The Great American Outback Trail
Updated: Mar 9
The 2,400 Great American Outback Trail is was designed to be the most remote overland track in the lower 48. Showcasing the history and geological wonders of the northern Great Basin desert and eastern Cascades, the 2,400 mile long GAOT is sure to be a hit among history and nature buffs. The horizon seems to go on forever in this big country, and trillions of stars scatter across a night sky that is dark as ink.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Dakar Trip Length: 2,400 miles total. Refer to the individual segments below for mileage and trip times. Season: Most of the route can be traveled from summer to mid-fall, but please refer to the specific recommendations for each of the 4 segments below.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Technical Rating: Please refer to the individual segments for this info. Terrain: The track contains approximately 2,000 miles of dirt, with some connecting pavement. Detailed terrain information is available for each individual segment.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Much of the route can be traveled in an AWD crossover with AT tires, but if you intend to drive the entire route we recommend a stock 4x4 with AT tires.
Recommended Moto: Refer to the specific segment recommendations. Some segments are suitable for both mid-weight and big adventure bikes, while others a mid-weight bike is recommended for rougher trails.
Adventure Vans: Some segments are suitable for a Sprinter 4x4, while others are not. Refer to specific segments for more info.
Discovery Points
The combined four segments of the route contains 324 waypoints, including 163 Discovery Points. Please visit the GPX Download page for discovery points.
Permits & Papers
n/a
Route Details
Segment 1: The Modoc Plateau & Eastern Cascades
Trip Lengthy & Season
Trip Length: 583 miles, 5-10 days
Season: The best time to travel segment 1 is typically from September to October, as a means of avoiding the high desert heat in sections like Fort Rock (often in the 90s during summer). Cresting the Warner Mountains is the main seasonal barrier with segment 1, as snow can persist into early July some years. Generally speaking, this segment can be traveled from June to early November, but check be sure to check snowpack conditions in the Warners and around Paulina Lakes.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2
Peak Technical Rating: 3
Typical Terrain: Well maintained dirt forest roads, graded dirt and gravel roads (expect some washboards along the way), some secondary forest roads (tend to be bumpier and narrower), and a minimal amount of connecting pavement.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: AWD Crossover w/ AT tires.
Recommended Moto: Mid-weight and big adventure bikes should have no problems on this segment, but be forewarned, there are some muddy/swampy sections through Modoc National Forest (Fairchild Swamp area), especially when traveling earlier in the season. Big bikes may enjoy the Swamp Wells Road alternative reroute, instead of the narrow and winding road 7710 that circumvents Newberry Volcanic NM (we still recommend visiting Paulina Peak).
Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are good to go on this segment. If you're not a fan of narrow and windy roads, you may wish to skip road 9710 that circumvents Newberry Volcanic National Monument. We still recommend visiting Paulina Peak, but use Swamp Wells Road to skip road 9710 (see alternative routes).
Fuel, Provisions and Recommended Gear
Fuel: 215 miles from the gas station outside of Alturas to Dorris, 160 miles from Klamath Falls to Fort Rock. Provisions: Refueling on provisions shouldn't be an issue as there are multiple stores/markets along the route. The locations of various markets along the route has been included in the gpx file for subscribers. Gear: No specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.
Camping Recommendations
Segment 1 is filled with a wealth of great places to camp. Some of our favorite places along this segment include:
The Warner Mountains west of Fort Bidwell
Medicine Lake
Modoc National Forest, tons of great spots from Timber Mountain Lookout to Little Glass Mountain
Hole in the Ground Crater
Cabin Lake Abandoned Work Cente
Alternative Routes
Swamp Wells Road This track is recommended for Sprinter 4x4s and big ADV bikes that may wish to skip the undulating, tight and windy track that is road 9710. We still recommend making the out-and-back trip to Paulina Peak!
