Deer Valley

4/5 (12 reviews)
High in the Stanislaus and Eldorado National Forest, between Lake Alpine and Blue Lakes, is one of northern California's great mountain season 4x4 trails, Deer Valley. Continuous rock crawling, numerous camping opportunities, beautiful mountain views, dense forest, two creek crossings, and a high mo... Read More
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Highlights of Deer Valley

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Overland Category Icon Overland
Rock Category Icon Rock
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Water Category Icon Water
Highest Elevation
8076 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
06/15 - 11/15
Best Direction
North
Official Trail Name
8N02 / 19E01 / Deer Valley 4WD Trail
Nearest Town
Bear Valley
Nearest Services
Bear Valley
Management Agency
Stanislaus National Forest / Eldorado National Forest
District
Calaveras Ranger District / Amador Ranger District

Overview

High in the Stanislaus and Eldorado National Forest, between Lake Alpine and Blue Lakes, is one of northern California's great mountain season 4x4 trails, Deer Valley. Continuous rock crawling, numerous camping opportunities, beautiful mountain views, dense forest, two creek crossings, and a high mountain meadow make up the Deer Valley Four Wheel Drive Trail. Starting at the Hermit Valley Campground, Deer Valley travels through a narrow section of forest surrounded by the Mokelumne Wilderness before reaching Lower Blue Lake at the north end. This rough, rocky trail is best enjoyed by more experienced wheelers in modified rigs traveling south to north, but stock 4x4s looking for a challenge can give this trail a try from the north entrance.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
20 Waypoints
62 Trail Photos
5 Trail Concerns
12 Community Reviews
1 Video
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