SoCal trails (North San Bernardino area)
 

Hey guys. Now that my XJ is just about to be 4wd, its time to start trail planning. Its been a while since I have been on the trails but I have explored mostly every trail in the area by now. Pretty much everything in Lytle Creek, all the fire roads by Cleghorn, even done the Cleghorn trail that dumps you out at Silverwood Lake (almost rolled it on the last section). What else is around that area that is halfway decent? What about up in the high desert? I know Big Bear has a ton of trails but dont know which ones are good. Mostly looking for trails that my buddy can follow me in his bone stock Renegade Trailhawk (he is just getting in to off roading). Land marks, look out points, snow, or anything like that is a plus. Any ideas?

For your perusal...

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/San_Ber...ty,_California

Ahh, very nice. Thank you. Not too bad for local areas. I have been on a lot of the trails on the list too. Did all the Cucamonga, Cajon and Silverwood ones already. Time to keep going down the list! So Arrowhead is next. Hopefully with some snow.

Alright so since there is now a ton of snow in the mountains, I am either going out tonight or tomorrow. If tonight, I will go in the Renegade. If tomorrow, it will be the Renegade and my 3 wheel drive XJ. Yes that means the trans and t-case will be in tomorrow but still no D30....

Anyone been to Gobblers Knob? Its at the top of Lytle Creek @ 7000ft. Its a nice easy trail (fire road) so I hope I can make it up in 2wd if I end up taking the XJ.

A word of advice, avoid any of the black diamond trails on that site if you're taking a bone stock Renegade...you will take damage and probably get stuck or worse...stick to the easier trails.

Never been, but at that elevation, with the weather we've been having, I will put it as gently as I can...DON"T GO UP THERE WITH 2WD. I would also not take a stock Renegade either, those hills have been pounded the last 48 hours. Get stuck up there, not gonna be a whole lot of folks coming by to help...IF you decide to try it, do NOT go alone in one rig...and I cannot stress this enough, GO PREPARED. Lots of recovery gear, shovels, extra food, water, fuel, warmth...you get the idea...yes it is SoCal...but people still die out there. Often. Do NOT challenge mother nature, she will kick your ass!

One more thing...if you don't have a front axle in that's hooked up to the TC, you have 2wd, or essentially 1wd if not locked. DON'T do it.

With all the rain we've been having I definitely wouldn't go alone, or at night. Rain changes the trails. Wash outs, running water, etc can be expected. I wouldn't venture out on those trailers with a renegade in broad daylight alone and without recovery gear.

Keep in mind that's the lower elevations...let alone above snow line. Whole 'nother ball game.

Thanks for the backup.

:o Excuse my typos, I'm on my phone.

If you go to the Discovery Center in Big Bear (north side of the lake) they'll give you a trail map along with other helpful info. Pretty much all I've taken is 3N16 and a bit of 2N16. Both are pretty tame. Id say the Renegade would be fine once everything clears. As Roni said...I wouldn't chance it right now with the snow conditions. Looked over your build BTW, looking good.

Haha thanks for the advise guys. I have been on these trails many times and in all conditions so I knew what we were going up against. We loaded up the Renegade with a ton of stuff, mostly warm stuff and food and headed out. We had 2 other people who were going to meet us at the start of the trail. But when we got there, all gates were closed. There are 4 main entrances on the south side (going through Lytle Creek). All closed. They had 1 trail open but it was not one that connected back to the trail I wanted to go to. So we left Lytle Creek and headed up to the Silverwood exit toward Wrightwood. Well the 2 other entrances there were closed to. So called it quits at that point. The people we were supposed to meet up with went over to the Cleghorn trail instead. We said no thanks. I dont like those trails even in the dry yet alone with a stock Renegade in the wet.

And trust me, I would not take my Cherokee out in the snow until it is 4wd haha. I have tried to wheel in the snow in 2wd before and didnt get far before the 4wd lever was pulled. Sliding sideways on the side of a cliff is no fun...

Jay - I will let you know when we plan on going to Big Bear! Would be nice to go with someone who is familiar with the trails. I will try to keep this thread going with future updates on the next local wheeling location. I should be officially 4wd in 2 weeks or so. Then the real fun starts! Going to snow is my goal for the next trip!

They saved you from yourself, LOL

You are most likey right. Everything happens for a reason. Right?

Found a new trail this weekend. Not 2wd friendly. It was very washed out from the recent rain and was slightly muddy. Like a 1.5' deep trench that you had to keep crossing (lots of 3 wheel action from the Renegade but none for the XJ). I got to one really washed out spot (2ft trench on one side) and kept sliding in to it. So called it quits there. Need 4wd! I was surprised at how good the Jeep did in 2wd low though.

For anyone looking to go on this trail, its off the 215 @ Kendall. Pretty much just get off on Kendall and go east. Its about 2 miles from the freeway. Cant miss is. I think it takes you up to about 5500ft.