San Diego area off-road trips

[dondonbabyraptor]

Hello all,

So far it is @fortywater12 and @madchassey if anyone else wants to chime in and join in for some fun around here just leave a comment. General area for planning future trips and so forth. Not many of us San Diego members, but there are definitely some. Thinking about a trip near the end of October for a day trip, or Thanksgiving week if you want to make it an overnight thing in Anza Borrego. Let me know what you guys think.

Warm regards,
Brandon

Complimentary photo at summit of Otay Mtn Truck Trail.

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[madchassey]

I'm super down for that! A weekend trip would be pretty sweet.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

I'm super down for that! A weekend trip would be pretty sweet.

I am pretty familiar with Fish Creek wash and the sandstone canyon slots, perhaps we can do that for a weekend trip if Evan is down in Thanksgiving week, probably the weekend before Thanksgiving(20/21) unless (27/28) work better. Let me know when you guys are free. And if daring, there is diablo drop off(good hill climb) and if exploration based we can do a mile hike out towards wind caves. I am open to any suggestions as well if you have other nice little areas.

 

[Kawffin]

Count me in! I'm down for anything so cal anytime!

 

[fortywater12]

I am pretty familiar with Fish Creek wash and the sandstone canyon slots, perhaps we can do that for a weekend trip if Evan is down in Thanksgiving week, probably the weekend before Thanksgiving(20/21) unless (27/28) work better. Let me know when you guys are free. And if daring, there is diablo drop off(good hill climb) and if exploration based we can do a mile hike out towards wind caves. I am open to any suggestions as well if you have other nice little areas.

This sounds like a blast. 20/21 weekend would be better for me as I leave for Idaho for a deer hunt the following week. Let me check in with Wifey and see what's going on as well before I give a firm commit.

Also down for a day trip somewhere in Oct. as well if something works for everyoner.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

This sounds like a blast. 20/21 weekend would be better for me as I leave for Idaho for a deer hunt the following week. Let me check in with Wifey and see what's going on as well before I give a firm commit.

Also down for a day trip somewhere in Oct. as well if something works for everyoner.

Deer hunt in Idaho! Wow. Deer hunting is on my bucket list. I’ve only gone dove hunting a little out East on someone’s property. Sounds good let us know, can always switch dates around month of November.

Day trip would be great in October, perhaps near the end tail of it. Do you guys have any good suggestions for a day trip? Not that many trails I know of near here other than Otay mtn truck trail.

 

[Smprfiguy]

Deer hunt in Idaho! Wow. Deer hunting is on my bucket list. I’ve only gone dove hunting a little out East on someone’s property. Sounds good let us know, can always switch dates around month of November.

Day trip would be great in October, perhaps near the end tail of it. Do you guys have any good suggestions for a day trip? Not that many trails I know of near here other than Otay mtn truck trail.

Palomar mountain from the observatory out to the back side of the 79 is suppose to be good Tried during covid but the trail head was closed because its in the observatory parking lot which was locked up

https://www.off-road.com/trails-events/trails/backyard-offroading-palomar-divide-road-54372.html

 

[madchassey]

If you're ever down for a hunt in SoCal let me know @dondonbabyraptor. We go up to the Central Coast for hog hunts too. Also depends if you're into rifle or archery, as of lately I've just been doing the archery game. I go to Arizona and Colorado too, but I didn't make it out to either this year, sadly.

I don't know too many of the trails here since I've only lived here for a few years but I'm pretty much down for anything. Always down for camping and all that good stuff too

 

[madchassey]

As for dates, just give me a good amount of notice and I can almost guarantee I can get it off

 

[fortywater12]

If you're ever down for a hunt in SoCal let me know @dondonbabyraptor. We go up to the Central Coast for hog hunts too. Also depends if you're into rifle or archery, as of lately I've just been doing the archery game. I go to Arizona and Colorado too, but I didn't make it out to either this year, sadly.

I don't know too many of the trails here since I've only lived here for a few years but I'm pretty much down for anything. Always down for camping and all that good stuff too

I'm in the archery game as well, taking my bow up to Idaho and hoping to tag out in the first few days, if not, I will pick up a rifle.

From the all-trails app, it seems there is a decent selection of trails around us. These are what I found from a quick search in RB at my work - sorted by closest to me:

EASY

Nate Harrison Grade
Black Canyon and Pamo OHV Road
High Point Truck Trail

MODERATE

Black Mountain OHV Trail
Lusardi Truck Trail
Otay Mtn: Minnewawa
Pio Pico Campground to Otay Mtn
Mother Grundy Truck Trail

HARD

Sycamore Canyon to Donohoe Mtn
Margarita Rd
Pinyon Mtn Road

All trails rating systems are a bit conservative. I have done Nate Harrison a few times and it can be done in a car almost. Definitely in 2wd. Moderate seems hit and miss with the ratings, some say you need 4wd, others say they are 2wd trails still. Hard usually states that 4wd is required and that people scraped in stock vehicles etc. Hard trails usually rated hard due to a few challenging obstacles per trail

I might go scope Lusardi this weekend since I am super close to Santa Ysabel since I live in Valley Center.

