Sierra Nevada Adventures Rating System

SNA on-road and OFF-ROAD guided ADVENTURE tours are DESIGNED for lightweight, middleweight, to heavyweight dual-sport ADVENTURE motorcycles with two-track dirt roads (no single-track). Lightweight dual-sport motorcycles are welcome on SNA rides and training classes. Please review the Event Details per ride for fuel range requirements.

OFF-ROAD Dirt Roads - two-track remote dirt roads (no single-track trails)

Easy Dirt Roads: Maintained remote dirt/gravel roads with loose marble-sized gravel to golf ball-sized rocks, minimal potholes, minimal mudholes, pinecones, pine needles, and minimal forest debris, and roughly 3" to 6" deep creek crossings with sweeping turns and gradual grade change.

Mild Dirt Roads: Occasionally maintained remote dirt roads with occasional scattered golf ball to baseball size rocks, rocky stair steps roughly 1" to 2" in height, mild potholes, mild mudholes, sticks, mild forest debris, and roughly 6” to 9” deep creek crossings with curvy turns and mild grade change.

Moderate Dirt Roads: Rarely maintained remote dirt roads with scattered baseball to softball-sized rocks, rocky stair steps roughly 2" to 4" in height, moderate potholes, moderate mudholes, branches, moderate forest debris, and roughly 9” to 12” deep creek crossings with twisty turns and moderate grade change.

Moderately Challenging Off-Road: Poorly maintained remote dirt roads with soft-ball to baby-head sized rocks, rocky stair steps roughly 4” to 6” in height, medium potholes, medium mudholes, medium branches, medium forest debris, and roughly 12” to 15” deep creek crossings with curvy-twisty turns and medium grade change. Desert rides encounter passable medium sections with silty-sand conditions. (No deep dune-type sand)

Challenging Dirt Roads: Unmaintained remote dirt roads with baby-head to soccer-ball-sized rocks, rocky stair steps roughly 6" to 8" in height, large potholes, large mudholes, large branches, scattered forest debris, and roughly 15” to 18” deep creek crossings with tight-twisty turns and steep grade change. Desert rides encounter passable sections with challenging sand conditions. (No deep dune-type sand)

Difficult Rocky / Dirt Roads: Unmaintained remote rocky / dirt roads with soccer ball to basketball size rocks, rocky stair steps roughly 8" to 10" in height, large potholes, large mudholes, large branches, scattered forest debris, and roughly 18” to 21” deep creek crossings with tight-twisty turns and steep grade change. Desert rides encounter difficult sections with soft-sand conditions.

ON-ROAD Paved Roads - two-lane and single-lane roads (no freeways)

National Park Roads: National Park scenic byway roads are exceptional scenic, natural, cultural, recreational, and/or historic roads through National Parks.

Highway Roads: Desert roads and Eastern Sierra roads, typically two-lane straight roads and occasionally sweeping curves, including roller-coaster style whoops with scenic, wide-open scenery.

Scenic Byways: Mountain passes and coastal roads, typically two-lane curvy roads and occasionally single-lane curvy roads with spectacular alpine scenery or coastal scenery.

Curvy Back Roads: Foothill roads and Forest roads, typically two-lane curvy roads, occasionally single-lane curvy roads with scenic rolling hills and wooded forest land.

Twisty Back Roads: Canyon roads and Forest roads, typically two-lane twisty roads, occasionally single-lane twisty roads through steep river canyons and deep forest land.

Goat Roads: Forest roads and Foothill roads, single-lane twisty-curvy roads with patched pavement, potholes, pinecones, and pine needles, through remote forests and foothills.

Note:

• Wet, muddy conditions will add another level of challenge to each category.
• Less than (650cc) lightweight dual-sport motorcycles are welcome.
• Two-up passengers are Not allowed unless specified in the Event Details.
• Rides listed as Difficult are not for beginners.

Tires for On-Road / Off-Road: (650cc-950cc) to (1000cc-1250cc+)

• 90/10 - 80/20 adventure tires for rides rated easy to mild off-road terrain.
• 70/30 - 60/40 adventure tires for rides rated moderate to challenging off-road terrain.
• 60/40 - 50/50 adventure tires for rides rated challenging to difficult off-road terrain.