With so many great off-road trails in Southern California, it can be difficult to know exactly which ones are suitable for the beginner off-roader. The last thing you want is to get caught out on a trail that’s more difficult than you or your rig can handle. So if you’re new to off-roading, or want to test out the capabilities of your new rig in an easy-going environment, check out this episode of Chasing Dust.
The first trail on Matt’s list is Main Divide. Located in the Santa Ana mountains of Orange and Riverside County, Main Divide runs along the ridges of this mountain range, offering cooler air and panoramic views. It’s arguably one of the easiest accessed trails from the SoCal area, about 30-60 minutes from most locales. Main Divide is a mostly graded fire road, suitable for stock trucks and SUV’s. 4WD is recommended, but in dry conditions, 2WD high clearance vehicles can make it just fine.
Next on the list is Otay Mountain Truck Trail. Similar to Main Divide, Otay Mountain Truck Trail runs along the ridges of a mountain range in San Diego, near the Mexican border. On a clear day, you can see stunning views of the ocean, Mission Bay, downtown San Diego, and even Tijuana, Mexico. While this trail is very easy going, and mostly graded, it’s narrower than Main Divide, so use proper etiquette when passing vehicles going in the opposite direction.
Our third trail is actually a trail system in Holcomb Valley, CA, just north of Big Bear Lake. Holcomb Valley is home to a host of off-road trails, all varying in difficulty. But the main artery that runs through it is a forest service road known as 3N16, or Holcomb Valley Road. This mild, mostly flat, graded fire road offers all the benefits of a mountain trail, with cooler summer temps, pine tree forests, meadows, creek crossings, and you might even some black bears foraging the trees. Holcomb Valley has much to explore, including some historical buildings and sites remaining from a rich mining history over 100 years ago.
Trail number four on the list is Burns Canyon Road, which actually begins (or ends, depending on your direction of travel) in the Big Bear area. This trail runs in an East-West direction, from Baldwin Lake in the mountains down to Pioneertown near Joshua Tree. The diversity in wildlife and flora along this trail is incredible. The lower elevations are filled with Joshua trees and large boulders, and as you climb in elevation, you’ll start to see pinyon pines and other coniferous trees endemic to alpine forests. If you’re heading downhill, check out the world-famous Pappy and Harriet’s restaurant in Pioneertown as a great dinner spot. The steaks and drinks are highly recommended, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a famous band like The Eagles stop in for an unannounced show.
Our fifth and final trail is one you can try to test your abilities and the capability of your rig. Cleghorn Ridge OHV trail is located along I-15 in the Cajon Pass area, and quickly climbs its way into the San Bernardino Mountains. Although the trail itself is nothing more than a fire road, there are many offshoots, or bypasses, that offer a more challenging line for the brave-hearted. A word of warning: don’t try anything out of your comfort zone without a spotter, and always know where you’re going before getting there. Some of these bypasses can lead to drop-offs in places that won’t be able to back out of, and that can lead to a dangerous spot to be stuck in.
As off-roading has grown so substantially in the last several years, there are more novice wheelers out there than ever before. The best way to push yourself and figure out exactly what kind of trails you enjoy is to get out there and try your hand at a few. Use this list to get your feet wet, and push your own limits safely before tackling some of the harder, more infamous trails here in Southern California.
0:00 | Intro
3:27 | Main Divide Truck Trail
6:33 | Otay Mountain Truck Trail
8:24 | Holcomb Valley
10:22 | Burns Canyon Road
12:04 | Cleghorn Ridge OHV Trail
15:08 | Wrap up
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Just joining Matt's journey? Join DesertChief as he takes you along a bucket-list-worthy journey across 127 miles of the Mojave Road, from Barstow, California to Laughlin, Nevada: https://youtu.be/3T0T9z4Swbs