New to Offroading. Looking for good beginner trails in San Diego area

[WhtRubi]

I am a recent transplant to San Diego, and am new to offroading. I am looking for some good beginner trails to start with. So far, I have only done the Harrison Grade near Palomar.

I have a few trails on my list:
- Burns Canyon
- Palomar Divide
- Cleghorn Trail

I have a stock JLR and am not really looking to get into crawling (yet...), just looking for some beginner trails to explore and get more confident in my Jeeps, and my, abilities. Any suggestions of other trails I should try would be greatly appreciated!

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[John VonJeep]

Find other people to go with. You’ll learn a lot and have an extra margin of safety.

 

[Blanco Willys]

Find other people to go with. You’ll learn a lot and have an extra margin of safety.

I second this. Maybe find a Jeep club locally.

 

[GATORB8]

All trails has good lists/maps. Filter it by ORV to get rid off all the hiking and MB trails.

 

[The Fixer]

Find other people to go with. You’ll learn a lot and have an extra margin of safety.

Agreed! It's better to go with other people - you might need a spotter, or have a mechanical issue, and having friends with you will make it much easier. We're new to off-roading as well, so we've been sticking to Green trails that stock vehicles can complete. We also have to drive 2.5-3 hours each way just to go wheeling, so we're not going to attempt anything too crazy...we have to get home at the end of the day.

Out here on the East Coast there's a group called Off-Road Consulting which offers courses for beginners, more advanced wheelers, recovery, etc. I'm not sure if there is something like that out in your area, but it's worth looking into as well.

 

[aldo98229]

Cleghorn is the best for beginners: it has a main, easy wide trail that runs the entire length, with short, difficult spurs running in every direction where you can dip your toes into something more challenging if you want. And the vistas are just amazing!

Holcomb Valley, near Big Bear, is also wide and easy. The drive there and back is simply spectacular.

As mentioned above: make sure to go with another Jeep.

Good luck!

 

[aldo98229]

Here's a good shot typical of Cleghorn Mountain: you can see the main, easy trail running across the top, and a shorter, tougher spur in the middle of the photo.

 

[John VonJeep]

Here's a good shot typical of Cleghorn Mountain: you can see the main, easy trail running across the top, and a shorter, tougher spur at the bottom.

Great photo. I gotta ask: what’s the story with the Toyota in the ditch?

 

[aldo98229]

Great photo. I gotta ask: what’s the story with the Toyota in the ditch?

Sorry, I have no idea; I found the shot on the net...

Here's some of mine on Cleghorn Mountain over the years

 

[aldo98229]

OP:

1. Anza-Borrego State Park is also close to you and is very easy for the most part. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638
2. Glamis Sand Dunes (a.k.a. Imperial Sand Dunes) are due east of you; they are these gigantic sand dunes. You will need to air down so bring an air pump. https://www.blm.gov/visit/imperial-sand-dunes. You will also want to go during the week if you can; it gets busy

 

[Moto_21]

Do not go to glamis for a first time offroader. Specially by yourself. Its extreamly likely you will get stuck or lost.

 

[Russ Chung]

Chris,

Be sure to check out the San Diego 4 Wheel Drive Club
http://sd4wheel.com
It’s a great way to meet fellow Jeepers and run trails together.

AND their annual Superstition Mountain event is coming up January 14-16, 2022. Details are on their web site.

Russ

 

[JeepSmash]

Black mountain truck trail in Ramona.

 

[Echo5papa]

I am a recent transplant to San Diego, and am new to offroading. I am looking for some good beginner trails to start with. So far, I have only done the Harrison Grade near Palomar.

I have a few trails on my list:
- Burns Canyon
- Palomar Divide
- Cleghorn Trail

I have a stock JLR and am not really looking to get into crawling (yet...), just looking for some beginner trails to explore and get more confident in my Jeeps, and my, abilities. Any suggestions of other trails I should try would be greatly appreciated!

If you want another jeep to tag along, you can count me in. I'm in North County.

 

[FiveBoro]

also check out www.trailsoffroad.com

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