The official start of the Great American Outback Trail begins in the historic pioneer town of Cedarville, California. The first part of segment 1 traces much of the Modoc Backcountry Discovery Trail. After burning the pavement to Fort Bidwell, the route climbs into the oft-overlooked but incredibly wild and scenic, Warner Mountains. The Warners are an 85-mile long subrange within the greater Basin and Range province. The mountains create a formidable barrier between the Modoc Plateau in the west, and the Great Basin Desert to the east. Despite the rather barren and dry landscape of Surprise Valley (where Fort Bidwell and Cedarville sit), the Warners are filled with pine, lush meadows, and an abundance of wild flowers. Once you crest the Warners and make your way past Goose Lake, you're now entering the Modoc Plateau, an area with a violent volcanic past in the not so distance past. The Modoc Plateau is also home to a sizable population of wild mustangs that roam the Devil's Garden area. The landscape in the plateau tends to be dry, filled with grass, volcanic rock, and drought resistant flora like juniper. Interesting enough, there are a number of swamping sections in the Modoc Plateau, including Fairchild swamp. As you travel west, the route eventually climbs in elevation as it makes its way up to Medicine Lake, which sits in the crater of the Medicine Lake Shield Volcano and is the largest volcano by volume within the Cascade volcanic arc. Before making your way Medicine Lake, we highly recommend making the out-and-back trip to Cave Loop at Lava Beds National Monument. Cave Loop features 18 lava tubes varying in size from the size of a small apartment, to absolutely massive lava caves that extend hundreds of feet underground. Medicine Lake is a popular camping area, and the mountains in this portion of Modoc National Forest are filled with evergreens, lava flows, and lots of volcanic glass, better known as obsidian. From here, the route heads north through the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, which is a series of wetlands that are used by large populations of migratory birds. The track passes into Oregon and through the historic industrial town of Klamath Falls. As you make your way into Fremont-Winema National Forest, there are some fantastic views of Upper Klamath Lake and Mt McLoughlin to the east. The section through Fremont-Winema NF is mostly forested, filled with ponderosa pine and fir. The best views along this segment can be had atop Bald Mountain Lookout, which does entail a short hike when the gate to the lookout is closed. As you descend from the highlands around Bald Mountain, you enter the sage brush ocean of Oregon's high desert. Fort Rock, a massive 300 foot tall volcanic tuff ring rises about from the surrounding prairie is definitely worth visiting. A couple of miles away in"town", you'll come across the Fort Rock Homestead Village & Museum, which we also recommend stopping by. Heading north, you'll soon make your way back into the mixed pine and juniper forest that is prevalent around the Bend and central Oregon region. You'll split off the main forest road and begin making your way up and over the summit to Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Highlights in this section include Paulina Lakes and the impressive views atop Paulina Peak. From here, the route continues north along a windy secondary dirt forest road that brings you across a massive lava flow and down to highway 97, with additional stops at the Lava Cave, Lava Lands Visitor Center, and through old town Bend where segment 1 concludes.
Segment 2: Hart Mountain, Steens Mountain & the Alvord Desert
Trip Lengthy & Season
Trip Length: 663 miles, 6-12 days
Season: Segment 2 can typically be travelled from June through November, but the best time to travel segment 1 is typically from mid-September to early November. Snow on Steens Mountain Loop may persist into early summer and arrive in early fall.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain: Well maintained dirt forest roads, graded dirt and gravel roads (some sections have significant amounts washboard sections), some secondary BLM roads including rougher two tracks, and a minimal amount of connecting pavement.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: 4x4 w/ AT tires.
Recommended Moto: Both mid-weight and large adventure bikes should be able to handle segment 2, but we recommend a a more agile mid-weight bike to deal with some of the bumpier doubletrack trails.
Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are good to go on this segment.
Fuel, Provisions and Recommended Gear
Fuel: Bend to Plush 180 miles (option to refuel earlier with detour to Christmas Valley), Plush to Fields 180 miles, Fields to Crane 170 miles, Crane to Harper 110 miles Provisions: Refueling on provisions shouldn't be an issue as there are multiple stores/markets along the route. Locations of markets along the route has been included for subscribers. Gear: No specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.
Camping Recommendations
There are hundreds of opportunities to disperse camp along this leg of the track. Some of our favorite places to camp include:
Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
Hart Mountain/Antelope Hot Springs
Alvord Desert Playa
Alternative Routes
n/a on this segment.
