In November 2008, we joined a group of Polaris RZR and ATV owners for a late-season ride in California’s Eldorado National Forest. The original plan was to explore Squaw Ridge near Silver Lake, but fresh snow and a winter road closure sent us in a different direction.
That change of plans led us back toward Alder Ridge Lookout, a place I had last visited on ATVs roughly 15 or 20 years earlier. What followed was a relaxed day of exploring forest roads, playing in the first snow of the season and getting an early taste of what the original Polaris RZR could do on a trail ride.
This trip report documents conditions encountered in November 2008. Forest roads, gates, seasonal closures and OHV regulations may have changed. Consult current Eldorado National Forest maps and closure notices before planning a ride.
A November Ride With Four Polaris RZRs
Our local Polaris dealer in Placerville, California, organized monthly rides for ATV and UTV owners. Some of our neighbors had joined several of these outings and recommended them as a good way to discover new riding areas.
The timing finally worked for us in November. Our group included four original-generation Polaris RZRs and three Polaris ATVs. Considering the Polaris RZR had only entered the market for the 2008 model year, seeing four of them together on a recreational trail ride was still relatively unusual.
Snow Changes the Plan
Our original destination was Squaw Ridge near Silver Lake. A storm had moved through the area the previous night, however, and signs along Mormon Emigrant Trail warned that the road was closed 23 miles ahead.
Mormon Emigrant Trail is not maintained as a winter route, and it became apparent that enough snow had accumulated to make continuing a poor choice. We drove into the snow far enough to assess the conditions and then turned around. We were there to enjoy a trail ride, not risk an accident on a snow-covered road.
Fortunately, Mormon Emigrant Trail provides access to numerous forest roads and OHV routes. I had brought a map of the area and remembered riding near Alder Ridge Lookout many years earlier, so we decided to make that our alternate destination.
Finding Our Way to Alder Ridge
We staged near Forest Road 10N04, historically identified on maps as Houtts Road, although we did not see any signs using that name during this trip.
We missed one of our turns and continued until the route eventually brought us back to Mormon Emigrant Trail several miles from where we had parked. It was an enjoyable detour, but I still wanted to find Alder Ridge Lookout after so many years away.
Going down the wrong trail turned into another opportunity to explore.
After working our way back onto the correct route, we reached the area below the lookout. A locked gate prevented us from driving all the way to the tower, although visitors could continue on foot.
We did not make the hike on this particular trip. At the time, the Alder Ridge Lookout tower was described as a Civilian Conservation Corps structure built in 1936. Positioned at approximately 6,687 feet, the site overlooks a broad section of the South Fork American River watershed.
Snow, Lunch and an Early RZR Adventure
Several shaded sections of trail remained completely covered in snow. There was even enough for my son to build a small snowman during one of our breaks.
We stopped for lunch near the end of the vehicle-accessible route below Alder Ridge Lookout.
The combination of dirt forest roads, creek crossings, snow and changing elevations made this an ideal outing for the early RZR. It was also a reminder that an unexpected route change can sometimes produce the most memorable part of a trip.
Crossing Alder Creek and Visiting Morrison
From Alder Ridge, we continued exploring toward Morrison, a broad meadow located between Alder Ridge to the north and Iron Mountain Ridge to the south.
Crossing Alder Creek near Morrison.
Parts of Morrison are private property, while Forest Road 11N46 historically passed through the area. Riders should remain on designated routes, respect private-property boundaries and verify present-day access before attempting to follow this ride.
First Trip With the UTV Truck Rack
This outing also marked our first trip using the new UTV truck rack. Our long-travel Polaris RZR fit securely above the pickup bed and seemed right at home back there.
The elevated transport setup attracted plenty of attention on the road, but it successfully carried the RZR while leaving the truck and trailer combination more compact than a conventional UTV-hauling setup.
Alder Ridge Lookout Map and Coordinates
- Alder Ridge Lookout: 38.744169, -120.339719
- Morrison: 38.709253, -120.322914
- Topographic map: Leek Spring Hill USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle
These coordinates are provided as historical reference points from the 2008 trip—not as confirmation that every road remains open to motorized travel. Seasonal snow, wildfire damage, maintenance work and forest orders can all affect access.
Remembering an Early Polaris RZR Ride
The original Polaris RZR helped make trips like this possible by combining a compact trail-friendly footprint with significantly more recreational capability than traditional utility side-by-sides offered at the time.
Our Alder Ridge outing was not a major expedition. It was simply a day spent exploring forest roads, adapting to changing weather and enjoying an early sport side-by-side with friends and family. More than a decade later, that is precisely what makes the trip worth remembering.
Explore more destinations and trail adventures in the UTVGuide.net Trip Reports archive, or visit our Polaris UTV coverage for additional RZR history, reviews and model information.
