I had originally planned to just go and check if a gate at Black Star Canyon was open; it's not. They have basically gated off all the north access roads to the main divide rd. But, I found that out the hard way. I went from Silverado canyon to maple springs rd. then all the way to skyline drive to the bottom; there was a gate and had to back track all the way back up. (there isn't any "legal" way around the gate; great civil engineering) Then I went to Sierra peak hoping Leonard road was open to Green river golf course; it wasn't. So I drove all the way back to Bedford road. It ended up being about 7 hours. It's not a difficult drive but it gets hairy every once in a while. Next Sunday I'm doing it the right way; Lake Elsinor to Irvine over Santiago Peak. The south side of the Santa Ana Mountains is all open.

My Jeep is a stock 2013 Sport with 3.21 gearing and stock tires. I don't usually mod anything until it's paid off; or it doesn't do something I want it to.

 

Great way to spend 7 hours - in the Jeep on a beautiful day.

 

Yes it was an awesome day!! Just me and my Wrangler on a 75 degree day in sunny southern CA. It did everything I asked it to do and more. I was running in 4Lo and mostly 2nd gear with the AC on the whole time and it didn't even blink.

These pics are from last weekend. It was only 30 minutes to the top, then we ran out of road and had to turn back. (Rain washed away the right side of the trail.)