 

[madchassey]

I'm in the archery game as well, taking my bow up to Idaho and hoping to tag out in the first few days, if not, I will pick up a rifle.

From the all-trails app, it seems there is a decent selection of trails around us. These are what I found from a quick search in RB at my work - sorted by closest to me:

EASY

Nate Harrison Grade
Black Canyon and Pamo OHV Road
High Point Truck Trail

MODERATE

Black Mountain OHV Trail
Lusardi Truck Trail
Otay Mtn: Minnewawa
Pio Pico Campground to Otay Mtn
Mother Grundy Truck Trail

HARD

Sycamore Canyon to Donohoe Mtn
Margarita Rd
Pinyon Mtn Road

All trails rating systems are a bit conservative. I have done Nate Harrison a few times and it can be done in a car almost. Definitely in 2wd. Moderate seems hit and miss with the ratings, some say you need 4wd, others say they are 2wd trails still. Hard usually states that 4wd is required and that people scraped in stock vehicles etc. Hard trails usually rated hard due to a few challenging obstacles per trail

I might go scope Lusardi this weekend since I am super close to Santa Ysabel since I live in Valley Center.

Nice dude! Did you pick up an AO tag this year?

I wonder what OnX has to say about the trails...

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

If you're ever down for a hunt in SoCal let me know @dondonbabyraptor. We go up to the Central Coast for hog hunts too. Also depends if you're into rifle or archery, as of lately I've just been doing the archery game. I go to Arizona and Colorado too, but I didn't make it out to either this year, sadly.

I don't know too many of the trails here since I've only lived here for a few years but I'm pretty much down for anything. Always down for camping and all that good stuff too

I would love to join you for hog hunts and archery. I would have to familiarize myself with archery though, just never had a reason to pick it up. Hog hunts is also on my bucket list but I have been living vicariously through YouTube as I don’t have many hunting friends yet. Do you have any hog trips planned? Archery would take me a good bit of time to learn and get a setup. Always next year to get out there to the other states! I really appreciate the invite Chad. I did jump with a joy when you mentioned hog hunting.

Great, looks like we have a good little crew here who enjoys camping and the outdoors! Sure we can figure something out for a day trip in October with the list Evan posted. I’ll take a peek at those trails, let me know if you guys see one you like!

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

I'm in the archery game as well, taking my bow up to Idaho and hoping to tag out in the first few days, if not, I will pick up a rifle.

From the all-trails app, it seems there is a decent selection of trails around us. These are what I found from a quick search in RB at my work - sorted by closest to me:

EASY

Nate Harrison Grade
Black Canyon and Pamo OHV Road
High Point Truck Trail

MODERATE

Black Mountain OHV Trail
Lusardi Truck Trail
Otay Mtn: Minnewawa
Pio Pico Campground to Otay Mtn
Mother Grundy Truck Trail

HARD

Sycamore Canyon to Donohoe Mtn
Margarita Rd
Pinyon Mtn Road

All trails rating systems are a bit conservative. I have done Nate Harrison a few times and it can be done in a car almost. Definitely in 2wd. Moderate seems hit and miss with the ratings, some say you need 4wd, others say they are 2wd trails still. Hard usually states that 4wd is required and that people scraped in stock vehicles etc. Hard trails usually rated hard due to a few challenging obstacles per trail

I might go scope Lusardi this weekend since I am super close to Santa Ysabel since I live in Valley Center.

Thanks for the list Evan! I’ll check out some trails via google. Let me know how Lusardi is. For me I’ve only done Otay Mtn, nice little trail. Nothing too crazy just maybe some ruts and slight grade.

Hard sounds enticing since I’ve never really went out on more technical trails due to being solo only mostly. But how does everyone feel about what difficulty? I love an easy trail too, so I don’t mind. Whatever everyone is comfortable with.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Palomar mountain from the observatory out to the back side of the 79 is suppose to be good Tried during covid but the trail head was closed because its in the observatory parking lot which was locked up

https://www.off-road.com/trails-events/trails/backyard-offroading-palomar-divide-road-54372.html

Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I’ll have to check this out someday real quickly.

 

[fortywater12]

Nice dude! Did you pick up an AO tag this year?

I wonder what OnX has to say about the trails...

No, no tag for CA this year. I am happy I didn't as well with all of the national forest closures etc. A few of my friends got burnt on their hunting times. I was too busy to get out there as well anyway.

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