Prairie City SVRA

Notice: Park open every day of the year, except for Wednesdays.
Portions of the park may fall under a wet weather closure (WWC) during the winter rains. All user groups will still have a portion of their designated areas to recreate.
 
Park closes to public riding for several special event competitions. Check social media and/or call before you haul, (916) 985-7378. You can also visit the park's Event Calendar.
 
MX Practice Track is fully groomed each Wednesday (weather and staff permitting), and lightly groomed on Saturdays with watering as needed throughout the week. The track may be temporarily closed at times, untl grooming can be performed.

 

 

Welcome to Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area!

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The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division is seeking your input on the Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area Road and Trail Management Plan. Please visit the project website for additional information at Prairie City SVRA Road and Trail Management Plan.

Draft Plan is Ready for Review

California State Parks has prepared a Draft Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) with Appendices for Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area that is now available for public review and feedback. The Draft RTMP proposes new trails in areas that have previously been closed to the public, designating different trails for different use types to reduce potential conflicts and improve safety, new camping facilities at selected staging areas, and other changes to improve the experience and protect natural and cultural resources at the park.

Public Workshop #2

A second workshop was held at the Environmental Training Center located within the Prairie City SVRA at 13300 White Rock Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

A video of the workshop presentation can be found here: https://youtu.be/HJd5uQfkgOY

A copy of the presentation can be found here: Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area Road & Trail Management Plan

A copy of the Public Workshop #2 summary can be found here: View the PDF document

Visiting Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area

Prairie City is situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and three miles south of U.S. 50. The area offers off-highway vehicle enthusiasts a variety of interesting terrain and trails for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and 4-wheel drive vehicles. There are flat, open grasslands, rolling hills with native blue oak trees, and acres of cobbled mine tailings left after gold dredges combed ancient river beds in search of gold during the late 1800s. Beginners, as well as experts, find a variety of terrain both challenging and enjoyable.

Prairie City SVRA takes its name from the gold rush community that was located just northeast of the present-day park. Today, the only reminders of that 1850s community are some old mine tailings and a historical marker, California Historical Landmark #464, which is located at the intersection of Prairie City Road and U.S. 50.

Aerojet General Corporation purchased the southern portion of this property in the early 1960s to build and test rocket engines for the U.S. Government. No actual rocket testing took place after Congress cut program funding. Remnants of the park's space-age past include a test pit south of the present day-use staging area and a dome-shaped building known as the "moon room" located next to the park office.

OHV imageIn 1972, Roy and Mary McGill leased 435 acres of the present park site from Aerojet General Corporation and created a motorcycle riding and competition facility called McGills Cycle Park. Sacramento County purchased the area in 1975 with the assistance of the State Off-Highway Vehicle Grants Program. An additional 401 acres was purchased in 1976 with State Off-Highway Vehicle Funds, bringing the total acreage to 836. Sacramento County managed the park until July 1988 when the operation was turned over to the Off-Highway Vehicle Division of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Today, a wide range of birds and other wildlife reside in the area. The open grasslands attract golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and an occasional prairie falcon. Oak trees and brushy areas provide shelter for quail, wild turkeys, and pheasants. Lewis' woodpeckers, acorn woodpeckers, and northern flickers can often be seen on the blue oaks. Deer are often seen in the morning or evening hours when they come out to graze, and coyotes are also seen occasionally.

Recreational Land Management
Providing long-term sustained OHV recreation opportunity is a top priority in SVRA Management. Provisions in California law require actions to stabilize soils and to provide for healthy wildlife populations in OHV recreation areas. Sites exist throughout the SVRA which have become eroded. There are projects ongoing to stabilize eroded areas by reshaping slopes, and by reseeding and replanting bare areas. Vegetation creates wildlife habitat while plant roots help stabilize the soil. Project areas are temporarily closed to OHV use through the use of barriers, such as fences, hay bales, brush piles and signing. Where possible, well designed OHV trails are immediately provided through project areas. Other project areas may be closed for a number of years before being again opened for OHV use. Your understanding and support in staying out of areas closed for restoration help ensure OHV recreation opportunities for years to come.

