S0uthern california
While known for being a highly populated metropolitan area, there are area's to the East of Los Angeles and North of San Diego that offer plenty of outdoor land to explore!
Crossover difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Hard
Moderate
Hard
EASY
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
-County: San Bernadino
-Difficulty: Easy
-Rec. Clearence: 7"
-Challenges: May be washed out and rutted after adverse weather, otherwise, a car can drive through.
-Dispersed camping: in the Holcomb valley north of Big Bear lake.
-Nearby: Big Bear Mtn Resort and Snow Summit offer snowboarding in the Winter. Big Bear lake is there for watersport activities in the summer. Various shooting ranges.
Calico - Odessa Canyon
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
-County: San Bernadino
-Difficulty: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 7"
-Challenges: the gravel gets a little too large for many family sedans, but a crossover should be right at home. The drive is only a few miles to get to the two arches.
-Nearby: You can explore the nearby abandoned mines
Joshua Tree - Geology Tour Road
Big Bear - 3N16 - Holcomb Valley Rd.
Joshua Tree - Geology Tour Road
-County: Riverside
-Difficulty: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 7"
-Challenges: there's a section that may be too rocky for a family sedan.
-Dispersed camping: there is BLM land to the North and South of the borders of Joshua Tree National Park.
-Nearby: This trail is inside Joshua Tree National Park.
GORMAN / HUNGRY VALLEY SVRA
GORMAN / HUNGRY VALLEY SVRA
Joshua Tree - Geology Tour Road
Gorman, Los Angeles County
-Difficulty: Easy to Extreme
-Rec. Clearence: 7"+
-Challenges: there are many trails in this state vehicular recreational area. This is a great place to learn about your vehicles capabilities and limitations. Keep in mind that terrain ranges from easy to extreme, so take it slow and take your time with progression. Speed and the wrong amount of momentum can roll your vehicle.
-Dispersed camping: this is a state park, so day use is $5 and an overnight campout is $10. There are designated first come, first serve, camping areas.
-Nearby: Frazier Park
GOLETA MEADOWS
GORMAN / HUNGRY VALLEY SVRA
GOLETA MEADOWS
Borrego Springs, San Diego County
-Difficulty: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 6"
-Challenges: Most of these roads are simple dirt roads, but there are sections with deep sand. FWD family sedans and 2WD trucks do get stuck out here.
Dispersed camping: there is BLM land to the Southeast.
-Nearby: Anza Borrego
MODERATE
2N02 - Burns canyon Rd.
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
Yucca Valley / Big Bear, San Bernadino County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8.5"
-Challenges: small shelves/rocky terrain
-Dispersed Camping: very minimal. Must travel to Holcomb Valley north of Big Bear Lake.
-Nearby: Pioneer Town (ghost town) is at the South East trail head and Baldwin Lake is at the North West trail head.
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
Yermo, San Bernadino County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8.5"
-Challenges: small shelves/rocky terrain
-Dispersed Camping: Most of Calico is BLM land.
-Nearby: Afton Canyon
The Mojave Road
Calico - Mule Canyon Road
7S02 - SANTA ROSA TRUCK TRAIL
San Bernadino County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate+
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance:
8.5" for experienced or skilled
10.0" for beginners
-Distance: 130 miles
-Challenges: This is a long distance overlanding trail. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order and that you have enough provisions to survive in case something goes wrong. Bring extra fuel, excursions and offshoots will burn more fuel than expected. This trail is mostly easy, but there are AWD severe offshoots.
-Dispersed camping: this is vast BLM land with many camping opportunities.
7S02 - SANTA ROSA TRUCK TRAIL
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
7S02 - SANTA ROSA TRUCK TRAIL
Palm Springs, Riverside County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8"
-Challenges: one rocky section in the middle of the trail. The trail is narrow, so not much space to pass.
-Dispersed camping: There are yellow post sites at the top of the mountain.
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
Hemet, Riverside County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8"
-Challenges: narrow trail that stretches a mile. Oncoming traffic would be a pain to come across.
-Dispersed camping: not much
ARROYO TAPIADO MUD CAVES
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
Bee Canyon to San Jacinto Truck Trail
Anza Borrego, San Diego County
**BEWARE OF FLASH FLOODS**
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8"
-Challenges: soft sand, trail may become washed out exposing large rocks or deep ruts
-Dispersed camping: This area is BLM land, so camping possibilities are endless.
