Snowy/forest trails for easy solo trips?

[burningtractor]

Hello,

The wife and I are looking to take a day trip out to lake arrowhead or big bear, and I was wondering if there are any good scenic 4x4 trails that aren't too hairy. My wife would also not enjoy getting out of the car to do any spotting, so something easy would be nice. I've just installed new springs/shocks/tires (and fixed my axles) so I'm itching to test them out too.

Looking at the map it looks like there are lots of trails just north of lake arrowhead, but when I google them I see mostly dirt bikes on single track, so I'm not sure if there are any good truck trails. It's also hard to tell what trails are decent this time of year too, i.e. Sugarloaf truck trail looks like it could be fun, but I read somewhere that it's closed winters.

Thanks for the info. I'm also looking forward to the next meetup now that I've got my rig squared away.

 

[Lego3k1]

Have to look at a map real quick bun 3n16 travels the back side of big bear. It is basically a fire road that a civic can do in the summer months, but a very fun and scenic drive with snow. I will look at a map and get you directions but you can enter from the town of daw skin and it ends on the east side by the transfer station in big bear.

 

[Drunner97]

Have to look at a map real quick bun 3n16 travels the back side of big bear. It is basically a fire road that a civic can do in the summer months, but a very fun and scenic drive with snow. I will look at a map and get you directions but you can enter from the town of daw skin and it ends on the east side by the transfer station in big bear.

Civic could do part of it, but there's a water crossing that no car is getting across. We just did it last weekend with the T4R Group.

Look at the November So Cal run, there's plenty of pictures and video showing the route we took that included 3N16. There are a couple hairy parts.

 

[Lego3k1]

Civic could do part of it, but there's a water crossing that no car is getting across. We just did it last weekend with the T4R Group.

Look at the November So Cal run, there's plenty of pictures and video showing the route we took that included 3N16. There are a couple hairy parts.

If you start from grass valley then yes, but not if you start from fawnskin. One small water crossing and a civic can and will make it all the way.

Start in fawnskin by the fire station up rim of the world road to coxby road and head to big pine campground. This is where you intersect 3n16. Make a right and head east.if you stay on 3n16 until it ends you will be by the transfer station and have a view of Baldwin lake. It's a fun and safe trail.

I'm waiting for a good amount of snow so I can take a trip up. I will post it here so whoever wants to go for a drive is welcomed along.

 

[burningtractor]

Awesome, I appreciate the info.

So basically this path:
https://goo.gl/maps/8hrGukjtJJB2

 

[Drunner97]

Not sure on that section of it, we started in Green Valley Lake and did a loop.

 

[Lego3k1]

Awesome, I appreciate the info.

So basically this path:
https://goo.gl/maps/8hrGukjtJJB2

That's it. You will start in fawnskin and stick to the routes I described. You. And your lady will have a great time. If you continue past fawnskin and head to the discovery center, you can grab a map. Always good to have a map in case you take a wrong turn.

 

[burningtractor]

Awesome, we made it up there today. It was exactly what we were looking for, got to test out the new suspension and tires, and didn't kill the wife with washboards and hours and hours of trails.

It was pretty straight forward and once you get to Big Pine Flats, as everything seems to be marked pretty clearly. It was pretty dry/clear on the west end of the trail, and once we got past holcomb campground there were a few puddles, and only one little section where you had to get in the mud. and then closer to the east end near Doble there was some snow/ice, but again nothing that you'd even lose traction on.

and on the way back down the mountain on 330, it was so clear you could see downtown L.A. and Catalina Island.

That's it. You will start in fawnskin and stick to the routes I described. You. And your lady will have a great time. If you continue past fawnskin and head to the discovery center, you can grab a map. Always good to have a map in case you take a wrong turn.

 

[Lego3k1]

Awesome!!!! Glad you had a great time!!

 

[racepauly]

Looks like a great beginners trail near so cal. Thanks for posting.

 

[burningtractor]

No problem, there a few deeper ruts here and there, but a stock 2wd could probably get through it pretty easy. I used 4lo on the far east side for descending the hill down to the highway but that was it in terms of anything technical.

All in all it was a lovely 1.5 hour drive through the woods.

Also we had lunch at the North Shore Cafe in Fawnskin, and it was delicious.

Looks like a great beginners trail near so cal. Thanks for posting.

 

[DannyLlama]

Be careful man, I got stuck in 4WD and started sliding, ATRAC saved me.
Snow that had turned muddy. Murphy's law, if you can go with someone else.

 

[burningtractor]

Yeah I always try to take it easy if it's just the wife and I, and take a very metered approach if it looks hairy at all or I turn around.

I am looking forward to getting out with some of the folks here too.

Be careful man, I got stuck in 4WD and started sliding, ATRAC saved me.
Snow that had turned muddy. Murphy's law, if you can go with someone else.

 

[GVL]

Hey [MENTION=116728]burningtractor[/MENTION], glad you had a good time getting to know your ride. If you want to have fun on some on great intermediate trails hit me up next time it snows and I'll show you around GVL - it's about a half hour closer than running all the way up to Fawnskin too.

 

[DannyLlama]

Hey [MENTION=116728]burningtractor[/MENTION], glad you had a good time getting to know your ride. If you want to have fun on some on great intermediate trails hit me up next time it snows and I'll show you around GVL - it's about a half hour closer than running all the way up to Fawnskin too.

Just googled it, looks like a cool little area. Maybe we can do a meet up, up there.

 

[85straight]

Thats where the last meet up was at [MENTION=75328]DannyLlama[/MENTION]
Perfect location IMO, lots of options to take from there and plenty of space for everyone

 

[burningtractor]

Will do.

Hey [MENTION=116728]burningtractor[/MENTION], glad you had a good time getting to know your ride. If you want to have fun on some on great intermediate trails hit me up next time it snows and I'll show you around GVL - it's about a half hour closer than running all the way up to Fawnskin too.

 

[GVL]

We got a Thanksgiving surprise in the form of about 4" of fresh stuff on top of last week's dump and the forest trails will be gorgeous tomorrow. If anyone wants to go for a fun cruise hit me up.

 

[burningtractor]

Oh man that's sounds awesome, we're out of town today and tomorrow, might be able to go on a run on Sunday, but gotta check with the wife before I make any plans.

Side question, what kind of snow chains do you use? And how often do you run them? Walmart has a couple different sets, the self tightening (peerless auto-tracs) or what appear to be a more traditional ladder style. The auto-tracs look easy, but I have doubts about their longevity, where the ladder types look beefier but more of a pain in the ass.

We're headed out to Yosemite this weekend, and the Yellowstone after Xmas so there's a good chance we'll actually be using the chains.

We got a Thanksgiving surprise in the form of about 4" of fresh stuff on top of last week's dump and the forest trails will be gorgeous tomorrow. If anyone wants to go for a fun cruise hit me up.

 

[GVL]

I don't even own any snow chains for my rig. I keep the tire pressure at 18 psi year round and never have had a problem around here. For other vehicles I used the Z-grip cable and they were really easy to get on and of rather quickly and keep a fairly low profile compared to conventional chains.

Note: Glad I disabled the ABS this season with all the icy conditions were having, I could see that being an issue approaching intersections from a downhill.