Ride California’s Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area

Want to spice up your dirt riding in California with a little variety?

Then try riding at the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area that is 20 miles east of Sacramento and 3 miles south of U.S. 50.

The 800-plus-acre park, operated by the Off-Highway Vehicle Division of the state Department of Parks and Recreation, offers a variety of interesting terrain and trails for ATVs, dirt bikes and four-wheel drive vehicles, plus the famed Hangtown motocross track.

What kind of terrain? Flat, open grasslands, rolling hills with oak trees and acres of cobbled mine tailings. The terrain is challenging for beginners and experts.

There are trails throughout the motorcycle/ATV area. Most of the trails are beginner- or intermediate-level trails, with only a few expert trails. The trails are two-way trails, so use caution around blind curves, and on hills and jumps. Keep to the right of the trail when possible.

All riders must wear helmets and should wear proper protective clothing. Each off-highway vehicle must have a U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrestor.

A current California off-road vehicle registration (green sticker) or highway registration is required at all times when operating bikes on public land. The red sticker season at the park runs from Oct. 1 to April 30. The park is closed on Wednesdays.

Directions: From downtown Sacramento, take Highway 50 East toward Lake Tahoe for 15 miles to Sunrise Blvd. Turn south (right) onto Sunrise to White Rock Road. Turn left on Whiterock Road.

Contact: Prairie City SVRA, 13300 White Rock Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742. Ranger station phone: (916) 985-7378. District office: (916) 985-8521. Website: https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1221.