Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Indian Wells, California

Wind your way up this canyon that is primarily sand and small rocks. There are a few extra credit options that do have bypasses, except for one or two obstacles at the end. Anything other than a stock SUV can navigate this canyon. The elevation gain is noticeable in the flora once you exit the canyo...
Learn more about Berdoo Canyon

Santa Rosa Truck Trail is an out-and-back well-maintained fire road that climbs to over 8000ft. The lower parts are smooth and wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. As it rises in elevation the road gets a bit narrower in spots and there are a few sections with small embedded rocks. The s...
Learn more about Santa Rosa Truck Trail 7S02

Uneven, rutted dirt trail with loose rocks and sand. Muddy conditions should be expected during the rainy season. The trail is primarily one vehicle wide with some portions wide enough for passing oncoming traffic. Steep cliffs and drop-offs are common throughout the trail, as well as sharp winding ...
Learn more about 6S13 - Thomas Mountain Road

Pinkham Canyon Road can be accessed from Joshua Tree National Park. To access the Pinkham Canyon Trail from the BLM trailhead. Exit I-10 from either East or West to the Frontage Road off-ramp. Stop at the BLM kiosk to air down, then continue on the California River Aqueduct Road, which is owned by ...
Learn more about Lower Pinkham Canyon

This is a fantastic family adventure. The entire trail is located inside Joshua Tree National Park. It is a long loop trail that is very scenic with beautiful vistas, interesting rock formations, ancient volcanic lava flows, and Joshua Trees. The loop portion of the trail is one-way (clockwise).
Learn more about Geology Tour Road

This trail connects the Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood trail to the Thomas Mountain Campground via the western end of Thomas Mountain Road. During dry months, the trail is an easily passable dirt road, requiring only moderate clearance to pass over occasional ruts and drainage control berms running acro...
Learn more about Thomas Mountain West Approach

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 typically only be an issue for 2-wheel vehicles. The trail is only single vehicle wide in some places and som...
Learn more about Rouse Hill

Painted Canyon is a gorgeous landmark outside of Mecca, California. At the entrance to the road leading to the canyon, there is a warning sign that says "Passable for 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles Only". At the time of the visit, the road was in very good condition, as long as you stay directly on the grad...
Learn more about Painted Canyon Road

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, the trail weaves through chaparral and pine trees and crosses over the North for...
Learn more about San Jacinto Ridge Trail (FS 5S09)

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...
Learn more about Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood

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 or 6 yellow post camping sites on the way up.
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 snow. Almost all vehicles could make the drive. There is cell service if needed. If yo...
Learn more about Black Mountain

Thermal Canyon Road can be accessed from the Frontage Road off-ramp off of I-10, either from the East or West. Stop at the BLM kiosk for the Pinkham Canyon Trail; then continue on the California River Aqueduct Road owned by the Metropolitan Water District. Various private and other agencies have rig...
Learn more about Thermal Canyon Road

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

Hidden in the Mecca Hills just South of Joshua Tree National Park is a fun little trail that winds you through tight canyon washes surrounded by high vertical cliffs of up to 40 feet. The Little Box Canyon Trail is like a baby version of the famous Sandstone Canyon Trail in Anza Borrego. There is on...
Learn more about Little Box Canyon Meccacopia Loop

This trail takes you to Eureka Peak, which is a mountain top viewpoint allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the area from a high elevation. There are hiking trails throughout this area and one that will take you to the very top of Eureka Peak with just a few hundred feed of walking. There may b...
Learn more about Eureka Peak

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 with Apple Drive in Idyllwild. The road is open to highway-legal vehicles on...
Learn more about 5S06 Idyllwild Control

This trail is located in Anza Borrego State Park and features a sand and some gravel surface that's two vehicles wide, providing comfortable navigation. The route is surrounded by mountain views in all directions as you traverse the desert. It cuts through the desert, lined with many desert flora, c...
Learn more about Horse Camp Road

This 10-plus-mile out-and-back trail is located in Anza Borrego State Park and is part of the wildflowers tour, taking you into Coyote Canyon. Only highway legal vehicles are allowed on this route. The surface is super fine sand and is 1.5 to 2.5 vehicles wide in most places, providing good room for...
Learn more about Coyote Canyon Road

This hidden gem is part of Anza Borrego Desert State Tark. From the Boreggo Salton Seaway turn into Rockhouse Canyon Road. The sign at the intersection says "no exit" but the road is long and leads to a beautiful hidden dry salt lake bed which is located at an offshoot from the main trail. The road ...
Learn more about Clark Dry Lake

This trail connects the Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood trail to the Thomas Mountain Campground via the western end of Thomas Mountain Road. During dry months, the trail is an easily passable dirt road, requiring only moderate clearance to pass over occasional ruts and drainage control berms running acro...
Learn more about Thomas Mountain West Approach

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, the trail weaves through chaparral and pine trees and crosses over the North for...
Learn more about San Jacinto Ridge Trail (FS 5S09)

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...
Learn more about Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood

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 or 6 yellow post camping sites on the way up.
Learn more about Black Mountain Road

This trail connects the Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood trail to the Thomas Mountain Campground via the western end of Thomas Mountain Road. During dry months, the trail is an easily passable dirt road, requiring only moderate clearance to pass over occasional ruts and drainage control berms running acro...
Learn more about Thomas Mountain West Approach

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, the trail weaves through chaparral and pine trees and crosses over the North for...
Learn more about San Jacinto Ridge Trail (FS 5S09)

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...
Learn more about Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood

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