Top 5 Beginner Off-Road Trails in SoCal

With so many great off-road trails in Southern California, it can be difficult to know exactly which ones are suitable for the beginner off-roader. The last thing you want is to get caught out on a trail that’s more difficult than you or your rig can handle. So if you’re new to off-roading, or want to test out the capabilities of your new rig in an easy-going environment, check out this episode of Chasing Dust.

The first trail on Matt’s list is Main Divide. Located in the Santa Ana mountains of Orange and Riverside County, Main Divide runs along the ridges of this mountain range, offering cooler air and panoramic views. It’s arguably one of the easiest accessed trails from the SoCal area, about 30-60 minutes from most locales. Main Divide is a mostly graded fire road, suitable for stock trucks and SUV’s. 4WD is recommended, but in dry conditions, 2WD high clearance vehicles can make it just fine.

Next on the list is Otay Mountain Truck Trail. Similar to Main Divide, Otay Mountain Truck Trail runs along the ridges of a mountain range in San Diego, near the Mexican border. On a clear day, you can see stunning views of the ocean, Mission Bay, downtown San Diego, and even Tijuana, Mexico. While this trail is very easy going, and mostly graded, it’s narrower than Main Divide, so use proper etiquette when passing vehicles going in the opposite direction.

Our third trail is actually a trail system in Holcomb Valley, CA, just north of Big Bear Lake. Holcomb Valley is home to a host of off-road trails, all varying in difficulty. But the main artery that runs through it is a forest service road known as 3N16, or Holcomb Valley Road. This mild, mostly flat, graded fire road offers all the benefits of a mountain trail, with cooler summer temps, pine tree forests, meadows, creek crossings, and you might even some black bears foraging the trees. Holcomb Valley has much to explore, including some historical buildings and sites remaining from a rich mining history over 100 years ago.

Trail number four on the list is Burns Canyon Road, which actually begins (or ends, depending on your direction of travel) in the Big Bear area. This trail runs in an East-West direction, from Baldwin Lake in the mountains down to Pioneertown near Joshua Tree. The diversity in wildlife and flora along this trail is incredible. The lower elevations are filled with Joshua trees and large boulders, and as you climb in elevation, you’ll start to see pinyon pines and other coniferous trees endemic to alpine forests. If you’re heading downhill, check out the world-famous Pappy and Harriet’s restaurant in Pioneertown as a great dinner spot. The steaks and drinks are highly recommended, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a famous band like The Eagles stop in for an unannounced show.

Our fifth and final trail is one you can try to test your abilities and the capability of your rig. Cleghorn Ridge OHV trail is located along I-15 in the Cajon Pass area, and quickly climbs its way into the San Bernardino Mountains. Although the trail itself is nothing more than a fire road, there are many offshoots, or bypasses, that offer a more challenging line for the brave-hearted. A word of warning: don’t try anything out of your comfort zone without a spotter, and always know where you’re going before getting there. Some of these bypasses can lead to drop-offs in places that won’t be able to back out of, and that can lead to a dangerous spot to be stuck in.

As off-roading has grown so substantially in the last several years, there are more novice wheelers out there than ever before. The best way to push yourself and figure out exactly what kind of trails you enjoy is to get out there and try your hand at a few. Use this list to get your feet wet, and push your own limits safely before tackling some of the harder, more infamous trails here in Southern California.

0:00 | Intro
3:27 | Main Divide Truck Trail
6:33 | Otay Mountain Truck Trail
8:24 | Holcomb Valley
10:22 | Burns Canyon Road
12:04 | Cleghorn Ridge OHV Trail
15:08 | Wrap up

Drop a comment, share what you want to see more of from the Desert Chief and his builds and adventures!

[gpaje]

I love Otay Mountain Truck Trail, you have great views, with everything from easy truck trails to more serious off-shoots. I like the fact it's regularly travelled by the Border Patrol so no matter what, someone can find and help you if you have an issue on your own.

[JordanHMay]

As a lifelong off-road driver and mountain biker, if you choose to drive up Maple Springs to Main Divide in OC, please drive slow. This is not a high speed desert trail. These trails are mostly catered to cyclists, hikers and motorcycles.

[TheHitSquadOffroad]

I've hit all those except Otay. Main Divide is awesome at night especially at the towers. 3N16 I've hit day, night, snow and mud. I love the Big Bear 🐻 area. Burns is cool. I usually start at Rattlesnake Canyon and take it into Big Bear. Cleghorn was the very first trail I took when I started offroading in 2019. I love how you can take beginners but they can see people hitting some of the offchutes. Love how all the offchutes connect right back with the fireroad. You can leave Cleghorn and hit Pilot Rock less than 10 minutes away. Great trail chooses.

[Michael_Tran]

Nice list! I've hit up 3 of the 5 so far...looking to do Burns Canyon rd soon!

[piltg]

Great video, I’ll be hitting the these

[weekendoverlander]

New overlander, appreciate all the suggestions. Will there be more off-road trails.
Thx

[rutgut]

One thing I’m unclear about, when you get to the peak or end of the trail how do you go back? Do you turn around and go back the way you came? Or does the trail lead you to a highway? Thanks.

[walterskinner]

Great vid! But IMO Burns Canyon is definitely not a beginner trail

[hunting]

my first trail is the burns canyon trail. me and my friend got split on the turn. and i was following my car gps and got lost in the mid of no where on the montain, luckly we drove out at 8pm .

[redliz]

For the main divide trail, is there an ideal PSI I should be at?

[sixxofilms]

Can you do Main Divide with a 2WD Truck ?

[VSHO-pnns]

Is there anything good for a beginner off-roader in Ventura County?

[blackinya]

i tried going up to santiago peak 2 weeks ago and both entrances from corona and indian truck trail were closed. Is it open on the OC side?

[billygentry]

Can a 2wd with a locker do any of these trails

[soseductivesnowbunny]

I did Maple Springs Truck Trail at night when I first got my 2020 JLUR with an all girls Jeep group and it was so dusty but the view was beautiful when we got to the top and there was a meteor shower. Then we did Cleghorn a few months later and some of those offshoots are crazy but the views are gorgeous!! Gotta check out some more trails! Can you recommend a scenic forest off road trail?