MAD RIVER
Off-road trail near Hayfork, California · Six Rivers National Forest
Hiking Biking Mountain biking 4x4 / Jeep E-bikes
Trail conditions
No recent reports. Been out today? Tap what you saw.
Today at the trail
Getting there
No parking, restrooms or water are mapped at the start yet. Check before you go.
Trail start coordinates: 40.18378, -123.24896
Trail facts
- Open to
- Hiking, Biking, 4x4 / Jeep, E-bikes
- Shape
- One way
- Elevation
- 2,844 to 2,873 ft
- Ride time
- 5 min by bike
- Surface
- Native material
- Typical grade
- TG03 - +8-10%
- Managed by
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Trail number
- 12W41
- County
- Trinity County, California
California ATV and dirt bike rules
- Registration
- Yes. Green or red sticker from DMV for CA residents. Red sticker machines limited to open seasons.
- Visiting from out of state
- Yes. Non-Resident OHV Use Permit $30 if home state has no OHV registration program. Sold online and by vendors.
- Trail pass
- None beyond sticker or permit. SVRAs charge day-use fees.
- Helmets
- All ATV operators and passengers on public land must wear a helmet.
- Young riders
- Under 14 must be supervised by a parent or authorized adult. Under 18 needs ATV safety certificate to ride unsupervised.
- Safety course
- ATV Safety Certificate for riders under 18 (or the supervising adult for under 14).
- UTVs / side-by-sides
- ROV rules differ, check OHMVR. Helmet and seat belts apply.
- Good to know
- $30 price from the 2025-2026 permit order form.
Source: CA State Parks OHMVR Division, CA DMV, checked 2026-11-06. Rules change, so check the agency link before you ride.
Can I bring my dog?
We don't have dog rules for this trail yet. Check with the national forest office before you go.
Reviews and photos
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell other visitors how it was and whether dogs are allowed.
Camping nearby
- Bailey Canyon Campground 13 mi away · Directions
- Fir Cove Campground 14 mi away · Directions · Reserve
- Green Springs Campground 22 mi away · Directions
Federal campgrounds from Recreation.gov. Check dates and fees before you go.
Nearby trails
- SECRET 0.0 mi long
- SECRET GULCH 0.1 mi long
- LOW MOUNTAIN 0.3 mi long
- Blaken Road Spur E 1.6 mi long
- Double A Road Spur A 0.8 mi long
- CLOVER GULCH 2.5 mi long
More trails
Common questions
- How long is MAD RIVER?
- MAD RIVER is about 0.1 miles long, or about 0.1 miles out and back, based on mapped trail data.
- How much elevation gain is on MAD RIVER?
- About 29 feet of climbing out and back. The trail runs between 2,844 and 2,873 feet above sea level.
- How long does it take to hike MAD RIVER?
- Plan on about 5 min at an easy pace for the round trip, counting time for the climbs. Fast hikers will be quicker, and families with kids slower.
- Are dogs allowed on MAD RIVER?
- We don't have dog rules for this trail yet. Check with the national forest office before you go.
- What can you do on MAD RIVER?
- MAD RIVER is open to hiking, biking, 4x4 / Jeep and E-bikes, according to USDA Forest Service trail data.
- Where does MAD RIVER start?
- One end of the mapped trail is at 40.18378, -123.24896. Use the Directions button to get there.
Source: USDA Forest Service trail data. Elevation from USGS data via AWS Terrain Tiles. Times are estimates. Length and route come from mapped data and may differ from signs on the ground. Always check for closures before you go.