5 Best Off-Road Trails in Southern California

The all-new 2021 Ford Bronco is coming to join the ranks of Ford’s off-road-capable vehicles. They include awesome models like the Ford F-150 and Ranger pickups, available with the FX4 Off-Road package. The ground-pounding F-150 Raptor and adventure-seeking Explorer breeze over the rough stuff.

In Southern California, there are plenty of opportunities to test your mettle. Here are five of the best off-road trails to take Ford vehicles and see just how well they perform away from the pavement.

Red Lake Trail in Shaver Lake

A tough 2.4-mile trail near Shaver Lake is the Red Lake trail. It’s going to put your vehicle to the test with dense forest, rock crawling, and the odd watery obstacle too. Not for the faint of heart, this trail in the Sierra National Forest has humbled many drivers but the reward at the end is a breathtaking view.

The perfect ride for the Red Lake Trail is the F-150 Raptor. Designed as an off-road behemoth, the long-travel suspension, powerful twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost HO engine, and rock-gripping 4WD system are well suited for this type of action.

Pilot Rock Truck Trail in Hesperia

If you’re looking for a fun, stress-free afternoon in the hills, the Pilot Rock Truck Trail is a good choice. Ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, you’ll travel 11.9 miles in the San Bernardino Mountains starting at Silverwood Lake. Expect the trail to take around three hours from start to finish, depending on how adventurous you are.

Make a stop at the top of Pilot Rock at Waypoint 18 to snap some stellar pics of the horizon. The Ford Explorer is a fun 4WD vehicle to take on the Pilot Rock Truck Trail.

Coxey Road at Big Bear Lake

Less rock and more dirt road trail the Coxey Road trail at Big Bear Lake is enjoyable for all skill levels. At just over 19 miles in length, you’ll find plenty of spots to take a break for a picnic or to set up camp for a night or two in the backcountry. One of the least aggressive trails, Coxey Road is perfect for mostly any AWD or 4WD Ford vehicles like the Ford Edge, Escape, or Bronco.

Cougar Buttes in Lucerne Valley

Whatever excitement level you want to achieve, Cougar Buttes in the Lucerne Valley will give it to you. Take the easy route on-road trails for light 4x4-ing through scenic terrain surrounded by boulders or put your Ford vehicle through its paces on steep inclines and touch-and-go obstacles.

Cougar Buttes is a great proving ground for drivers who want to hone their skills over time. Behind the wheel of a new off-road-focused model like the Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road or in the comfort of your fully-equipped Ford Explorer Platinum, this trail never gets old.

Fish Creek Trail – Anza Borrego in Ocotillo

A favorite route for many off-roading Americans, Fish Creek Trail has easy to moderate tracks that can accommodate a wide range of drivers. Located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the views here are nothing short of stunning. Tall rock walls through sandstone canyons overlook, and earthquake faults, Fish Creek Trail is a staple for Southern California off-road vehicle owners.

At 21.8 miles long, it can take around 4 hours to complete the trail. That’s no problem when you’re in the comfort of a Ford, especially if you have continuously controlled damping, available on models like the Ford Expedition.

Looking to start new adventures in an off-road vehicle? Many Ford vehicles can fit your needs. Find your new truck or SUV when you visit your local Southern California Ford Dealers.

Resources:

https://www.trailsoffroad.com/states/CA

https://shop.ford.com/showroom/?gnav=header-all-vehicles

Back to all blogs