Northern California Rover Club

Northern California Rover Club - Trail Rating

All events that NCRC hold are now graded using a simple 4-tier rating system.

The NCRC trail rating system uses as a baseline the viewpoint of someone that has done minimal off-highway driving and that drives a capable but relatively stock Land Rover. This means that if this description fits you, you can follow these ratings closely and if you have done considerable off-highway driving you can assume that each level will be that much easier for you.

Easy:

Trails rated easy often cover the most basic of routes, including fire roads or scenic trails. Stock vehicles will find trails rated easy to be without significant challenge. Trails rated easy will require little use of 4-Wheel drive capabilities and only the most basic off-highway driving skills. Trail characteristics may include graded dirt, washouts, shallow water crossings, passable mud, gentle grades, and small ruts and rocks. The potential for vehicle damage on trails rated easy is low in most situations.

Medium:

Trails rated medium begin to get a bit more challenging. Stock vehicles will find trails rated medium to be a little more difficult. Trails rated medium will begin to require more use of 4-Wheel drive capabilities and a little more advanced off-highway driving skills. Trail characteristics may include moderate grades, deeper water crossings, considerable mud, rock sizes (if present) exceeding hub height, and/or sharper uphill and side hill angles. The potential for vehicle damage on trails rated medium is moderate in most situations.

Difficult:

Trails rated difficult are considered challenging off-highway routes. Stock vehicles will find trails rated difficult to be nearly impassable. Trails rated difficult will require significant use of 4-Wheel drive capabilities along with advanced off-highway driving skills. Trail characteristics may include significant rocks and ruts, sheer shelves and drop-offs, deep mud bog conditions, water crossings with strong currents, and/or steep grades and side hills appoaching 30 degrees or more. The potential for vehicle damage on trails rated difficult is high in most situations.

Extremely Difficult:

Trails rated extremely difficult are the most challenging and difficult, often dangerous, off-highway routes. Stock vehicles will find trails rated extremely difficult totally impassable. Trails rated extremely difficult will demand signifiant 4-Wheel drive capabilities and significantly advanved off-highway driving skills. Trail characteristics may include severe rock and ruts, dangerous shelves, impassable mud, deep water crossings, and/or steep grades and side hills well over 30 degrees. The potential for vehicle damage on trails rated extemely difficult is very high in most situations.