Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Banning, California

Beautiful trail overlooking the neighboring town of Banning and the surrounding mountains. The deserted mountainscape is chock-full of secluded camp spots with some wind cover and appears to be used for shooting occasionally. The trail…
Learn more about Idyllwild Mountain Road

This is a level 2-rated full-width road back to Highway 243. This is the fastest and safest way back up to Highway 243. The route through Bee Canyon is currently closed. 2 areas had a…
Learn more about East Indian Canyon 4S10

This is an easy trail that most stock vehicles could tackle. There are some really beautiful views, and the high point is the lookout, which gives a breathtaking view of the sunset. There are 5…
Learn more about Black Mountain Road

This well-maintained fire road takes you up to boulder basin group campsite. On the way there, you'll see some turn-outs for rock climbing and overlanding. During the winter months, trails may be impassable due to…
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San Jacinto Ridge is a two-way trail running East to West between the Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Highway (SR 243) and Bee Canyon Road (FS 5S07) in the San Bernardino National Forest. Comprised of mostly hard-pack dirt,…
Learn more about San Jacinto Ridge Trail (FS 5S09)

The Thomas Hunting Grounds Trail (1N12), often also referred to as the Morton Peak Trail, is an easy dirt road that takes you from the chaparral and shrubs of Mill Creek to the oaks and…
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This trail is an easy dirt road trail that gives access to a few Forest Service cabins, but like any trail, if it has rained recently, it can have a few deep puddles. While on…
Learn more about Hill Ranch

Rouse Hill Road is for street-legal vehicles only; no green stickers or OHV vehicles. Full-size vehicles are at home here, as the trail is a single track with plenty of room. The beginning of this…
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Rouse Hill is a ridgeline trail with tremendous west and east views. This trail is predominately hard-packed dirt with a loose top layer. It can be a bit sandy in some sections but that will…
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5S06 Idyllwild Control is a 6-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 located within the San Bernardino National Forest, San Jacinto Ranger District. 5S06 climbs from Highway 74 nearly 3,000 feet, ending at the intersection…
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A long overland trail with plenty of recreational activities such as site-specific shooting areas, yellow post campsites and creek crossings. This is a well-maintained dirt road with some minor ruts, rocks and shallow creek crossings.…
Learn more about 1N09 City Creek Trail

Clarks Grade is an off-road trail in the San Bernardino National Forest. Driving this trail is a journey back to the origins of the Big Bear Lake area since this was one of the first…
Learn more about Clark's Grade - FS 1N54

Front Line Road is in the San Bernardino National Forest just south of Big Bear Lake. It provides a casual meandering trail run alongside a shallow canyon formed by the 8,000-foot San Bernardino Mountain Range…
Learn more about Radford Frontline Road - FS 104

Closed until 12/31/24 per Forest Closure Order 05-12-52-24-02, Radford Fire Closure Area. FS 2N06 - Radford Truck Trail is a winding fire road in the San Bernardino National Forest just south of Big Bear Lake.…
Learn more about Radford Truck Trail - FS 2N06

Starting in Highland, 1n16 is a fairly easy dirt road with some parts rutted out, but any 4x4 can make it through the trail easily. Many parts of the trail are single-vehicle wide, but there…
Learn more about Alder Creek Road - FSR 1n16

Nestled within the 823,000-acre San Bernardino National Forest, Mill Creek Road (FS 2N10) is one of Big Bear's classic connector trails -- a scenic mountain route that links many of the area's most popular off-road…
Learn more about Mill Creek - FS 2N10

2N93 Wildhorse Meadow is in the San Bernardino National Forest, southeast of Big Bear Lake. This trail has designated camping, with two yellow post sites on 2N93F. It's obvious where Wildhorse Meadow gets its name…
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Running through the San Bernardino National Forest just south of Big Bear Lake, Knickerbocker Road (FS 2N08) is a scenic, easy-going forest route that follows Knickerbocker Creek up the slopes toward the high ridges that…
Learn more about Knickerbocker - FS 2N08

Running along the southern ridgeline above Big Bear Lake, Camp Osito Road (FS 2N17) is part of the broader Skyline Drive trail system, offering some of the most panoramic views in the San Bernardino National…
Learn more about Camp Osito - FS 2N17

Sand Canyon (FS 2N27) is primarily a hard-packed sand and rocky gravel road. It is an easy ride in the summer months; however, there is no winter maintenance. During times of rain, snow, and ice,…
Learn more about Sand Canyon - FS 2N27

This is mostly a graded forest road with sections of varying degrees of obstacles such as ruts, shale, and washes. You will come across pine trees to cacti. There is potential snow in the winter…
Learn more about NF 2NO1 Broom Flats

This Trail is a wide, pine-forested route with mild elevation changes and scenic views throughout. The dirt surface stays relatively smooth with occasional deep mud puddles on one side of trail after weather. Open to…
Learn more about Polique Canyon - 2N09

Gate locked Nov 1 - May 1: The typical start of this trail begins just off Highway 38 from the South, transitioning from pavement to dirt shortly after passing through a quiet residential neighborhood. A…
Learn more about Van Dusen Canyon - 3N09

Butler Peak is a beautiful trail that can be completed in about 1 hour and is a minimal difficulty trail. The trail itself is a well-traveled dirt trail that winds its way up the mountain…
Learn more about Butler Peak Fire Lookout - 2N13B

Freshly reopened after years of closure for restoration, Snow Slide Trail (FS 2N13) is once again welcoming off-road enthusiasts into one of the most scenic corners of the Big Bear area. Tucked away in the…
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During dry seasons, Blue Quartz 2N71 is a beautiful dirt road with ample tree coverage and plenty of spots to stop and enjoy the scenery. Sections of the trail allow for dispersed camping with views…
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Delamar Mountain - 3N12 is a short, beautiful trail that provides access to Holcomb Valley and its extensive network of trails. The trail features tree coverage throughout its length, with opportunities for dispersed camping and…
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Green Valley Bypass (2N54) is a short but scenic forest road that links 3N16 (Holcomb Valley Road) with 2N13 (Snow Slide Road) in the San Bernardino National Forest. At just under 2 miles long, it's…
Learn more about Green Valley Bypass - FS 2N54

Beautiful views of the valley below and mountains above. There are lots of switchbacks and about 600 feet of elevation gain in just a few miles of driving. The second half of the trail was…
Learn more about Red Mountain OHV Trail

Sleepy Hollow spur, an out-and-back trail in the San Bernardino National Forest, offers an outstanding spot to find quiet dispersed camping after a day of rough off-roading on Heartbreak Ridge and surrounding trails. A terrific…
Learn more about Sleepy Hollow