Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Escondido, California

This trail winds its way through the Cleveland Forest from Pamo Road to the Guejito Truck Trail. The trail is not very well maintained. It is very rutted. The trail takes you up and over some good hills in Pamo Valley. Parts of the trail are very scenic and beautiful.
Learn more about Orosco Ridge Truck Trail 12S02

Santa Ysabel Truck Trail is a narrow, shelf-road trail running through a section of the Cleveland National Forest in Ramona. The trail follows along Santa Ysabel Creek and offers beautiful views over the mountains, and leads to several hiking and recreation areas. The terrain along the route is rutt...
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11S03 Lusardi Truck Trail is an 11.6-mile out-and-back trail rated 3 of 10 located within the Cleveland National Forest, Trabuco Ranger District. Lusardi Truck Trail ascends the Carney Canyon between the Black Butte (west) and Black Mountain (east) to the National Forest boundary at 5.8 miles. The t...
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11S04 Black Mountain is a 10.8-mile out-and-back located in the Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District. This is a limited-use trail restricted to street-legal vehicles. The trail is rated 3 of 10 but has the potential to be worse during and right after seasonal weather and is subject to ...
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Nate Harrison Grade is a dirt backroad into Palomar Mountain State Park. This trail leads from typical Southern California scrubland scenery up to lush forests and mountain views. You'll encounter loose rocky areas and several deep ruts throughout the route. The trail is primarily non-technical, wit...
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The Palomar Divide is an easy drive with beautiful views. It is a single lane with pull-offs throughout. The majority of the trail is dirt, however, it has some old paved sections in the lower elevation portion. During the rain or snow seasons, one can expect slick conditions and should proceed with...
Learn more about Palomar Divide (9S07)

8S05 is a well-maintained service road, but you can expect large rocks, ruts, and very steep drop-offs throughout. The weather could have a significant impact on the road. Muddy conditions are likely; one should ensure their vehicle is properly equipped and use caution. This drive is great for a loc...
Learn more about 8S05 - North Palomar Mountain Road

This trail cuts through a beautiful stretch of backcountry in eastern San Diego County and passes near hiking trailheads to three different waterfalls. The loop starts and finishes on graded dirt roads and has a more serious middle section that runs high along several canyon walls above several cree...
Learn more about Cedar Creek Loop

This trail starts and ends in Banner and loops around Chariot Mountain and goes into the Oriflamme Canyon. The trail is open to all types of 4x4s and dirt bikes, although the entrance through Banner is only open to highway-legal vehicles as that entrance is only accessible by the highway. You will e...
Learn more about Oriflamme Canyon Loop

The trail is mainly hard-packed dirt and some sand once in the canyon. This trail passes through private property and has signs around the area, so just be respectful when driving through the first 4 miles of the northern section of the trail. The rest of the trail goes through the Anza-Borrego Dese...
Learn more about Grapevine Canyon Trail

The Jasper Trail, a 5.2-mile dirt road, traverses the border of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness. It stretches north-south from Highway 22, known as “Montezuma Valley Road,” to Grapevine Canyon Road. The trail is composed of sand and gravel, primarily granite, which characterizes the desert ...
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This short single vehicle-width trail connects the Oriflamme Canyon Loop trail with Highway S2, allowing vehicles to enter/exit the Oriflamme Canyon area from the eastern side. It is primarily a dirt road that winds through and around a sandy wash. There are also occasional large rocks that are easi...
Learn more about Oriflamme Canyon Backdoor

The Old Culp Valley Road is a road that travels along the border of the Culp Valley Preserve in Anza Borrego State Park. The road is 4 miles from the trailhead to the junction of the Jasper Trail; although you can travel to the end, you will leave the Anza Borrego State Park and enter private proper...
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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 closed after Hurricane Hillary, but it does connect to Juan Diego Flats to get you back out to civilization. Th...
Learn more about Red Mountain OHV Trail

Plum Canyon Road is an out-and-back trail offering scenic vistas. The road’s surface comprises smooth sand and granite. The primary road stretches 1.8 miles, with a spur trail leading to the trailhead of the California Riding & Hiking Trail. The main trail terminates at a dead end, ideal for camping...
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This scenic route explores the western portion of the Otay Mountain Truck Trail, passing below Otay Mountain (3,501 feet) with sweeping views of the valleys and hills of Tijuana, Mexico. The drive follows mostly double-wide gravel roads with some single-lane sections around tight turns, many equippe...
Learn more about Otay Mountain Truck Trail West

This route goes up and over Otay Mountain with sweeping views over the San Ysidro Mountains, and a little bit of San Diego in the distance. The road is made up entirely of dirt and gravel and stays relatively even throughout. This is a great trail on hazy/foggy days as it is well above the marine la...
Learn more about Otay Mountain Truck Trail

This trail traverses a scenic desert landscape. It is an out-and-back trail with designated areas for dispersed camping. A spur trail offers a scenic and level campsite equipped with a fire ring. Ground fires are strictly prohibited in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to safeguard the desert soil. Cam...
Learn more about North Pinyon Mountain Road

Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood is a trail that scales Rouse Ridge/Thomas Mountain using Cottonwood (6S18) and Thomas Mountain Rd (6S13). This trail offers stunning views in all directions as you ascend and descend the mountain. While it is possible to complete this trail in either direction, the souther...
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Blair Valley Loop is a 7.9-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 within the California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Blair Valley area is a collection of two small valleys with several attractions to see. The trip around the loop road through these valleys passes three major attractions. The mos...
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This trail winds its way through the Cleveland Forest from Pamo Road to the Guejito Truck Trail. The trail is not very well maintained. It is very rutted. The trail takes you up and over some good hills in Pamo Valley. Parts of the trail are very scenic and beautiful.
Learn more about Orosco Ridge Truck Trail 12S02

This trail starts and ends in Banner and loops around Chariot Mountain and goes into the Oriflamme Canyon. The trail is open to all types of 4x4s and dirt bikes, although the entrance through Banner is only open to highway-legal vehicles as that entrance is only accessible by the highway. You will e...
Learn more about Oriflamme Canyon Loop

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 closed after Hurricane Hillary, but it does connect to Juan Diego Flats to get you back out to civilization. Th...
Learn more about Red Mountain OHV Trail

This scenic route explores the western portion of the Otay Mountain Truck Trail, passing below Otay Mountain (3,501 feet) with sweeping views of the valleys and hills of Tijuana, Mexico. The drive follows mostly double-wide gravel roads with some single-lane sections around tight turns, many equippe...
Learn more about Otay Mountain Truck Trail West

This trail winds its way through the Cleveland Forest from Pamo Road to the Guejito Truck Trail. The trail is not very well maintained. It is very rutted. The trail takes you up and over some good hills in Pamo Valley. Parts of the trail are very scenic and beautiful.
Learn more about Orosco Ridge Truck Trail 12S02

This trail starts and ends in Banner and loops around Chariot Mountain and goes into the Oriflamme Canyon. The trail is open to all types of 4x4s and dirt bikes, although the entrance through Banner is only open to highway-legal vehicles as that entrance is only accessible by the highway. You will e...
Learn more about Oriflamme Canyon Loop

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 closed after Hurricane Hillary, but it does connect to Juan Diego Flats to get you back out to civilization. Th...
Learn more about Red Mountain OHV Trail

This scenic route explores the western portion of the Otay Mountain Truck Trail, passing below Otay Mountain (3,501 feet) with sweeping views of the valleys and hills of Tijuana, Mexico. The drive follows mostly double-wide gravel roads with some single-lane sections around tight turns, many equippe...
Learn more about Otay Mountain Truck Trail West