trail in any direction.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our roundup of the best dirt bike trails near Sacramento!
This is by no means an exhaustive list. The trails above are just some of our personal favorites, but there are plenty of other great spots we didn’t have time to cover that you might want to check out too, like Carnegie State Recreation Area and Black Springs OHV.
Wherever you choose to ride, we’d recommend calling ahead to make sure there are no trail closures. Also, make sure you’re aware of all rules and regulations, and that your vehicle is properly registered and legal to ride.
And finally, remember to practice good trail etiquette and be mindful of other people and animals that might be sharing the trail with you.
Have fun and stay safe!
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