Mammoth Bar OHV Area

Mammoth Bar OHV Area sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, part of the larger Auburn State Recreation Area along the North Fork of the American River. The OHV section covers roughly 1,200 acres of the canyon's north rim, with over 30 miles of designated singletrack and fire-road trails plus two dedicated motocross tracks built into the natural terrain. Mammoth Bar is one of the few public-land facilities in California that combines a true motocross experience with hundreds of miles of legal trail riding inside a single permit area.

Two motocross tracks separate riders by displacement. The smaller track is dedicated to 90cc and under, giving 50cc, 65cc, and 85cc riders their own space without competing for line choice with full-size bikes. The main track serves 90cc-plus, with a layout that uses the rolling foothill terrain rather than fighting it. Soil is hardpack with decomposed granite, the typical Sierra foothill mix, which sets up firm in the morning, breaks in mid-day, and gets technical in the afternoon. Watering trucks run during peak season events.

Operating days are seasonally adjusted. From October 15 through April 15, the motocross tracks are open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. From April 16 through October 14, the schedule narrows to Friday and Saturday only, because Sacramento Valley summer heat and resulting fire risk push trail use to the cooler shoulder seasons. The trail system itself stays open year-round, weather permitting, and is the main draw for dual-sport, enduro, and ATV riders. The California Enduro Series runs an annual race weekend at Mammoth Bar that draws hundreds of riders from across the western U.S.

Day-use fee is $10 per vehicle. Every rider needs a current California OHV Green Sticker registration, which applies to all California state OHV facilities. Dry camping is permitted in designated areas, with no RV hookups but with restroom blocks and water available. The property is administered by California State Parks under the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division.

Access is via Highway 49 and Mammoth Bar Road, about 10 minutes from downtown Auburn and a quick drive off Interstate 80 for riders coming from Sacramento, Reno, or the Bay Area. For anyone searching for motocross tracks in Northern California, OHV riding near Sacramento, or dirt bike trails in the Sierra foothills, Mammoth Bar is the single-permit answer that covers both motocross and trail riding. The seasonal restrictions are managed by the State Parks system to protect the terrain during the wettest and the hottest months, and the schedule is published on the Auburn State Recreation Area page on parks.ca.gov.