Los Angeles county - Good places to get dirty?

[Steak]

Hi folks. Have my new Runner, but have not played in the dirt yet. I'm not looking for rock crawling or anything too hardcore (5 yr old daughter coming along, and truck is still stock, and un-dented) just some dirt roads with a few climbs and descents, a little mud maybe?

We just had a good dose of Rain here in LA so tomorrow (sunday) should be nice and tacky, maybe even muddy. Any good tips on where to go in LA county? (anything off angeles crest highway would be great, hungry valley a little too far for a quick trip)

Thanks for any tips!


-Chris

 

[T?@\7]

Your username is one of my favorites!
I hear cali has plenty of everything.. enjoy!

 

[Steak]

Well, no replies, but I found a great place anyway. Off angeles forest hwy, is Pacifico trail. Has a few turnout roads that are good fun. Nothing harsh at all, but fun for bumpin around, hitting some rocks, and a great view from the top. The peak on the trail is 7200 ft. My 5 year old daughter absolutely loved it, and I got to break the truck in. The new 4R did wonderfully, and in 4WD did not get her to slip once. In 2WD we were slipping all over in some sandy spots. Only other truck up there was a camo scout, so empty enough to get some speed going. I also found a great campground. It felt like nobody had been there (besides rangers) in months.

 

[Good Times]

there's a trail up in ortega hwy down in orange county but that's a bit of a drive. big bear, azusa canyon, miller jeep trail are probably your best bet for local places to hit up. You could easily to a lot of the trails in BB easily with some good guidance.

see you on the trails

 

[4runDiZZLe]

"well you won't get a lemon (i woulda got a lemon) from toyota of orange" hahaha nice ride...

gotta love soCAL

 

[SPDGG]

Could someone please message me or post where to find information on these local trails in So.Cal [LA & OC Area]

Nothing crazy as I'm a newb to this, but anything not asphalt in CA is

Thank you very much

 

[*wishlist*]

azusa canyon = san gabriel ohv... when you get there, tell them you want to go to the ohv area. only 4x4's are allowed in there. pay the $8 and enjoy but be careful.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/recreation/ohv-sangabriel.shtml

OR you can tell the rangers that you want to take the rincon-shortcut trail. they'll give you the combo to open the gate and directions to get to the gate (only a minute further up the same road you took to get there). this one is free. this trail will take a while if you want to go through the whole thing. it's something like 26 miles or so. i think they'll also give you a little map to help you out a bit. just google it.

there's some other ones of the 15 fwy but i forgot the names of the exits.

that's all i can think of for now.

 

[SPDGG]

Thank you Very Much !!! Will check this spot out as soon as possible.

Have a great one,
F.T.K.

 

[Run'n'Gun]

careful of the big mud pit at the azusa canyon ohv area, watch someone else go through first as I saw this guys in a F350 Dually, lifted with some bfg a/t's get stuck up to his door handles for 2hrs. The water came in the cab up to the bottom of his seats. It was classic, his girlfrien was soo pissed, but only cause she was stuck inside and didn't want to get out and get dirty. He was really bummed his 60k truck needed a whole new interior.

There are some fun places to go, and some good mud spots as well, just stay out of the main mud pit. I took the photo of my rig in my signature there. There are some good hill climbs and what not if you just want to go for a few hours. It's off hgwy 39 just east of the 605/210 freeway interchange. Get off the 210 at azusa canyon and go up into the mountains for a few miles and you will see it on the right.

 

[4rnr4me]

too bad only 4x4 can get in, i got a 2wd but it would still be a lot of fun, i live real close to there, and i go shooting at azusa canyon and ive seen the guys in the mud and trails...

 

[Run'n'Gun]

They don't really check, they ask but that's it. I have never had them physically check out my rig or seen them do it to anyone else either. I bet that if you went there wouldn't be a problem, unless you get stuck so don't push your limits but it would still be fun.

 

[*wishlist*]

i was told that before as well. they do check. at least whenever i go they do. they don't look under the truck but they do look inside. one of my friend's wasn't allowed in when we tried to go with his 2wd.

you can go through rincon-shortcut though. be very careful. the first half is pretty easy but it can get rough in the last half in 2wd.

 

[T4Rfun]

Try This Link

Dirtopia is a good start for wheeling locations. You can search areas all around the country. It has a lot of useful information by users, and of course links to more info on specific areas. Check it out. I've already used it for info on a few SoCal locations.

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 

[SConnors]

Anyone interested in trying Main Divide? That looks pretty cool! Wonder if the crazy people are still in there though...

 

[sgvnut]

too bad only 4x4 can get in, i got a 2wd but it would still be a lot of fun, i live real close to there, and i go shooting at azusa canyon and ive seen the guys in the mud and trails...

They will let 2wd in, but first, you would need to go to DMV and pay for the off-roading tax or something like that. Then they give you a sticker and they will let you in. I went one time with a friend in a lifted titan that was 2wd. The ranger driving around the ohv park saw the bottom of his car from far away because his car is pretty high. The ranger approached my buddies car and wrote him a ticket. Told him he can come back after he goes to DMV and pay for that fee. I remember the ranger saying it was a fee that 4x4 vehicles are required to pay during registration and it goes to the forestry service.

I'm not 100% sure on what the fee is for. It's just what i remember the ranger telling us. But i am sure that they will allow 2wd up there after you pay that fee because my friend did it.