Rating The Nastiest Sierra Roads

[maverick]

These 4 are some of nastiest roads in Sierra, all on the eastside! If you have driven
them before please rate them on a scale 1-5, 5 being the worst, 1 the easiest.
Add in any other roads that you believe should be included in this list.

Taboose Pass: 3
Shepherd Pass: 3
Goodale Creek: 5+ (this road should not even be considered unless one has a 4
wheel drive, high clearance vehicle, and know how to drive on such terrain, nasty, nasty!)
Red Lake: 3-4

[sparky]

Goodale creek Road was interesting. Don't even attempt to use it unless you are looking for a long off road adventure.

I have ridden along on some wild roads around bishop and mammoth, but we were 4 wheeling in a fully built jeep....on purpose! I really don't know exactly what roads we were on but it was pretty extreme. The vehicle makes all the difference.

I have gone on some rides in off road desert cars/sand rails. I went for a ride in an 800 HP desert car with a driver that was out of his mind. The more you begged him to slow down the faster he went I wont do that again.

We used to run up Bee Canyon road into San Bernardino National Forest all the time. Similar to Goodale creek in rockyness, but toss in sheer drops on the sides, and tweakers hanging out @ turnouts. Great views and good camping at the top though.

[Rockchucker]

Wheeler ridge 4

Laurel lakes 5


Monache jeep trail 2-3


Horton lakes TH 2-3

[rlown]

I've seen vehicles stuck on the road to Leavitt Lk. probably only a 3 but a brave 3. It's been years since i've actually been there.

[Strider]

I'm just glad I walked the Dusy-Ershim trail before I tried to 4-wheel it. You barely get half way behind Courtright Reservoir and you have to drive off a 15 foot cliff.

[oldranger]

Taboose a 3? Naw just a 2. Visibility of obstacles is good. The short spur to Fernadez Pass TH is worse because it is semi paved with gaping potholes that I thought was going to swallow up Tehipte Tom's little Honda.

Length plus traffic makes road between Kaiser Pass and Edison and Florence the most scary for me, but easily negotiated with Prius.

Mike

[The hermit]

Just getting to the sierra is the hardest part for me, but I agree Kaiser pass road is my fav.I wish I had a rig that could tackle the ershim-dusy trail.
P.S.Where does the bear diversion dam road rank?

[Big Ed]

I'm just glad I walked the Dusy-Ershim trail before I tried to 4-wheel it. You barely get half way behind Courtright Reservoir and you have to drive off a 15 foot cliff.

I've been through Dusy Ershim 12 times,3 times on foot(Southbound),3 times driving and the rest riding with someone. I don't recall a 15 foot cliff anywhere on the trail. Dusy Ershim would be rated the hardest for sure if you're comparing it to "roads". Breakage is common on the trail.

This is Thompson Hill(about 10 miles in from the pavement).

[takotruckin]

Just getting to the sierra is the hardest part for me, but I agree Kaiser pass road is my fav.I wish I had a rig that could tackle the ershim-dusy trail.
P.S.Where does the bear diversion dam road rank?

Bear diversion dam is easy. A stock 4x4 wouldn't have any problem as long as the driver was careful.

[maverick]

Hi Takotruckin,

Welcome to HST, and thanks for contribution!