First time wheeling - Best places to start?

Q

Quantum1

New member
Hey Gents, had my 'Runner for a few months now but this is my first chance to actually get out into the wilderness. I have a bone stock 2004 V8 SR5 4WD. Any trails you would suggest I check out to get started? I have Bridgestone Duelers with about 50% tread.

Goal is to have some fun with my dog and just get out there. I live in the 818/626 area and am a novice at wheeling. I'm a little worried about mud since it just rained today, I would be planning to head out either Saturday or Sunday. Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
Gorman or Rowher Flats would be a good place to start. Those are pretty close to you I believe if I'm thinking the right area.
 
Cleghorn is good. Just before exit for Mt. High off the 15 fwy. It's pretty much a fire road with side trails that are more difficult. You can bypass if the side trails look too crazy.
 
TheWraith said:
Why not fire trails ????
trying to head to Santiago peak here in a week or 2
Click to expand...

I second that, it's a really fun trail and not technical at all, you just have to know where your going.

There's even an easier beginning, look up Holy Gym trail, the drive up to the trail head is mostly rocky (small rocks) but you can try out your 4x4
 
DannyLlama said:
I second that, it's a really fun trail and not technical at all, you just have to know where your going.

There's even an easier beginning, look up Holy Gym trail, the drive up to the trail head is mostly rocky (small rocks) but you can try out your 4x4
Click to expand...

Holy Jim Trail is closed, so is Indian Truck Trail, only one that's open is Main Divide Truck Trail off Ortega Hwy... Been wanting to take Mapplethorpe Canyon trail up to holy Jim but it's been closed off for like months.
 
Holy Jim isn't closed, I was just up there Saturday morning playing in the mud. I believe it's technically Trabuco Canyon Road, which leads to the Holy Jim hiking trail.
 
Drunner97 said:
Holy Jim isn't closed, I was just up there Saturday morning playing in the mud. I believe it's technically Trabuco Canyon Road, which leads to the Holy Jim hiking trail.
Click to expand...

Which way did you get up ???

Holy Jim isn't close??? but to get there I thought the ranger report state maple canyon trail was closed.
 
Another great fire road to start on is bee canyon>pine cove...up in mount san jacinto. Lots of other trails to explore also and very scenic
 
TheWraith said:
Holy Jim Trail is closed, so is Indian Truck Trail, only one that's open is Main Divide Truck Trail off Ortega Hwy... Been wanting to take Mapplethorpe Canyon trail up to holy Jim but it's been closed off for like months.
Click to expand...

Its closed might be to rain.. I was there a month ago and it was open, i'm sure it's temp closure.

Drunner97 said:
Holy Jim isn't closed, I was just up there Saturday morning playing in the mud. I believe it's technically Trabuco Canyon Road, which leads to the Holy Jim hiking trail.
Click to expand...
 
TheWraith said:
Which way did you get up ???

Holy Jim isn't close??? but to get there I thought the ranger report state maple canyon trail was closed.
Click to expand...

Unless there's a road I don't know about, Holy Jim isn't a road, it's a hiking trail. The road leading to the trail head is Trabuco Canyon Road which is open, but a lot of people mistake it as Holy Jim. Santiago Peak can be hiked to via Holy Jim, but it's a single track hiking trail until you reach the portion that attaches to the Main Divide.

Santiago Peak (Main Divide) via Maple Springs is closed due to the Silverado fire. I think I saw something about it getting opened back up in Fall 2015. Last time I looked Santiago Peak via the Ortega entrance is still open.

edit: http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Holy_Jim_Trail

"The part you can drive on is really called Trabuco Creek Road. Holy Jim trail is a hiking trail with it's trailhead at 33°40'44.42"N 117°30'50.60"W which in several miles in on Trabuco Creek road. Past the Holy Jim trailhead, at the very end of Trabuco Creek Road is the trail head for West Horsthief Trail. "
 
Last edited:
^Pretty much everything this guy just said.
Lots of people incorrectly refer to Trabuco Creek Road as Holy Jim.

It's definitely open. I was just out there this past Saturday. As far as I know, it basically never closes, since there are homes out there.

It's an easy road. My buddy did it in his Yaris (with All-Terrain's) this weekend. And we even saw a Lexus IS out there! lol
 
nihkon said:
^Pretty much everything this guy just said.
Lots of people incorrectly refer to Trabuco Creek Road as Holy Jim.

It's definitely open. I was just out there this past Saturday. As far as I know, it basically never closes, since there are homes out there.

It's an easy road. My buddy did it in his Yaris (with All-Terrain's) this weekend. And we even saw a Lexus IS out there! lol
Click to expand...

I see all kinds of sedans, i think they are crazy.
 
nihkon said:
^Pretty much everything this guy just said.
Lots of people incorrectly refer to Trabuco Creek Road as Holy Jim.

It's definitely open. I was just out there this past Saturday. As far as I know, it basically never closes, since there are homes out there.

It's an easy road. My buddy did it in his Yaris (with All-Terrain's) this weekend. And we even saw a Lexus IS out there! lol
Click to expand...

I saw a civic and a corolla give it a whirl Saturday morning, but once you get to national forest section it gets pretty dicey. I'd bet some people lost some parts to their cars this weekend.
 
Ok since my local shooting match has been cancelled this saturday. I'm heading to Santiago Peak via Bedford Motor Way... And then down to Main Divide to the back side of Lake Elsinore.

Anyone want to do some dirt roads ??? Novice off roading...
 
The Cleveland National Forest website shows that the main divide road is closed for a section. Check it out before you go. a map shows Main divide road closed between Bedford and eagle canyon, bu the website says main divide road is open, but Bedford road shows closed. I guess you need to call them before you go.

Looks like you should he able to go up Indian truck trail to main divide then south to the 74. But call first.
 
Last edited:
delloro said:
The Cleveland National Forest website shows that the main divide road is closed for a section. Check it out before you go. a map shows Main divide road closed between Bedford and eagle canyon, bu the website says main divide road is open, but Bedford road shows closed. I guess you need to call them before you go.

Looks like you should he able to go up Indian truck trail to main divide then south to the 74. But call first.
Click to expand...

yeah looks like Indian truck trail to main divide ... Man Ive been meaning to take this thing up there and play in the wash area...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 284 (members: 2, guests: 282)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,311
Messages
3,554,082
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top