-Nearby: this trail connects to the Diablo Drop Off
Fish Creek Wash
Fish Creek Wash
Fish Creek Wash
Anza Borrego, San Diego County
**BEWARE OF FLASH FLOODS**
-Difficulty:
AWD: Moderate
4WD: Easy
-Rec. Clearance: 8"
-Challenges: soft sand, trail may become washed out exposing large rocks or deep ruts
-Dispersed camping: This area is BLM land, so camping possibilities are endless.
-Nearby: this trail connects to Sand Stone Canyon (difficult 4WD trail)
HARD+
Joshua Tree - Old Dale Rd.
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
Joshua Tree - Old Dale Rd.
Joshua Tree, Riverside County
-Difficulty: Hard
-Rec. Clearance: 10"
-Challenges: In the middle of the trail, there is a 3 mile rocky section where wheel placement and vehicle capability will be very important. Rocks are sharp and tire punctures are very likely here. The road then eases into Gold Crown road and leads to highway 62. Driving this trail from top to bottom will be easier, but just keep in mind shelves you'll be driving down can be harder to judge.
-Dispersed camping: North of mid trail is a vast area of BLM land.
Calico - Kramers Arch Loop
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
Joshua Tree - Old Dale Rd.
Yermo, San Bernadino County
-Difficulty: Hard
-Rec. Clearance: 10"
-Challenges: The road leading up to the Kramers Arch is a bit washed out and rocky. The actual Arch will cross up the axles. This obstacle is pretty much impossible for any vehicle with open differentials. Traction control will help, but it won't be a guarantee. A rear locker will help any vehicle make it up the arch with ease.
-Dispersed camping: this area is vast BLM land.
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
Crestline, San Bernadino County
**Conditions really vary**
-Difficulty:
Fire road: Easy
Offshoots: Hard / Impossible
-Rec. Clearance:
Fire road: 6 inches
Easy offshoots: 8.7 inches
Hard offshoots: Don't try it!
-Challenges: Ruts, ruts and ruts! The ruts are massive on the hard offshoots. One look at the "gate keeper" will instill fear in your heart. Do not attempt unless you have one of the more capable crossovers.
Dispersed Camping: No
Nearby: Cleghorn Rd, Silverwood Lake, Lake Arrowhead
2N47 - Cleghorn Rd.
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
2N33 - Pilot Rock Truck Trail
-County: San Bernadino
**Conditions really vary***
-Difficulty:
Fire road: Moderate
Offshoots: Hard / Impossible
-Rec. Clearance:
Fire road: 8 inches
Moderate offshoots: 9 inches
Hard offshoots: Don't try it!
-Challenges: Ruts, ruts and ruts! The ruts are massive on the hard offshoots. Do not attempt!
Dispersed Camping: No
Nearby: Pilot Rock Truck Trail, Silverwood Lake, Lake Arrowhead
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
-County: San Bernadino
**Conditions really vary***
-Difficulty:
AWD: Very Very Hard
4WD: Hard
-Rec. Clearance: 11+"
-Challenges: 1600ft. climb in 2.4 miles. This is constant uphill! This trail is rated as difficult even for a dedicated offroad vehicle: (https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/3164-3n06a-cold-water-canyon )
Towards the end of the trail, it's an uphill climb with large loose rocks, and ruts.
-Dispersed camping: Yellow Post sites
-Nearby: Lytle Creek
Berdoo Canyon Rd
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
Lytle Creek - 3N06A - Cold Water Canyon
-County: Riverside-
Difficulty:
AWD: Hard
4WD: Moderate
-Rec. Clearance: 10"
-Challenges: there's 2 sections that are rocky. The 1st section, there's a way to drive around, but you'll have a back track a little. The final obstacle is unavoidable. You climb 3000 feet over 14 miles. While it feels like a flat trail, your transmission may get into dangerous levels.
-Dispersed camping: You can camp along the trail.
-Nearby: This trail leads to Geology tour road, which then leads into the heart of Joshua Tree National Park.
Oriflamme Canyon
Oriflamme Canyon
Oriflamme Canyon
Julian, San Diego County
**Conditions really vary***
-Difficulty:
AWD: Very Hard
4WD: Hard
-Rec. Clearance: 11"
-Challenges: This trail is Sandy at the bottom and rocky on top. It's rough going and not very momentum friendly. Expect trail damage with AWD.
-Dispersed camping: In surrounding areas
Diablo Drop Off
Oriflamme Canyon
Oriflamme Canyon
Anza Borrego, San Diego County
-Difficulty:
AWD: Hard
4WD: Moderate/Hard
-Rec. Clearance: 10"
**This is a one way trail**
**Drive Down Only**
-Challenges: Rut size will vary. After the decent you enter a narrow rocky canyon.
-Dispersed camping: Yes, this is BLM land