As you depart Bend and head in a southwest direction, you get the feeling that you're heading deep into the Oregon Outback, and you are! The roads to Christmas Valley are mostly wide dirt and gravel roads (with a prolonged washboard section outside of Bend), with some shorter sections of bumpier two track. The remnants of the eastern Cascades are visible as you make your way south, with numerous low elevation buttes visible on the western horizon. The Christmas Valley sand dunes are a popular recreation site for off roaders, dirt bikers, UTVs, and overlanders. Be sure to check out the Lost Forest on your way to the dunes. More adventurous folks may wish to drive to Fossil Lake at the east end of the massive dune field. Passing the old SuperDARN radar site, the track makes a beeline towards Lake Albert. The track makes its way over the hill into the Warner Valley just north of Plush, Oregon. If you've got some time to explore, we recommend checking out the Glass House just south of Hart Lake (marked on the GPX track for subscribers). As you climb up the mountain into the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, be sure to stop and take in the views at the Warner Valley Overlook. Not far from the overlook you'll find the Hart Mountain visitor center, which is also worth visiting. If you're looking to camp in the area, you'll want to check out Hart Mountain Hot Springs Campground. Just next to the campground sits the exquisite Antelope hot springs. The hot springs are surrounded by a stone wall which provides shelter from wind, and a concrete platform and metal ladder make this one of our favorite hot springs! Hart Mountain and Steens Mountain are effectively mirrors of one another, that are separate by a 25-mile wide fault-block. Where Steens Mountain drops precipitously to the Alvord Desert on its eastern flanks, Hart Mountain drops off on its western facing blanks. Between the two, sits a large low lying valley, where the fault-block lies. As you make your way towards the impressive Steens Mountain, you'll need to cross Flook Lake. When the lake is covered in water or wet (it's super easy to get stuck in these dry lake beds when they're muddy), be sure to follow the GPX track around the banks of the lake, as opposed to the main road that goes straight through the center of the lake. Just north of Flook Lake you'll follow a series of wide and well maintained dirt roads all the way to the pavement of Frenchglen Highway (highway 205).
The Steens Mountain Loop is certainly one of the highlights of segment, but forewarned, snow can persist at the top of Steens Mountain in July. At 9,738 feet, the views atop Steens Mountain could be called impressive, but that just wouldn't justify how awesome these views are. Some of the best viewpoints include Kiger Gorge Overlook, one of several rugged canyons that were carved by glaciers. Kiger Gorge is a u-shaped canyon that's over 2,000 feet deep and over a mile wide. The east rim overlook provides fantastic views of the Alvord Desert playa and 360 degree views of northern Great Basin Desert. From Steens Mountain, the track descends back to the highway and heads south, effectively wrapping around the southern end of the Steens and into the Alvord Desert. The Alvord is Oregon's answer to Nevada's Black Rock Desert. While the desert playa may not be as large as the Black Rock, the dark red volcanic cliffs and ridge lines of Steens Mountain creates a stark and mesmerizing backdrop against the Alvord playa. Like the Black Rock playa, you may also drive on the Alvord playa, just be sure to avoid the lakebed if any moisture or mud is present. From the playa, continue north on the gravel of Fields-Denio Road. Just before reaching Ten Cent Lake, head up into the mountains via bumpy and rocky doubletrack that is Burnt Flat Road. Once you reach the first major intersection, the road becomes much better maintained. Interesting sites along this leg of the trek include Riddle Mountain Lookout, Pete French Round Barn, Diamond Craters natural area, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center overlooking Malheur lake. The final portion of segment 2 passes through the tiny hamlet of Crane, which affords opportunities to refuel and resupply. If you're a hot spring connoisseur, we highly recommend paying a visit to Crystal Crane Hot Springs resort just west of "town". From Crane you'll follow a series of wide dirt and gravel roads to the town of Vale, Oregon, which will act as your gateway to the Owyhee Canyonlands.
Segment 3: The Owyhee Canyonlands, Snake River Plain, and Jarbidge
Trip Lengthy & Season
Trip Length: 681 miles, 6-10 days
Season: Segment 3 can typically be travelled from June through early November, but snow at Bear Creek Summit above Jarbidge can persist into July (take the alternative route Snow Reroute around the pass if the snow becomes impassable). The recommended time of year to travel this segment is September - early November.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain: Well maintained dirt forest roads, graded dirt and gravel roads, some secondary BLM roads including rougher and off camber doubletrack, and a minimal amount of connecting pavement.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: 4x4 w/ AT tires.
