Home > California > Elkins Flat

Elkins Flat OHV Routes

Sunday, April 21, 2024

Trail Map

Other Names

Elkin's Flat, Grizzly Flat Area, Pipi Campground, Pipi Valley, Pi-Pi Valley, Eldorado National Forest, Placerville Ranger District, Simpson Gulch, Big Mountain Ridge, Middle Fork Cosumnes River, Pipi Creek, Plummer Ridge, Dogtown Creek, Steely Creek, Mckinney Creek, Leoni Meadow

Last Known Status

Temporarily Closed (due to damage caused by the 2021 Caldor Fire)

This part of the Eldorado National Forest offers a network of mostly motorcycle-only woods trails of a wide range of difficulty. The trails have lots of tree roots and whoops, switchback climbs, water crossings, and rock beds. It can be pretty dusty in the summer, but when the conditions are right, these trails are epic!

The main staging area is simple, but shady and pleasant, with a few campsites, restrooms, and a map kiosk. Last time we checked there was still no fee for camping or riding. PiPi Campground is just down the road, which offers 51 sites overlooking a creek. There is no direct offroad access from PiPi campground, so unless bikes are street legal, you will have to trailer out each day to ride.

If you are looking for a weekend trip with a more aggressive group, this is a very good choice. (You can find some easier scenic trails just down the road at Gold Note.)

Trail Map... Nearby ATV Trails...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	CA OHMVR stickers required
Dates Open	April 1 - December 31	CA OHMVR red sticker vehicles permitted year round
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	Yes	Residents of any state not listed must purchase a Nonresident OHV Use Permit. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)	CA OHMVR noise limits apply (1985/older limit 101 dB, 1986/newer limit 96 dB)
Whip Flags	Not Required
Maximum Vehicle Width
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Permitted	CA OHMVR stickers required
ATVs	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated forest service roads
UTV & SXS	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated forest service roads
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Some Areas	permitted on designated forest service roads
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated forest service roads
2 Stroke Engines	No Restriction	CA OHMVR restrictions apply
MX Helmet Required	Yes	helmets required by state law
Camping	No Restriction	(camp anywhere)
Campfires	Some Areas	(permitted in developed campsites only)
Night Riding	Yes	Not Recommended
Trail Blazing	Prohibited	vehicles must stay on trail
Alcohol	No Restriction
Rule Enforcement	Few/Periodic

TERRAIN

Approx Size	19,200 acres (30 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	69
Climate Type	Forest
Elevation	3200 to 5800 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Marked, Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	Mostly
Hard Pack	Little
Sand	None
Mud	Little
Dust	All
Rocks	Some
Trees	All
Steep Hills	Some
Water Crossings	Few
Small Jumps	Few
Large Jumps	None
Berms	Some
Sand/Gravel Pits	None
Single Track	Many
Roads	Few
Intersections	Some
Rider Traffic	Some
Shade	All
Ranges/Gunfire	None
Hazards	Few	(hazards not marked) steep hills, sharp cutbacks and big boulders
Novice	Little
Amateur	Some
Expert	Mostly

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails

Land	National Forest

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	1-5 Miles (SE)	Cooks Station (209) 295-2244
Diesel	5-20 Miles (SW)	Amador Gas Station (209) 295-4444
Water	1-5 Miles (S)	PiPi Campground
RV Hookup	5-20 Miles (SW)	Pine Acres Resort RV Park (209) 296-4650
RV Disposal	1-5 Miles (S)	PiPi Campground
Campground	1-5 Miles (S)	PiPi Campground
Conv Store	1-5 Miles (SE)	Cooks Station (209) 295-2244

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	(None)
Riding	(None)
Camping	Yes Tent: $25.00 RV: $25.00 Addtl. Vehicle: $0.00 Pi-Pi Campground Fee
Comment	No camping fee charged at Five Corners or Elkins Flats.

RATINGS

Pros	free, lots of trails, decent camping, shady
Cons	dusty, parts of trail are whooped out, patches of loose rock
Our Rating	Very Good
Recommended Stay	3-5 Days Spring
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

Pioneer, CA

Address

Omo Ranch Road, Pioneer, CA 95666

Trail Map

From: South Lake Tahoe, CA
1) Take Hwy 89 South to Hwy 88 West
2) Continue west on Hwy 88 about 44 miles
3) Turn right (north) onto Omo Ranch Road, continue .8 miles
4) Turn right (north) onto NF-10N83 (North-South Road), continue 3.7 miles toward Five Corners Staging Area

For Elkins Staging Area:
5) Continue north past Five Corners Staging Area 3.9 miles (veer left at fork at Pipi Campground)
6) Staging Area will be on your immediate left (south).

OFFICIAL CONTACTS

Contact Info

Eldorado National Forest - Placerville Ranger District
4260 Eight Mile Road
Camino, CA 95709
(530) 644-2324
mailroom_r5_eldorado@fs.fed.us
www.fs.usda.gov