With a state as big and beautiful as California, how do you begin to describe all the great off-roading and adventure lifestyle places to enjoy? California’s vast area and diverse terrain makes for some of the best Jeep® 4×4 opportunities in the world. It surely can’t be covered in our short blog, but we’ll try to hit some of the highlights.
Northern California: The mountains, deep forests, and coastal areas are the highlights of Northern California. While the Rubicon Trail is probably the most famous 4×4 trail in California, this part of the state also offers some hidden gems that you won’t want to miss. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Redding, California offers many recreational opportunities, including off-roading and backcountry road tours. The national forest has hundreds of miles of backcountry roads that are waiting for your Jeep 4×4 to explore. In addition, the nearby Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area (http://www.blm.gov) has 52,000 acres and 200 miles of roads and trails. After your off-road adventure, enjoy the national forest’s variety of other outdoor recreation. Hiking, mountain biking, boating, hunting, and fishing are just some of the activities available. For more information on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov
Central California: The 4×4 opportunities in Central California are endless. The terrain varies widely, featuring hills, alpine mountains, and arid desert. Death Valley National Park is one of our favorite places to take our Jeep vehicles, with over 1,000 miles of backcountry roads to enjoy. The Lippincott Mine Road is a favorite in Death Valley. This moderate but narrow six-mile route climbs almost 1500 feet through the Panamint Mountains and ends at the abandoned Lippincott Mine. Another great 4×4 destination in Death Valley is the Mahogany Flats/Charcoal Kilns road. Once you reach the end of this 8-mile road, grab your pack and make the 3,000-foot climb to the summit of Telescope Peak, the highest mountain in Death Valley National Park, at 11,049 feet. From the summit, you can see the highest and lowest elevation points in the United States… all at the same time! For more information on activities at Death Valley, check out: http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
Southern California: Joshua Tree National Park is a beautiful off-roading and adventure destination. One of our favorites is the Pinkham Canyon-Thermal Canyon Road. This moderate 20-mile semi-loop allows you to take your Jeep 4×4 through the scenic desert washes and canyons of Joshua Tree backcountry, and offers great views of Monument Mountain. A side road takes you to Thermal Canyon, which is one of the most scenic areas of the park. You should plan for a full day of off-roading if you decide on taking this trail. After your 4×4 adventure, take advantage of the world-class rock climbing opportunities available in Joshua Tree. Thousands of rock climbing routes are available, from beginner to expert levels. Bring your own gear or hire a local guide to explore this classic rock climbing destination.
That’s just a small sampling of the great off-roading and adventure opportunities available in this vast state. California’s variety of terrain offers enough off-roading and other outdoor activities to keep you busy for a lifetime. If you get the chance, visit California, one of our favorite destinations to take our Jeep 4×4. Do you have a favorite area in California to off-road that you would like to share?