Recommended Moto: Both mid-weight and large adventure bikes should be able to handle segment 3, but we recommend a a more agile mid-weight bike to deal with some of the bumpier trails through the Owyhee Canyonlands. We recommend big bikes take the Succor Creek Road alternative route, and continue straight on Succor Creek when meeting the main track, but definitely visit Leslie Gulch!
Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are good for the vast majority of the track. Some of the roads through the Owyhee Canyonlands may bit a bit bumpy/rugged. We recommend that Sprinter 4x4s take the Succor Creek Road alternative route, and continue straight on Succor Creek when meeting the main track, but definitely visit Leslie Gulch!
Fuel, Provisions and Recommended Gear
Fuel: Vale to Jordan Valley 155 miles, Jordan Valley to Bruneau 115 miles, Jarbidge to Owyhee NV 115 miles (take Sagecrest Dr/Hwy 225 north for 14 miles). Provisions: Refueling on provisions shouldn't be an issue as there are multiple stores/markets along the route. Locations of markets along the route has been included for subscribers. Gear: No specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.
Camping Recommendations
The Owyhee Canyonlands and Jarbidge Mountains provide some of the best places to camp along segment 3. One of our favorite places to camp is Three Fingers Gulch in the Owyhees.
Alternative Routes
Succor Creek Road This alternative route is recommended for both Big Adventure Bikes and Sprinter 4x4s. We recommend continuing straight on Succor Creek Road upon meeting the main track, given the rugged and off camber nature of many of the secondary BLM trails the track follows.
Snow Reroute The 21 mile snow reroute should be used early or late in the season when snowdrifts make Bear Creek Summit Impassable. Buck Creek Divide This track is recommended for 4x4s, but mid-weight ADV bikes may wish to take on this trail as well. The track follows a series of exposed ridgelines providing some of the best views of the Matterhorn and surrounding Jarbidge Mountains.
Segment 3 presents a diverse array of landscapes across the northern Great Basin Desert and Snake River Plain. Just east of Vale runs the Owyhee River, separating Oregon and Idaho. The Owyhees are a vast land of rolling hills and canyonlands covering over 2 million across southeastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, and northern Nevada. From just outside of Vale, the track follows along the river banks of the Owyhee, until the track leaves the pavement and heads up into the highlands via Fisherman Road. Segment 3 hits some of the better known areas in the Owyhees like Leslie Gulch, Succor Creek natural area, and Three Fingers Gulch. The hills and canons are littered with miles upon miles of dirt roads and two tracks. If you're feeling adventurous and in a capable rig, go out an explore! Upon leaving the Owyhee Canyonlands, the track passes through Jordan Valley. If you've got time to explore, we recommend exploring the volcanic fields of Jordan Crater, just to the east of "town". As you cross the north fork of the Owyhee, you're now following the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway, gateway to the Snake River plain. Along the banks of the Bruneau River sits the historic village of Bruneau, an agro-town like many of the other towns, villages, and census designated places in these parts. Just downstream of town the Bruneau spills into the Snake. If you dabble in fishing or are serious about, the Snake is legendary across the entire west for its fantastic fishing opportunities. From Bruneau head south until the pavement turns to dirt. You're on your way to the most remote town in the lower 48, Jarbidge, Nevada. Originally founded as a mining town in the 1800s, aside from electricity and vehicles, not much has changed around these parts, and that's just the way the people like it! Outside of Lake Tahoe, Nevada isn't particularly known for its alpine scenery, but a drive through the rugged and incredibly wild Jarbidge Mountains will change your mind-- and the solitude, you'll feel like you own the place once you get far above town. The track makes a zig zag through the Jarbidge Mountains, showcasing this near-forgotten mountain range in all of its wonder. The track ends on the pavement, just south of the village of Mountain City-- and a city it certainly is not!
Segment 4: Northern Nevada & the Black Rock Desert
Trip Lengthy & Season
Trip Length: 681 miles, 6-12 days
Season: The best time to travel segment 4 is from September to early November. We recommend traveling during the summer months given the heat, typically in the 90s in the high desert. You may travel this route as early as mid-May (check with BLM on the gate status at High Rock Canyon, opens in May) but you may hit snow through the Santa Rosa Mountains and Hinkey Summit.
Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2
Peak Technical Rating: 4
Typical Terrain: Well maintained county and BLM roads, BLM roads with signifcant washboard sections, some rocky jeep tracks (High Rock Canyon area), a small amount of secondary BLM dirt roads, and some connecting pavement.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: 4x4 w/ AT tires.
Recommended Moto: Both mid-weight and large adventure bikes should be able to handle segment 4. Big bikes will want to avoid out-and-back track to the viewpoint above Black Rock Desert, High Rock Canyon (use Summit Lake Bypass) and portions of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. We also recommend that big ADV bikes take Soldier Meadows Road to avoid the endless bumps from Black Rock Point to Soldier Meadows. Big bikes should also use Highway 140 (see alt routes) to skip some of the bumpier trails in Sheldon Wildlife Refuge.
Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s are good for the vast majority of the track, but you'll want to skip the out-and-back trek up to the viewpoint above Black Rock Desert as well as High Rock Canyon (take the Summit Lake bypass). You may also wish to take the well graded Soldier Meadows Road if you want to avoid the endless bumps from Black Rock Point to Soldier Meadows.
Fuel, Provisions and Recommended Gear
Fuel: Owhee NV (take Sagecrest Dr/Hwy 225 north for 14 miles) to Winnemucca 235 miles (skip the Santa Rosa Mountains and it's 165 miles to Winnemucca), Winnemucca to Gerlach 100 miles, Gerlach to Denio Junction 200 miles (cut this down to 135 miles if you use Soldier Meadows Road and the Summit Lake Bypass-- see alternative routes), Denio Junction to Cedarville 140 miles. Provisions: Refueling on provisions shouldn't be an issue as there are multiple stores/markets along the route. Locations of markets along the route has been included for subscribers. Gear: A full size spare and tire patch kit is highly recommended. The areas around the Black Rock Desert are full of obsidian (especially Jungo Road and High Rock Canyon), which can be especially hard on tires.
Camping Recommendations
Some of our favorite places along segment 4 include:
Lye Creek Campground and the Santa Rosa Mountains
The microplayas near Black Rock Point
High Rock Canyon
Soldier Meadows Hot Springs
Alternative Routes
Soldier Meadows Road Use Soldier Meadows Road (a well maintained gravel road) anytime there is moisture on the Black Rock Playa. Soldier Meadows Road can also be used by big ADV bikes and Sprinter 4x4s, or anyone else who would like to avoid the slow going and endless bumps along the main track from Black Rock Point to Soldier Meadows. Summit Lake Bypass This track should be used by big ADV bikes and Sprinters as a means of avoiding the rockier trails in High Rock Canyon (Sprinter should not attempt Black Rock Canyon). This track can also be used when High Rock Canyon is closed (usually Feb to mid-May), or when the water at the creek crossing is too high for mid-weight ADV bikes.
Highway 140 This reroute is suitable for big ADV bikes, which found some of the bumpier, secondary BLM roads through Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge uncomfortable.
Segment 4 presents a cornocopia ecoregions within the northern Basin & Range province. After experiencing the alpine wonders of the Jarbidge Mountains, you've probably come to realize there's more to Nevada than endless sagebrush and barren mountains and hills, and segment 4 exemplifies the biological diversity that can exist within the desert.
