Help me with my (off-road) Proposal...

I'm proposing to my girlfriend this weekend and am looking for a beautiful place to do it.

I just purchased a 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro and am looking to do it at a beautiful view/scenic overlook off of an off-roading trail in California.

I live in Los Angeles and am willing to drive up to 6-8 hours Friday, do a the trail Saturday/propose, come home Sunday (doesn't have to be that far though...)


I've been searching/googling my ass off but am a little overwhelmed and would love some suggestions from experienced people.


The Ask: Please recommend a great trail that a novice off-roader can do in a stock Tacoma TRD Pro with a scenic place I can stop and propose (pictures would be greatly appreciated).

Notes:
- The ocean or a lake would be greatly appreciated, but in general something beautiful is the goal.
- Am a television producer and will report back with a nice photo/video of experience.
- Thank you ahead of time for your support/help in making this extra special!

 

West Camino Cielo, overlooking Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands.

Edit: No photos offhand, sorry! But it is gorgeous up there. Nothing too difficult for a stock truck. Many places with excellent pull-offs and beautiful views. On the crest of the coast range. You'll travel from San Marcos pass on the eastern side to Refugio Canyon on the west side. It's probably ~2 hours non-stop in a stocker, more if you enjoy it.

 

@Hobbs

 

@Twizted @OneGiraffe

 

With almost the entire state on fire right now, I'm not sure where to suggest anyway...

 

So you're saying head to the ocean, check

 

To be honest, if there's a place that I can pull up on the beach (I see that Oceano dunes/pismo beach is closed) I would be just fine with that too.

 

I see no one has warned you "don't do it!" yet

 

I'd warn him, but someone already tagged mine in here.........

 

Forever is a long time.

 

It's too late, I've had this ring for too long and is becoming more impossible to hide it in our 811sqft apartment lol.

 

Most everything within the SoCal area this time of year (especially with this heat wave and fires in the area) isn't going to be all that pretty or enjoyable IMO.

If it were me, I would make the 5 - 6 hour drive east and head to the lower/eastern Sierras...the Mammoth Lakes area. Tons of offroading trails around there and it's still beautiful and relatively cool this time of year. Or the Sequoias/Kings Canyon area of the Sierras which is a little closer. Couple hours east of Bakersfield

 

Should kept it in your truck in the sunglasses holder! Oh....

 

OP, you’ll be camping, right?

 

Congratulations, dude...

Too late?! Nonsense. Sell that ring. It’s probably worth more now than when you bought it.

 

If you have to stay closer then I would head north of LA county and look for camping spots in the Los Padres national forest. Not gonna be that cool weather-wise but it's a much less crowded area than the Angeles or San Bernardino forest areas, which attract people from all over LA and OC counties.

Can't ever go wrong with the Big Sur coastline either, some good easy trails around that area too.

 

Camino Cielo is actually a great choice. Refugio Road is maybe .5 hours west of Santa Barabara on 101. You can drop into Solvang/Santa Ynez and take the 154 back to the 101. Beautiful country!!

 

+1 for Big sur

 

Mammoth you say?




Stop saying it. lol