Sourgrass aka Pine Needle Trail Review

Sourgrass Trail – also known as Pine Needle Trail Review

Location:
Head East on Highway 4 towards Dorrington. Just before town take a right turn at the sign for Boards Crossing, follow the road to the Stanislaus River and Boards Crossing parking lot just passed the bridge on the left. The trail starts in the parking on the right hand side.

Description/Hi-Lights:
Sourgrass trail offers a little something for everyone. The trail is rated Black Diamond by the US Forest Service. Most obstacles have multiple lines ranging from moderate to advanced. A few of the tougher obstacles have no bypasses helping this trail maintain a tough edge. One no-bypass obstacle, the stream crossing which is a mile and a half into the three mile trail sends most stock 4×4′s back the way they came. Wet tires and a steep rocky climb out makes this obstacle exciting – if you can do it. Lifted 4×4′s with good ground clearance and a stacked rock or two should get through Sourgrass without any problems. This trail is tight but full size rigs can make it through with careful driving. Chances of rocker panel dings and brush scratches are possible for all. The trail traverses along the Stanislaus River and is quite beautiful; it dead ends at great campsites with secluded fishing pools.

Exit:
One way trail. Drive back the way you came.

Difficulty on a scale of 1 – 10:
Trail rated 5 if you stick to the toughest lines.

Distance:
Approximately 3 miles.

SlickRock Trail Northern California Pictures

More pics of Slickrock trail. We’re driving a lifted 96 Dodge Ram diesel and 2000 Toyota Tacoma.

SlickRock Trail Review

Location:
Northern California off Highway 4, starts at Alpine Dam. Turn at Lower Alpine Campground, drive passed Alpine Lake Dam. There’s a great fishing spot at the west edge of the dam, keep going straight, you’re now on SlickRock Trail.

Trail Description/Hi-Lights:
SlickRock is a very fun, advanced trail. Trail constantly changes between undulating dirt, rock gardens and granite slabs. This trail can be tight and twisty so long vehicles may need occasional 3 point turns. I’ve taken my full size Dodge truck through several times with no body damage but I did punch a hole in the tire one time and on my last trip (first time thru on 37 inch tires) I bent a tire rod getting out The Ladder. What the heck, it was rainy, muddy and a helluva lot of fun.
Mildly modified 4×4′s can get through all but the last obstacle (chance of body damage should be considered). Many choose to turn around at the last obstacle (The Ladder) and go out the way they came. All up hill and a lot of fun.
The last obstacle is borderline extreme. I’ve done it in 5 minutes and I’ve done it in an hour.
Fishing and scenery is excellent. Silver Creek cascades along the trail and has some really nice brook trout in it. This trail is a must do for the fishing, hard-core wheeler crowd.

Exit:
When you hit the bottom of the trail The Ladder is straight ahead after the creek crossing. The right turn before The Ladder goes to a nice fishing pool. If you’re not comfortable you’ll need to turn around and head back here. Breakdowns and roll-overs have and do occur at The Ladder.
After the obstacle there’s only about a half mile of trail left. You’ll come to some nice campsites on the creek. You’ll cross a tight bridge and climb one last rock garden. You’ll exit at Utica Reservoir (good fishing at dam between Utica and Union Resevoirs) and continue South about one mile. You’ll hit pavement, going left takes you to Spicer Resevoir or right takes you back to Highway 4. At Highway 4 turning left goes to Arnold/Sac and right goes to Markleyville/Nevada.

Difficulty on a scale of 1 – 10:
5 going downhill, 6 last obstical or climbing back out (uphill)
Distance:
About 5 miles long, takes about 2 1/2 hours (or all damn day).

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