Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Calimesa, California

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 pines of the San Bernardino National Forest before dropping you in the town of Angelus Oaks. The Thomas Hunting Gr...
Learn more about Thomas Hunting Grounds

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 are plenty of places to pass along the way. Coming from Highland, the trail ends on 1n16, giving you the choi...
Learn more about Alder Creek Road - FSR 1n16

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. It makes for a great day in the mountains South of Big Bear near ...
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 roads into Big Bear. It is a narrow shelf road for most of the way, with few spots to pass. The trail starts down at ...
Learn more about Clark's Grade - FS 1N54

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 the trail, you should stay on the track to not end up in someone's driveway. Multiple water crossings are easy and not deep....
Learn more about Hill Ranch

This is a semi-maintained trail. It is primarily a route through chaparral country with dense Manzanita bushes and evidence of the past Line Fire, which required significant brush clearing. The trail has varying surface conditions with some loose gravel. It requires a high-clearance vehicle and poss...
Learn more about Siberia Creek - FS 2N97

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. Radford Truck Trail runs from the current Converse Station north up the Converse Creek dr...
Learn more about Radford Truck Trail - FS 2N06

Santa Ana Divide (FS 2N11) is a scenic forest ridgeline route just outside Big Bear Lake within the San Bernardino National Forest. The trail offers a relaxed dirt drive through tall pines with occasional openings that reveal surrounding mountain views. The route is mostly smooth and easy to follow,...
Learn more about Santa Ana Divide - FS 2N11

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 is relatively even in most spots and wide enough for two vehicle...
Learn more about Idyllwild Mountain Road

Starting at the edge of the community of Green Valley Lake, this western approach of FS 3N16 offers a lush, alpine experience markedly different from the eastern desert-transition terrain. The trail winds through dense stands of Jeffrey pine, white fir, and oak, providing a shaded and scenic drive t...
Learn more about Holcomb Valley Road (West) - FS 3N16

Kidd Creek - FS 2N86 is a short, scenic forest route winding through dense pine stands in the Big Bear backcountry just south of Big Bear Lake and near Bluff Lake. The trail offers a relaxed drive overall, with a mix of smooth dirt, light rock, and a few uneven sections that keep it interesting. Alo...
Learn more about Kidd Creek - FS 2N86

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 Forest. It connects directly with Mill Creek Road (FS 2N10) to the west and Knickerbocker Ro...
Learn more about Camp Osito - FS 2N17

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 often used as a quick dirt connector, but it’s more than just a shortcut — the trail offers a quiet d...
Learn more about Green Valley Bypass - FS 2N54

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 to the north and the 10,000-foot San Gorgonio Wilderness mountains to the south. There are...
Learn more about Radford Frontline Road - FS 104

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 connect with Mill Creek Road (FS 2N10). At about 3.7 miles in length, this dirt...
Learn more about Knickerbocker - FS 2N08

Angelus Hill is an alternative route branching off 4S06 Indian Canyon, featuring mellow terrain and scenic ridgeline riding. The trail follows a hardpack dirt road with light rutting that is shallow and unlikely to trap a tire. Riders can expect gradual hill climbs and sweeping views stretching acro...
Learn more about 4S19 Angelus Hill

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 to a fire watchtower. The trail can get narrow in spots, but most places along the way will have places to pass ...
Learn more about Butler Peak Fire Lookout - 2N13B

4S06 Indian Canyon is a mellow green-rated trail marked by a flipped scrap car spray-painted with “SoCal Off-Roading.” The route begins as a winding hardpack dirt road with light rutting before entering a shaded wooded section with overhanging trees and a single campsite along the trail. Terrain rem...
Learn more about Indian Canyon - FS 4S06

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 adventures. Located just south of Big Bear Lake, it’s the road you’ll often end up on ...
Learn more about Mill Creek - FS 2N10

Rouse Ranch is an easy green-rated trail following a mellow dirt road with gentle, winding turns. Riders are treated to expansive views of rolling green hills and relaxed terrain that make this route a good place to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Expect mostly smooth travel with occasional patches...
Learn more about Rouse Ranch

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 roads into Big Bear. It is a narrow shelf road for most of the way, with few spots to pass. The trail starts down at ...
Learn more about Clark's Grade - FS 1N54

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. Radford Truck Trail runs from the current Converse Station north up the Converse Creek dr...
Learn more about Radford Truck Trail - FS 2N06

Santa Ana Divide (FS 2N11) is a scenic forest ridgeline route just outside Big Bear Lake within the San Bernardino National Forest. The trail offers a relaxed dirt drive through tall pines with occasional openings that reveal surrounding mountain views. The route is mostly smooth and easy to follow,...
Learn more about Santa Ana Divide - FS 2N11

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 is relatively even in most spots and wide enough for two vehicle...
Learn more about Idyllwild Mountain Road

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 roads into Big Bear. It is a narrow shelf road for most of the way, with few spots to pass. The trail starts down at ...
Learn more about Clark's Grade - FS 1N54

This is a semi-maintained trail. It is primarily a route through chaparral country with dense Manzanita bushes and evidence of the past Line Fire, which required significant brush clearing. The trail has varying surface conditions with some loose gravel. It requires a high-clearance vehicle and poss...
Learn more about Siberia Creek - FS 2N97

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. Radford Truck Trail runs from the current Converse Station north up the Converse Creek dr...
Learn more about Radford Truck Trail - FS 2N06

Santa Ana Divide (FS 2N11) is a scenic forest ridgeline route just outside Big Bear Lake within the San Bernardino National Forest. The trail offers a relaxed dirt drive through tall pines with occasional openings that reveal surrounding mountain views. The route is mostly smooth and easy to follow,...
Learn more about Santa Ana Divide - FS 2N11