California Off-Road Trails

5S09 - San Jacinto Ridge is in the San Bernardino National Forest. It is a beautiful 10 mile forestry truck trail on the western slope of the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild. The nearly 3000 foot elevation change provides a wide variety of flora and fauna to enjoy, from the desert scrub to the pine forests, the ground squirrels to the tree squirrels, deer and more! The North Fork of the San Jacinto River crosses this truck trail and is a perfect spot for a picnic. Only in Southern California can one go off-roading in the mountains and surf at the local beaches in the same day.

From the high desert to the alpine zone of the Inyo National Forest, Coyote Valley Road - 7S10 is one of the most diverse trails you will find. The trail starts on a dirt road which makes its way up through a desert canyon. At the end of the canyon the road starts an ascent for the next six miles. Between the thick pinion pines some of the best views of Bishop and the Round Valley can be found as you climb. As the trail starts to level out, you find yourself at the start of Coyote Flats. Here you can find creeks and sporadic groves of aspens and pine trees. Additional trails, hiking, fishing and dispersed camping can all be found up here. Some trails go as high as 11,000 ft, so this is a great place to visit in the summer.

Odessa Canyon is the flagship of offroad trails in the Calico area near Barstow, California. Comprised of many challenging obstacles with no bypasses, this extreme 4x4 jeep trail makes you earn your trip to the top. Odessa also provides great views of the area. But be ready. This trail has a 7-foot waterfall, an extremely narrow rollover spot you must see to believe, and a super tight off-camber canyon. With all these challenges, don't be surprised if the trail wreaks havoc on your vehicle.

Easy for an experienced wheeler but, maybe, difficult for a first-time offroader, Monache Meadows is a beautiful outdoor playground high in the mountains of the Sequoia and Inyo National Forests. The wide-open meadows, sand dunes, multiple water crossings over the south fork of the Kern River, and remote outdoor camping locations make Monache Meadows, also known as Kennedy Meadows, a unique overland destination.

3N31Y Upper Lytle Creek Divide lies entirely within the San Bernardino National Forest and straddles the Upper Lytle Creek Ridge, offering east and west views. Many locations along the way offer views of the foot-worn Pacific Crest Trail, which closely parallels the road and intersects at the road's highest elevation near Gobbler's Knob.

Upper Lytle Creek Divide offers a pleasant escape from the metropolis with views of the majestic San Gabrial Mountains to the west and the Cajon Pass to the east. There are beautiful vistas all along the way, dominated in the west by the 10,000' granite top of Mt San Antonio and the 9500 feet peak of Mt. Harwood, while below can be seen the jumbled boulders that make up Lytle Creek. To the east is an expansive view of Cajon Pass hosting Interstate 15, bolstered by the 5400' Cajon Mountain Range.

The road is well maintained, excellent for novice off-roaders looking to get their wheels dirty, and, with the views, a perfect road for all driving skill levels. Your dog can also enjoy the trail when kept on a leash.

Lockwood Creek Trail delivers a full day of classic Southern California mountain wheeling from the very first mile. The route launches you straight into the backcountry with a creek crossing, sustained climbs, and sweeping views of the Los Padres National Forest that only get better as you gain elevation. This is the kind of trail that feels adventurous from start to finish, combining steady technical driving with dramatic ridgeline exposure and wide open scenery. Making that perfect mix of challenge and scenery that makes a trail memorable.

Adding to the character of the trail is its unique history. Originally part of the historic Miller Jeep Trail, Lockwood Creek Trail was rerouted in the early 2000s. The original alignment once followed Lockwood Creek all the way to what is now marked as Miller Jeep Trail. Over time, trail signs were quietly updated, which still sparks friendly debates among off-roaders about which trail they are actually on. No matter what you call it, Lockwood Creek Trail offers an exciting, scenic, and rewarding mountain off-road experience.

Arroyo Seco Del Diablo cuts right through the Carrizo Badlands. The walls of mud and rock change with every whisp of wind, raindrop, and earth shift, causing the canyon to change constantly. The trail is a unique and new experience every time you drive it. Combine this with Arroyo Tapiado or Diablo Drop Off for an entire weekend of overlanding in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Nicknamed California's Grand Canyon, Font's Point is one of the most popular destinations in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The Point has incredible views of the iconic Borrego Badlands, a 15 by 20-mile topographical wonder. Font's Point looks down into the maze of hills and arroyos that makes up the badland. At one time, the badlands were all under a sea. Sunsets at Font's Point are famous and a must-do for those spending time in Anza-Borrego.

Grapevine Canyon was one of the historic routes into Borrego Valley before SR-78 was completed in the 1930's. Even before it was used as a horse and wagon trail by settlers and miners, Grapevine Canyon was home to the Kumeyaay Indians, and their artifacts can still be found in the area. Today, Grapevine Canyon provides a fun off-road trail either on its own or as a leg of an overland expedition through the desert Southwest. The trail also serves as a grand entrance route into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, starting from S-22 outside Anza-Borrego and descending into the heart of the park near Tamarisk Grove Campground. A smattering of historic sites dot the trail, including Yaqui Well, a historic year-round seep that native peoples and desert travelers have used for centuries. The area around Yaqui Well is also known for attracting numerous and diverse bird species, making it an excellent spot for bird watching.

Tucked deep in the pine-covered hills of Holcomb Valley, The Squeeze Trail or 3N07A is a short but thrilling offroad adventure that combines rugged terrain, alpine beauty, and heart-pounding excitement. Twisting and winding beneath the jagged granite spires of the Big Bear Pinnacles, this route offers more than just a drive. It delivers a front-row seat to some of the most striking geology in the San Bernardino Mountains. These towering rock formations pierce the skyline, making the area a favorite for climbers and photographers chasing golden-hour light. The sense of wilderness here is real and raw, with sweeping views, thick tree cover, and a feeling of remoteness that adds to the adventure.

But the real showstopper is the trail’s namesake obstacle at Coyote Crag. Known simply as The Squeeze, this narrow rock corridor tests both your driving skills and your nerve. Threading your rig between two massive boulders with barely enough room to spare will get your pulse racing. One wrong move and you’re adding new trail scars to your rig. Fold in your mirrors, trust your spotter, and take a deep breath. This is the moment that makes the trail unforgettable.

Smarts Ranch Road travels through an interesting mix of Pine and Joshua trees, providing several locations along the way for camping, hanging a hammock, or just pulling over into a clearing and enjoying the quiet forest solitude. The last three miles at the southeastern end of the trail provide a driving challenge over rough, exposed rock outcroppings for those wanting to test their offroad driving skills.

2N93 Wildhorse Meadow is in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest, southeast of Big Bear Lake. This trail has designated camping, with two yellow post sites on 2N93F Wildhorse. Also on this trail is a designated shooting site at 2N93G Lightning Gulch. It's obvious where Wildhorse Meadow gets its name when you drive between Waypoints 7 and 10. The meadow is lush green, bordered by pine, oak, cedar, and elm. Bring your family, picnic lunch, and camera for a day of 4WD offroad fun.

Cougar Buttes is one of the great off-road areas of Southern California that has yet to be discovered by the main stream off-road community. Just minutes from Big Bear and Johnson Valley, this small area is easy to miss with its few rock pile hills, it almost looks like it could be someone's backyard. But don't let this fool you, Cougar Buttes has everything Johnson Valley has but in a much smaller and more accessible area. Everything from high speed sandy roads to some of the most extreme rock crawling and Jeeping in all of the United States. Whether you are into rock crawling, some 4x4'ing, pre-running dirt roads, overlanding, or simply just want to take a short vacation. Cougar Buttes should be your place on your next trip.