Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Sky Valley, 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

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

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 BLM dispersed camping area is a solid go-to if you’re riding near Joshua Tree National Forest. There’s plenty of room to stage, camp, and spread out with your crew without feeling cramped. This trail works as one of the main entry points and loops into several offshoots that connect to other fu...
Learn more about JNP Camping Area Entry

This trail serves as a central entry point to the network of surrounding trails and is one of the most commonly used routes in the area. Being centrally located, you’ll likely share it with campers, riders, and other offroad traffic throughout the day. It has a nice flow with good width and only a f...
Learn more about Romp Route

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 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

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)

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

Roadrunner Rut is an easy dirt road that climbs into the jumbo boulder gardens and skirts along Black Lava Butte. It changes its name to BLM S1421 as it crosses into BLM lands and descends towards a network of sandy BLM roads in the washes that litter the boulder fields in this area. Roadrunner Rut ...
Learn more about Roadrunner Rut - BLM S1421

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

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

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

This trail offers a fantastic introduction to desert driving, primarily wide enough for two cars and framed by Joshua Trees. While there are a few soft sand patches to be aware of, the ride is generally smooth. Consider this trail as a connection between Giant Rock and the Integratron. Both location...
Learn more about Integratron

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 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 boulder roll off the hill into the road. Even an H1 Hummer can make it around both of them, so they won't stop you s...
Learn more about East Indian Canyon 4S10

This short half-mile spur legally enters the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness to reach a spring. The road surface is dirt and sand. The land on both sides of the road is wilderness. Stay on the established roadway. There is a dispersed campsite with an established fire ring that can comfortably support ...
Learn more about Spur - BLM C2315

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

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

This BLM dispersed camping area is a solid go-to if you’re riding near Joshua Tree National Forest. There’s plenty of room to stage, camp, and spread out with your crew without feeling cramped. This trail works as one of the main entry points and loops into several offshoots that connect to other fu...
Learn more about JNP Camping Area Entry

This trail serves as a central entry point to the network of surrounding trails and is one of the most commonly used routes in the area. Being centrally located, you’ll likely share it with campers, riders, and other offroad traffic throughout the day. It has a nice flow with good width and only a f...
Learn more about Romp Route

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 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

This BLM dispersed camping area is a solid go-to if you’re riding near Joshua Tree National Forest. There’s plenty of room to stage, camp, and spread out with your crew without feeling cramped. This trail works as one of the main entry points and loops into several offshoots that connect to other fu...
Learn more about JNP Camping Area Entry

This trail serves as a central entry point to the network of surrounding trails and is one of the most commonly used routes in the area. Being centrally located, you’ll likely share it with campers, riders, and other offroad traffic throughout the day. It has a nice flow with good width and only a f...
Learn more about Romp Route

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)