We begin segment 4 on the dirt, leaving the Owyhee River and Jarbidge Mountains in our rear view. You'll be heading deep into the deserts of northern Nevada with a few quick jaunts into a few of the mountain ranges that form the Basin and Range province. The track begins by following a series of well graded dirt roads through the hills until eventually hitting the pavement of Highway 226. Not long after jumping onto the pavement, the route follows a series of dirt and gravel county roads through some of the least visited places within the state. There's not a whole lot of anything in this part of Nevada than seemingly endless wide open spaces, so be sure to prepare accordingly. As you travel westward, keep an eye out for Willow Creek reservoir on your right, one of the few landmarks/discovery points along the eastern section of segment 4. As you wrap around Jack Creek and Kelly Creek Mountains and head north, see if you can spot the absolutely masive open pit mining complex at Twin Creeks Mines. You may be wondering why we're traveling north, well it's to check out another alpine wonderland within northern Nevada, the Santa Rosa Mountains. Be sure to drive out to Lye Creek Campground as the views of Granite Peak to the south are impressive, and it's certainly not a bad place to camp either! The track snakes through the mountains cresting at Hinkey Summit before dropping down to the small village of Paradise Valley. Follow the pavement until you pass through the old industrial town of Winnemucca. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Winnemucca was a thriving center of commerce and transportation. The town served as a hub for the mining industry in the region, as well as a center for agriculture and ranching. The town also played an important role in the development of the western United States, serving as a stop for travelers, traders, and settlers moving westward. If you'd like to learn more about the history of Winnemucca and northern Nevada, we highly recommend visiting the Humboldt Museum.
From Winnemucca you'll follow the dirt and gravel of Jungo Road all the way to the Black Rock Desert. It's hard not to be awestruck upon arriving at the Black Rock Playa. Covering over 200 square miles, the Black Rock Playa is the largest dry lake bed in the United States. The track follows Jungo Road all the way to Highway 447, which leads into the small desert outpost of Gerlach. Follow the pavement that wraps around Gerlach and then use one of the access points north of Gerlach to access the playa. Upon reaching the playa, it's incredibly easy to zip across the salt flats to the large black point in the distance, which is Black Rock Point. The track traverses past a couple of microplayas and bumpy track leads to one of the best viewpoints of the Black Rock desert,-- 1,200 feet above the playa with incredible 360 degree views. Be forewarned, the main track from Black Rock Point to Soldier Meadows is very bump. If you'd like to travel at an expedited pass, consider crossing the playa to one of the access points and take Soldier Meadows Road north (one of the alternative routes). The Lassen, Applegate, and Noble's emigrant trails all passed through the Black Rock, and if you keep an eye out you may just come across one of the T-shaped markers that denote these historical trails. The track passes Soldier Meadows hot springs and heads into the incredibly scenic and rugged High Rock Canyon. The canyon is home to a number of interesting rock formations, as well as hundreds of nesting birds that make their homes in the cliff walls. Subscribers will be lucky enough to visit discovery points that lead to the old Post Office Cave and Pioneer Graffiti. Upon reaching the refurbished Stevens Camp cabin, the track begins heading east towards the Summit Lake Indian Reservation. After passing through the Summit Lake Reservation, the next destination is the Pine Forest Range-- another mountain range full of trees and bubbling brooks. Be sure to visit the out-and-back trek to Knott Creek Reservoir, which is a fantastic place to camp and features a number of off rock formations. After leaving the Pine Forest Range, you'll follow the pavement of Highway 140 until reaching Denio Junction, where you'll swing a sharp left to stay on Highway 140. From here you'll head into the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge, with the first stop at the impressive Thousand Creek Gorge. If you've got the time, we've heard there's a trail that leads into the gorge, but prepared to do a bit of bushwhacking. Much of the landscape within Sheldon Wildlife Refuge is similar to the rolling hills of sagebrush that you find upon exiting High Rock Canyon near Stevens Camp. There are a number of small dry lakebeds and microplayas in these uplands. Some can make for a great camping spot, just be wary if there's been any recent precipitation in the area, but the rains typically don't arrive until winter and spring. As you zig zag down the switchbacks below Yellow Mountain, Massacre Rim comes into view. Massacre Rim is actually a designated IDA Dark Sky Sanctuary, one of the best places for stargazing in the lower 48. From Massacre Rim, the track follows a series of county roads passing through the old ghost town of Vya, and then up and over the mountains and into Surprise Valley. Surprise Valley straddles the California-Nevada border, and perhaps as a bonus an appropriate ending to the track, the Great American Outback Trail passes through the Surprise Valley Hot Springs Resort before meeting the end of this grandiose overland track four miles later, in the same place you began, Cedarville, California.
Maps + Navigation
Download Digital Mapping Files
Great American Outback trail Segments 1-4 w/ POIs (subscribers)
Great American Outback Trail Segments 1-4 route only (for non-subscribers)
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