Trail 117 in Los Padres National Forest

Any of you locos RECENTLY try 9N21 off Cuddy Valley Road just past Lake of the Woods? And if so, did you take Trail 117 at the top? My heart and adrenaline were pumping with excitement. The pictures DO NOT do it justice. Thee steepest trail I have encountered. Driving up to the trial, I asked myself, “could that be the trail that continues (tripping out a bit, LOL)). Sure enough it was. 1st strike was I was no other rigs. Strike two, no winch. “Well, are you EVER going to wheel something like this again!?!” I parked at the left of the trail where there is a spacious turnout. I got off and started the Himalayan climb on foot scouting. “This is what dreams are made of dude!!!” Looking at the terrain. I was juiced to the extreme. Steep, loose, “shelves” made of loose rock, dips…some nasty stuff for a stock height vehicle, but a crazy bad ass challenge. Those of you with 33’s and above won’t have it as bad. But man was it steeeeep and loose. “I think I can do it.” Until I walked up further some. I could see a tree down across the trail. My better half was indeed better and said, “yeah, dream of broken parts.” Strike three. And for the better. No saw too.

Upper arrow pointing at turnout to trail 117 entrance, lower arrow pointing to campground. Beautiful country overlooking Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Lockwood Valley Road area.

 

Beautiful country and hour and small change from L.A.

 

I go deer hunting there. That short steep section is called The Wall by the locals and it's not that that bad. I've watched vehicles go up and come back down with no issues, and that includes a stock looking Tacoma and small UTV.

 

Good stuff, Thanks for the intel. The Wall, fits it perfect!!!

 

I forgot to mention, I have never been on the Miller Jeep Trail, so this would have been my MJT moment for sure.

 

Glad you got out there and got amped! I spent summers and winters up there growing up, there’s some great trails with beautiful views all around. One of my fave spots to just look at the view is the top of Frazier Mtn, accessed from the trailhead that MJT begins, make a left instead of a right at the “Y” and you’ll go to the top of Frazier Mtn. Stock trucks can make it up, there’s a couple steep spots like you mentioned, but the payoff is great, along with some fun offshoots, a couple of mines to explore, and an old abandoned fire lookout tower at the summit.

 

Yes, I was amped for sure. I realized in the past year what I enjoy wheeling the most. That’s sand, mud, and climbing steep trails.

I was planning on doing Frazier Mtn this summer, thanks for the intel. That helps a lot. Mines? That’s crazy cool.

I decided to keep the stock height when I switched over to Bilsteins. It can be a challenge sometimes. Most particularly lack of long travel.

 

Frazier mnt is awesome, spent a lot of time in that area, used to hunt up there alot, it was a great place for pine nuts. Gunna have to take a trip up there , I’m only 45min away or so

 

If any of you want to make a run on that trail sometime, let’s start a sign-up sheet! I’ll bring the modified saw, that’ll be my job

 

(Not the tree that I saw) I was just checking out the trail to see where it leads, and saw this. It’s not current, but with these trails, you never know.

 

Every tree up there is full of nuts. Great treat for sure. Haven’t been up there since last year, curious what the past season of weather did to the trail.

 

You really don’t need much of a lift or anything for these types of trails, except for MJT, but LT, nah, you don’t need any of that up there.

 

wheres that sign up sheet

 

Sweet, good stuff

 

The ball’s rolling fellas, I’m in too

And it doesn’t necessarily have to be this trail. You fellas know more than me. I’m just getting to know the area. I know Lockwood more.

All trails on the northern edge are open. All others will remain closed until August 15(?), except 9N09.

 

I’m probably going to head up there this weekend, haven’t been in a long time. I stopped going when they graded the main road up Frazier mnt, made so any type of car could get up there then all the littering low life’s trashed the place, I then moved to CO for 10 yrs now I’m back and would like to check it out

 

@Ricardo13x I see you Tocayo!

 

I’m going to guess here but do you live in Topanga?

 

I’d probably be down to go

 

Yes I do. We moved here 20 years ago, just got in before the mess. Beautiful country a stone throws away from L.A. ( that would be if one left at 5:30 in the monin’ because then it becomes several country miles, lol).

Looking south onto Fernwood. And then the critters…good stuff.