PCIG Public Quarterly Meetings

Environmental Training Center (ETC)
Next Meeting - Tuesday, March 12, 2024

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Meeting Agenda

Quarterly meetings are held to provide the public with information on current park projects and developments. An agenda is provided prior to the meeting and time allotted at the end for public comment. For more information, email prairie_city@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 985-1093.
Prairie City Improvement Group Meeting Details 

Wet Weather Closure (WWC) Information

A Wet Weather Closure policy and process was implemented on January 17, 2023 WWC Posted Order. Recommendations for closures will be provided to the Sector Manager by a Prairie City Staff Team, on a daily basis.

wet trail conditions

dry trail conditions

Factors considered include seasonal precipitation totals, soil type, soil saturation/condition, presence of standing water, safety, and the imminent weather forecast.

View zoned portions of the park subject to wet weather closures here. During closures, Zones 1 & 2 remain open, while portions of Zones 3 & 4 are closed. For instance, the 4x4 Obstacle Area (in Zone 4) will remain open while the 4x4 Track & Open Area (in Zone 4) is closed. For instance, the Main Staging Area, MX and ATV practice tracks will remain open, while Spectator Hill down to Oak Hill MX Trail Area will be closed.

Closure notifications are provided via electronic sign board at the main entrance kiosk and posted on Prairie City SVRAs Facebook and Instagram pages. Visitors may also call ahead to the entrance kiosk at (916) 985-7378.

Details and procedures of the policy may change in the future based on monitoring and observations during implementation in the field. View detailed information of this management policy at WWC Policy & Process

Current and Recent Projects

Zone 3 West Erosion Control Project

Zone 3 West Erosion Control Project - Temporary Closure Underway! Image with project area map 

The purpose of the Zone 3 West Erosion Control Project is to improve rider safety and environmental conditions that are linked to soil erosion. The Project is located in a motorcycle and ATV riding area viewable from Main Staging (when looking east past the MX and ATV practice tracks).

Prior to the Project, soils in this area were eroding during windy conditions, rain events and off-highway vehicle use. This meant that during the dry season, dusty conditions limited sight distance for riders and diminished air quality. During the rainy season, stormwater run-off from this area contributed to temporary road closures and inaccessible trails due to flooding. Both situations reduced recreational opportunities.

This project is addressing those issues by reintroducing stormwater controls, improving trail tread, and restoring native vegetation.

 Project schedule overview flow chart. Box 1 - Project planning, September 2023. Box 2 - Environmental Review, September to Mid-October 2023. Box 3 - Construction, October to November 2023. Box 4 - Monitoring, December 2023 to 2024. Box 5 - Completion, November 2024

 

Project construction will be divided into two phases. The first phase beginning in October 2023 will consist of earthwork to support soil stabilization and trail improvements, installing erosion control features and building temporary fencing. The second phase will commence in November and will involve hydroseeding the site. Site monitoring will continue through 2024 and the project will be deemed complete once vegetation is established in late Fall of 2024.

To ensure public safety, some trail areas will be temporarily closed while construction activities are under way. Trail closures will be short in duration.

For additional information, contact the Prairie City SVRA Public Kiosk at 916-985-7378.

NOTICE! Intermediate MX Track in Progress.

2024 Update-INTERMEDIATE MX TRACK PROJECT DESCRIPTION.

view of track construction toward water tankview of track cinstruction towards bleechers

Additional Visitor Services
  • All Star Karting LLC (Go-Kart Race Track)
  • Armstrong Racing, LLC (Motocross race track operation)

Safe and Responsible OHV Operation

Safe and responsible OHV operation starts with proper training. The OHMVR Division has partnered with the Specialty Vehicle Institute of AmericaRecreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to provide Free ATV, ROV and dirt bike training. Each of the following SVRAs has at least one approved ATV training range and may have ranges for dirt bikes and/or ROVs as well:


For more information about OHV training, please refer to the following web pages.