Sierra Nevada Adventures Single Day Rides

CALIFORNIA BDR Western Sierra (1-Day Ride)

CABDR Western Sierra (Single-Day) ADVENTURE ride EXPLORES a remote (mild to moderate) OFF-ROAD section of the California Backcountry Discovery Route between scenic Ebbetts Pass and historic Carson Pass. SNA has customized this section of the CABDR route that explores through a remote forest in the Western Sierra including additional amazing (mild to moderate) OFF-ROAD routes and points of interest along this amazing Backcountry Discovery Route.

California ride is a 175-mile, route with a perfect mix of off-road and back-roads designed for adventure motorcycles. Starting in the heart of the Mother Lode this route quickly leaves civilization behind as you traverse an amazing twisty curvy back road once traveled by prospectors in search of gold. Before long you will venture into a conifer forest past cascading creeks, mountain meadows, and deep river canyons, concluding in the historic town of Jackson CA in the heart of the Mother Lode Gold Country.

CABDR Single-Day Ride (Western Sierra) is a guided adventure ride with the perfect mix of off-road and on-road adventure. You will have the luxury of exploring this rugged and remote backcountry with an experienced adventure guide known as SNA Mark, the trail scout, guide, and owner of Sierra Nevada Adventures. SNA Mark has spent a lifetime exploring every nook and cranny of this amazing backcountry region now known as the California Backcountry Discovery Route (Western Sierra). You will have the opportunity to explore remote off-road routes through miles of conifer forest and deep river canyons, gold rush sites including a historic off-road road discovered by the American Frontiersman Kit Carson. You will explore off-road two-track routes with mild to moderate terrain through conifer forests, with rugged and remote river canyons, including amazing views of a glacial carved canyon with granite domes and sheer cliffs including scenic cascading creeks. 

SNA Mark's lifetime experience exploring the Sierra Nevada backcountry spans the spectrum from the foothills to the deepest river canyons to the summit of the highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada range including a lifetime of researching and studying the amazing history of this region from Native Americans, frontiersmen, mountain men, pioneers, and prospectors from the California Gold Rush. SNA Mark has successfully guided thousands of adventure riders throughout the Sierra Nevada and beyond to the remote corners of California and several western US states since the creation of Sierra Nevada Adventures in 2007. SNA Mark's lifetime experience of exploring and wealth of historical knowledge along with his love for the mountains adds the next level of experience to ensure you have an epic adventure on the SNA CABDR Single-Day Ride (Western Sierra).

Your adventure begins in the heart of the Mother Lode in the town of Jackson CA, from this point, your journey travels on a series of back roads through the eastern gold belt and beyond. From the eastern gold region, your journey ventures deep into the forest on an amazing off-road route past old-growth trees, ferns, and forest jungle plants along the western edge of the Mokelumne Wilderness. Maybe you’ve heard of the Mokelumne Wilderness, the Mokelumne River, or Mokelumne Hill, but have wondered “How do you pronounce Mokelumne?” This unique name is pronounced: moo-ka-la-mi. The name Mokelumne means “people of the fishing nets” in Miwok and is the band of Miwok peoples that dip netted salmon on the Mokelumne River.

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada is where you’ll find the 105,165 acres of this recreational gem. Elevations range from about 3900 feet near Salt Springs Reservoir to 10,380 feet at Round Top. It’s possible to visit three national forests when you explore this Wilderness: the Stanislaus, Eldorado, and Toiyabe. Portions of this Wilderness are in Calaveras, Alpine, and Amador Counties and is bordered by State Highway 4 on the south and State Highway 88 on the north. Watersheds drain to the Mokelumne River on the west slope and the Carson River on the east slope.

The Mokelumne Wilderness is a stunningly beautiful, rugged landscape with much of the area formed by volcanic ridges and peaks. The prominent feature within this Wilderness is the jagged Mokelumne River Canyon. Many smaller streams flow through deep granitic canyons but only a few lakes are concentrated in the north. Snowcaps typically linger into June in the Round Top region to the north and on the Mokelumne Plateau to the south, while the Mokelumne River Canyon above Salt Springs Reservoir can be snow-free in the spring. The summers are generally dry and mild, with periodic afternoon thundershowers and nighttime temperatures that can get below freezing.

History in the Mokelumne Wilderness; The rugged Mokelumne River Canyon was once the home site for the last Mountain Man of the Sierra Nevada, Legendary Mountain Man Monte Wolfe, trapper, guide, and outlaw lived a lifestyle most only dream of, his legacy of tall tales and amazing adventures have been passed on through the generations. Stories of his feats of uncommon strength and endurance coupled with his ability to thrive alone in the deep winter elements of the Sierra Nevada have been told around campfires for many years. Monte Wolf's historic cabin remains in a remote location in the Mokelumne Wilderness as a testament of a rugged mountain man who lived his dream in an alpine wonderland in the rugged Sierra Nevada.