Each Sidekick Off Road Map features:
- A State Map showing where the trail is located.
-A Vicinity Map (shown online) to guide you to the area where the trail is located.
-A Detailed Topographic Map drawn to scale. The topographical map guides you through the trail or area by showing roads, 4x4 trails, creeks, washes, gates, trail difficulty ratings, camping locations and points of interest that are numbered to correspond with the Trail Guide.
-A Trail Guide describes the trail or trails through the area. Full color photos are used to help show the area.
-The General Information (shown online) section provides background on the area.
-The Statistics Section (Stats) gives all the vital information about the area. For example: costs, nearest hospital, land manager's phone number, camping information, limits, etc..
-The Off Road Tips section includes safety, equipment and driving techniques.
THIS MAP: Dusy/Ershim Map Published 1994
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The Dusy/Ershim Trail is located 77 miles northeast of Fresno, California. Mountains and lots of lakes . The heavy snows close many of the trails in the area including the Dusy/Ershim Trail during most of the year. Usually open July - September. Open to both street legal and green sticker (OHV) vehicles.
General Information
For years the Dusy/Ershim trail has been challenging those who are willing to maneuver through 32 miles of rugged mountain terrain. The trip from Courtright Reservoir to Kaiser Pass will take at least two days and most visitors stretch the trip into a 3 or 4 day excursion. Note: the trail is only open during the summer months, the exact dates depend on the snow pack each year. I recommend calling the ranger station before leaving home.
The Dusy/Ershim Trail winds through a 600 foot corridor between the Dinkey Creek Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness areas. This corridor provides the off highway enthusiast with a chance to visit remote Wilderness areas without walking very far from their vehicle. The Dusy/Ershim trail is open to motorcycles and ATVs, as well as four wheel drives. Although the trail is patrolled by volunteer host vehicles (non-rangers) the rangers periodically run the trail with quads or their specially equipped Jeeps.
Long ago the glaciers filled the surrounding valleys with ice. These glaciers scraped granite surfaces smooth while shaping the taller ones into unique forms. Evidence of the glaciers' handiwork can be found on the sides of the many domes and across the granite slabs that you will cross. Also left behind were many pockets to collect water. From topographical maps I counted over 40 lakes within one mile of the trail. However, only Lakecamp Lake and Ershim Lake are partially within the Dusy/Ershim corridor. The others can only be reached by hiking into Wilderness areas.
Most people refer to the Dusy/Ershim Trail simply as the Dusy Trail. But actually the lower section from Courtright Reservoir to just east of Black Peak is the Dusy Trail. The section of the trail from Black Peak to Kaiser Pass is called the Ershim Trail. When you're traveling on the trail, it's the same terrain. In fact, the trail is just as challenging running it backwards -- Kaiser Pass to Courtright Reservoir. Whichever way you choose to go, it will be challenging and rated as "Most Difficult."
