Beginner trails near Santa Clarita?

Drinkwater is not, too many steep hills. Rowher is 2wd friendly if you stick to the fire roads but the Rowher 4x4 trail has some very steep hills that I wouldn't go near in 2wd

Gorman is good for 2wd because it's just miles and miles of mostly fire roads that you can do the 'go fast' stuff on, but the Rangers will ticket people if you go too fast

 

https://funtreks.com/product/guide-california-backroads-4-wheel-drive-trails/

Great trail companion, highly recommended.

 

Been out of town all month, but I'm down for the next trip!

 

I went up around Little Tajunga the other weekend. My prior advice was bad. All the gates eastward were locked. I found about 30 miles of dirt roads west of the fire camp but there really isn't anything challenging even for 2WD--other than being super narrow and pin-stripey. And all the roads down to Santa Clarity or Sylmar are locked at the far end, so the only way out is the way you came. Sorry folks.

 

yeah most of the trails in the San Gabriel mountains are closed and have been for the last 10 years....the Rincon Truck Trail and the Santa Clara Divide used to be really fun/awesome 2WD friendly (mostly) trails that you could take all through those mountains and explore all day, but the Forest service shut them down to the public after one too many mishaps and from people leaving tons of trash around, I bet.

In the SCV you pretty much have Rowher, Drinkwater Flats and Gorman up the 5 freeway. All 3 are big parks/trails and a lot of fun, but they do get old after you've done each of them a dozen times. Big Bear is where the other "close" fun trails are at, or Cleghorn/Pilot Rock and all the fire roads out that way. Some really gnarly 4x4 trails around there too if that's your bag.