Painted Gorge Road

4.7/5 (3 reviews)
In the desert of California is a hidden gem that many don't know about and should be on everyone's bucket list. Painted Gorge near San Diego in the hills just outside of Ocotillo off of the 8 Freeway can easily be said to be one of these bucket-list trails. The natural beauty of this trail with i... Read More
Start 7-Day Free Trial
All-Access Icon
Painted Gorge Road is an All-Access Member Only trail guide. You'll need to start a 7-Day Free Trial to see this guide.

Highlights of Painted Gorge Road

Camping Category Icon Camping
Desert Category Icon Desert
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Overland Category Icon Overland
Sand Category Icon Sand
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Wash Category Icon Wash
Highest Elevation
583 ft
Shape of Trail
Connector
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
236
Nearest Town
Ocotillo
Nearest Services
Ocotillo
Management Agency
Bureau of Land Management
District
El Centro Field Office

Overview

In the desert of California is a hidden gem that many don't know about and should be on everyone's bucket list. Painted Gorge near San Diego in the hills just outside of Ocotillo off of the 8 Freeway can easily be said to be one of these bucket-list trails. The natural beauty of this trail with its vibrant colors and unique dirt and stone formations is definitely on the list of the most beautiful trails in Southern California. The road starts out a nice graded dirt road that takes you back into the hills. As the hills begin to close in, the colors seem to come out. Now it can also be said that this trail only gets harder as you continue so it is best to understand that even though a stock 4x4 can do this trail, most people who drive 4wd vehicles might not appreciate the last section as it climbs up this spectacular shelf road up the narrow canyons to the top of Carizzo Mountain. So if you are looking for some adventure, planning your epic overland adventure, or just needing what could be the ultimate day trip, check out this trail and you won't be disappointed. There are two parts to this trail; there is the lower half that leads to camping (this one) and the upper half that climbs up the canyon. Note that the upper half is behind a gate and that gate is closed during certain parts of the year for the Longhorn Sheep breeding season.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
7 Waypoints
23 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
3 Community Reviews
1 Video
Trail Tools
App Store Icon Open in App
Gaia GPS Icon Upload to Gaia GPS
Download GPX
Directions to...
Share Trail
Print Trail

Start a 7-Day Free Trial and Unlock 5,000+ Trail Guides

3000+ Detailed Trail Guides
2000+ Member Only Scout Routes
Companion App with Offline Use
New Tracks Added Weekly
Download GPX Files and Print Guides
Access to Trail Guide Writer
What makes our Trail Guides so great?

Sign Up for Free to Get a Taste of Adventure

Free Members get 205 introductory guides to explore. Upgrade to an All-Access Membership for 5,000+ trails at your fingertips.
Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial