How to quickly find dirt roads, easy hack on Google Maps

Finding dirt roads in unfamiliar areas...here's a quick and easy way to do it in Google Maps
You can use this on your phone, tablet or computer, quick and easy, once you know where the dirt roads are, then make a route and save the KML file and transfer it to a GPX to go on your GPS...easy
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[@teddgram]

This is so stupid simple, I can't believe I didn't see this right in front of my face. Brilliant. Thank you.

[@MrEtnorb]

Here in Australia I sometimes work out a track in Basecamp, assuming some of it is dirt then transfer it to Google Earth. Then it can be quickly reviewed. Often you find that the track runs through private properties even though it is designated as a public road and if you magnify it you can see fence lines and cattle grids you have to pass through and often there will be a locked gate there. On rides we sometimes get to a point to see the dreaded Private Property sign, which I believe some owners place to deter “annoying” dirt bike riders even though the maps show it as a through road.

[@coobye]

I'm hearing you. It seems to be getting more common here in Oz. Ninety percent of the time it's a bluff but it works lol. Don't you hate it when you get to it and have to make a decision on whether to just on through.

[@adamusher]

Way up North a few years back the problem was not so much locked gates, but a lack of any signage on properties that the gazetted road passed through. I got detoured on one property owners wood cutting track, and he drove up to find me. It was the most well defined track on the property, because he used it every day. He reckoned if I kept following it I stood a chance of never finding my way back out as the track went in all kinds of directions with intersections and off shoots everywhere. Although he did advise me that a Chinese company had bought the neighboring properties and locked everything, his advice was to cut the locks and fuck the Chinese. A bit impractical.

[@SirMo]

I was using this method to find some dirt roads where I can practice when I get a bike in FL. I found one potential road 30 minutes from my house using back roads, but will have to check it out, because it might be private property. However by exploring the map I also found a motorcycle training school near me I didn't know existed. So it's a score either way! Thanks!

[@miker7851]

Coincidentally I'm using this same technique right now to plan a route around the outer and inner banks of NC. The biggest problem I'm having though is telling what is public or private. If there are gates I'll avoid it but not always that obvious.

[@doc650adventures]

Man, you are going to love the Outer Banks of NC!! I did it last year (June 2022) and it was awesome! If you are looking for some off-road areas, the Croatan National Forest has lots of gravel and dirt access roads across it and there is the Back Swamp OHV area (sand and mud). Another cool thing is riding on the ferrys with a bike. They will wave you up ahead of the cars and then put you in the back due to how small of a space you take up! One mistake I made was not allotting enough time to fully explore and enjoy the ride through the area. There is so much to see including riding up HWY 12 on Ocracoke Island. Hope your trip is awesome! Cheers!

[@davidsteinhour5562]

Another good tip in the USA is to look for mining claims on the US Geological Survey. If there was a mine, you can bet there's a path to it. It also tells the age of the claim so you can guess at conditions.

[@marklerfald]

Thanks Paul. To make sure I understand your process, you follow Google’s blue, paved route until the road ends, and then look for a unpaved dirt liaison section towards your destination? Thanks again.

[@mart7404]

Good advice and I will use it in the future. There are spots where the Google car does venture down dirt roads, but likely few.

[@jeffmiddleton2100]

Great tip Paul! Nice way to plan out an all-dirt route

[@kevinafflack]

Great tip! I find a lot of good routes also by using walking directions.

[@strategicspence]

Great tip, thanks Paul! Never seen this before

[@bens_gone_nomad5299]

That’s super helpful cheers mate

[@richardcripps318]

thats a wicked insight. cheers

[@derekzimmer6335]

Great insights! Thank you!

[@sporty05]

Thank you very much!

[@doc650adventures]

Great info Paul! Thank you!

[@stephenmergner9888]

Apparently the entire state of Ohio is paved… google maps does give up at times but for no logical reason on a paved road. I’ll keep looking though

[@kevinuploadingwhatever]

Thank you

[@vic321344]

Your system works much better in US than in europe.

[@Mike318Ohio]

Is there a setting to avoid unpaved roads.

[@mj6463]

Thanks man good info!

[@RogierYou]

Thank you!!!

[@kristjanpiirsalu6594]

Use OsmAnd and choose "unpaved roads" from the settings. Much easyer.

[@FredoPlayz]

Can’t find it on the mobile app

[@MarmiteTheDog]

The Google car goes down pretty much all the dirt roads where I live

[@doloritax65]

So useful!

[@chamade166]

Riding in the US is a bit boring in my experience. Grid road pattern, less curves. Roads evolved more organically over hundreds/thousands of years in Europe…and they tend to include artifacts such as ancient architecture.

[@russellstokke6888]

Depends where you are. California has excellent riding roads, thousands of mile. Just 20 miles south of San Francisco you can easily string together 100+ mile loops of nothing but twisties.

[@sv650nyc7]

Not if you are in a mountaineous area and not on a highway. It's a huge country with plenty of natural areas that have amazing roads, but yes, you have to look for them.

[@mmaaddict78]

It's definitely boring in the midwest until you hit the mountains. I live in the Appalachians, and the riding here is fantastic. Tail of the Dragon is not far from me.

[@richmartin7738]

Brilliant! Thx

[@xpayleskill]

If you do that in France you'll find private or forbidden roads only

[@DalevanderMerwe]

This doesn't work for South Africa seems Google Drove the dirt roads

[@dokie8848]

He claims it works 7 or 8 out of 10......which is probably accurate. Plenty of roads in Western Colorado where this method does not work.