Southern California (OC) trails for someone new to offroading

Just got my first truck, TRD OR 4x4, and am looking to take her out and get her dirty for the first time. Can anyone give me some good beginner spots to break it in? It's all stock right now so don't want to take on anything too much. Any spots near the OC area, or even San Diego would be ideal.

 

Holy jym, Indian Truck Trail, Ocotillo Wells,

 

Holy Jim is the OC offroading play ground! super fun when it rains and there is lots of mud.

 

Gonna head up to Gorman and do Hungry Valley tomorrow if anyone else wants to join.

 

Definitely next time!!!

 

Welcome to TW!

Check out this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheelers-anonymous.425646/page-187#post-12749801

A lot of us southern California guys use it to organize meet ups at least a couple times a month, several of us are headed to Cleghorn out in San Bernardino this Saturday morning

 

Awesome, I'll definitely have to check that out. Thanks!

Would love to go but I'll be working unfortunately. Next time for sure

Sweet, I used to take my dirtbike up to Cleghorn years ago. Might have to try and get in on this depending if I go to San Diego or not.

 

How difficult are these places? Sadly everything is going to be stock on my truck for quite a while until I pay more of it off and can save for all the upgrades. Never been wheelin' before, but I definitely want to get out soon! I have all next week off and would love to go to an easy place by myself and not have to worry about getting stuck somewhere

 

Right on, be sure to chime in on that thread if you're planning on going so we can be sure we meet up with everyone at the staging area before we hit the trail

No worries, I'm all stock too as far as off-roading mods go. You've got the TRD OR package with the rear diff lock so you'll be fine hitting up most moderate to moderately difficult trails out here, the thing you want to watch out for the most is damage to your rocker panels from not having rock sliders on. I don't have any yet either (ordered them and they're currently being made) so I'll be avoiding anything too crazy this weekend myself.

 

Right on. A coworker has a decked out Jeep, so I think we're going to make a trip out to Holy Jim next week on Wednesday just to get some dirt on my truck. I'll definitely post up on that thread though if I'm able to make it this weekend, I subd for future trips as well. Can't wait to get out there!

 

Looks like me and a friend are going to Holy Jim on Wednesday. You have any suggestions on good spots to go for it?

 

All the places I mentioned above can be run with stock suspension. As for Holy Jim, you just have to truck through it and experience it. It's a dirt turn road off of Live Oak if i remember correctly. There's a small r/c plane runway on the right side of the road a little ways in, a fire station way back and some cool hiking trails too. There's usually a lot of cars by the Firehouse because thats where the hiking is. I've seen tons of small cars (civic's, saturns) that make it back there although i would never try it in those cars. locker/ 4x4 not required for this trail. But the best time to go is during/after a good rain......mud makes it better

 

Main Divide off Ortega is scenic but not very technical. There are some play spots off Maple Springs if the gate is open.

 

Indian truck trail is pretty cool / scenic. Did it in my Ratpor but it's a very easy and long trail. If the gate is open, you can start in Blackstar Canyon and it dumps you out down by Temecula

 

I was actually looking at main divide last night a bit. I might just hold off on holy Jim and there until a big rain comes in.

I'll look in to those as well. Might go with the Indian truck trail then. Long and easy sounds pretty nice. Thanks for the suggestions

 

When you get more comfortable with your truck, Barstow to Vegas is a fun adventure too!

 

Will have to check that out. I've got a free trip to Vegas I've got to use by the end of October so I'll definitely have to learn quick so I can hit that on the way out!

 

Big Bear...make a day of it.

You can run 3N16 from Lake Arrowhead east, all the way to Baldwin Lake. Very scenic, 4x4~stock friendly. Stop for lunch at The Hangman's Tree and check out the mining history in the surrounding area. Finish the day with a stop at Get The Burger for one of their Director's.

Another fun run is sand to snow...15 north to the 243 east, then Rattlesnake Canyon Trail (sand) to 2N02, which leads to 3N03 (potential for snow) and a really cool drive. Trail head to trail head there are a few options too, running from Pioneertown (another cool area to visit) directly through Burns Canyon (skips Rattlesnake Canyon) and up the gut of 2N02 (skipping the turn to 3N03) and up to Baldwin Lake area in east Big Bear.

Just a few local mountain options for a cool day trip and some scenic wheeling!

 

Im already in Vegas but I'd be interested in that trip if we had a good group

 

Big Bear has tons of awesome off road trails too. I will be there this weekend testing the Taco!