My wife and I are taking a trip to San Diego so I thought I'd see if anybody in that area would like to get together for a trail ride while we are there. This is our first trip to that area so I don't know of any trails around there.

 

Hey Modit - I was hoping someone else would reply to you, but I don't think we have any active San Diego members hanging out in this thread. I only know of Smelt1, and I think he spends most of his time down in Baja. I think I'm probably the closest (about an hour north of SD) and I hate for you to think we're ignoring you. It looks like our SoCal calendar is clear that time period, so I'm game.

Were you looking for technical trails or scenic trails? The problem is that most of the trails in San Diego county are still closed because of last month's fires and probably will be for some time. San Diego county was hit very hard. I think you'd have to head out to the desert for anything technical, and I'm not qualified to pretend to play trail boss on technical trails. But if someone else knows of an open trail that we can do on a day trip and wants to play trail boss, I'll be happy to tag along!


If you're looking for scenic exploration and are okay with an easier trail, Otay Mountain and Minnewawa Truck Trail looks like it is now open. One flank of Otay Mountain burned and I'm not sure how bad it is, but you'd have gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, the South Bay/Tijuana region, the Mexican border, the San Ysidro mountains, Copper Canyon, a bunch of old WWII bunkers to explore, a memorial site where the plane carrying Reba McIntire's band went down and killed ten people (a lot of planes crash on Otay Mountain), and 100+ year old Mexican border monuments that are really cool. It's basically a fire road with a difficulty rating of 2 and a scenic rating of 9, about 20 miles give or take, and some side spurs for playing around with more technical stuff. It's perfect for packing a lunch and spending the day exploring and taking a lot of photos. I haven't done that trail yet myself, but it's been on my list of places to explore so I'd welcome the excuse to finally get there.

But in the interest of full disclosure it is a remote and active border region. I have never had a problem in the border region, nor any of my friends who spend a lot of time hiking in the border region, but I can't promise that it is 100% safe and I can promise that we would get a visit from the Border Patrol just to check us out (at the very least a helicopter flyby), but they're cool. But some people aren't comfortable being in the border region and that's okay.

If that sounds like something you'd be interested in let me know. If you're looking for something more technical, someone else is going to have to help out here because the closure maps I checked this morning still show almost everything closed, and I'm not very familiar with the trails down there.

 

There's lots of good stuff out in Anza/Borrego/Ocotillo, East of the San Diego area. I bet you'd get some takers for a trip out there. Great desert camping, views (Fonts Point and 17 Palms). Lots of trails like this Slot Canyon Video out there.

Has anybody tried to get a JK through "the squeeze" yet? "the Sqeeze" Video

Nother The Squeeze and Heart Attack Hill Video

Nother link with info

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm game for anything that can be done with an open diff up front and a limited rear. Since my wife will be with me the Otay Mountain and Minnewawa Truck Trail sounds like it would be a good choice. That way we could play on some of the spurs without commiting to a long day of technical stuff.

Regarding the border region, I'm cool with that as long as we stay on the US side. I have to give my employer 30 days notice before a trip accross the US border and that time has passed.

 

If anyone else is interested in joining us, I've been in touch with Modit and we're getting together that Sunday (the 9th). The plan right now is to start on the Minnewawa trailhead at the Pio Pico Campground off Otay Lakes Road. At Doghouse Junction wie'll head west on Otay Mountain trail until the end at Kuebler Ranch. Length of the run will depend on how many side trails/obstacles we play around on.

Still waiting to confirm start time with Modit, but I'm thinking to be at the trailhead around 8:30. If any else from O.C. wants to join in we can caravan down together.

 

Just trying to get my money's worth out of the jeep!

 

He's not going to be able to make it in until mid afternoon on the 8th; he's not leaving Vegas until late Saturday morning. Now that it gets dark so early that probably won't leave enough time for Last Chance Canyon, would it? Of course, finishing in the dark would make it more interesting!