First off roading

For a warm-up to get familiar with the vehicle, I recommend taking the Palomar Divide Truck Trail (FS route 9S07) and the High Point Truck Trail (FS route 8S05) over the top of Palomar Mountain (they connect with each other at the top, near a lookout tower). After that, the Black Mountain Truck Trail is a good next step, slightly more challenging. Once you feel comfortable on those trails, you can head out to the Anza Borrego Desert, lots of places to explore there. If you want to go a little farther, I hear there are lots of fun trails along Highway 395 North of Victorville, and some near Big Bear, but I haven't been there yet.

I plan to organize some trail rides to those places next year after the Broncos start arriving, or maybe before if anyone wants to take their current vehicle off road with me and my F-150 "Nada Bronco".

Scamara_17

So this is going to be my first off roading vehicle, and i have not really ever been off roading. I plan on taking the free course ford is offering to individuals who purchase a bronco but besides that once i have the bronco, any suggestions on a nice trail i can go on? Southern California area? between Los Angeles and San Diego?

Same here, but in East Tennessee. I know of a handful of off-road parks around so planning on checking options and local clubs. Good luck!

TorgSurv

For a warm-up to get familiar with the vehicle, I recommend taking the Palomar Divide Truck Trail (FS route 9S07) and the High Point Truck Trail (FS route 8S05) over the top of Palomar Mountain (they connect with each other at the top, near a lookout tower). After that, the Black Mountain Truck Trail is a good next step, slightly more challenging. Once you feel comfortable on those trails, you can head out to the Anza Borrego Desert, lots of places to explore there. If you want to go a little farther, I hear there are lots of fun trails along Highway 395 North of Victorville, and some near Big Bear, but I haven't been there yet.

I plan to organize some trail rides to those places next year after the Broncos start arriving, or maybe before if anyone wants to take their current vehicle off road with me and my F-150 "Nada Bronco".

Thank you! And once I have the bronco I’d love to join!!! I’d go now... just don’t think my Ford Focus would keep up...

IBleve

Same here, but in East Tennessee. I know of a handful of off-road parks around so planning on checking options and local clubs. Good luck!

Nice!!! Sounds like it’ll be a good time!!! Hope you enjoy the trails! Sooner or later I plan on making my way across the United States! Maybe I’ll run into some of those trails! And thanks! Good luck to you too!!

New to off-roading here as well. Sadly, there isn't much to off road near Kansas City. I see many road trips in my future.

I'm in the same boat. I've been driving sporty 'fun to drive fast' cars for years, and at 50 yrs old, figure it's time to do something different. I live in Northern CA (Sacramento) and have easy access to the Sierra Nevadas, Lake Tahoe, an OHV park named Prairie City that's only half an hour away.. but besides that, it's mostly suburbia. I have been watching the Rebelle Rally, which is currently being held in the CA/NV deserts - and there's some amazing places out there- probably not too far for you, which look AMAZING.

TorgSurv

For a warm-up to get familiar with the vehicle, I recommend taking the Palomar Divide Truck Trail (FS route 9S07) and the High Point Truck Trail (FS route 8S05) over the top of Palomar Mountain (they connect with each other at the top, near a lookout tower). After that, the Black Mountain Truck Trail is a good next step, slightly more challenging. Once you feel comfortable on those trails, you can head out to the Anza Borrego Desert, lots of places to explore there. If you want to go a little farther, I hear there are lots of fun trails along Highway 395 North of Victorville, and some near Big Bear, but I haven't been there yet.

I plan to organize some trail rides to those places next year after the Broncos start arriving, or maybe before if anyone wants to take their current vehicle off road with me and my F-150 "Nada Bronco".

I'd be happy to join if you are looking for company. I've been up Black Mountain Truck Trail and I want to go to the Anza Borrego Desert area but without recovery gear (yet) it would be nice to go with some more vehicles.

Calgecko

I'm in the same boat. I've been driving sporty 'fun to drive fast' cars for years, and at 50 yrs old, figure it's time to do something different. I live in Northern CA (Sacramento) and have easy access to the Sierra Nevadas, Lake Tahoe, an OHV park named Prairie City that's only half an hour away.. but besides that, it's mostly suburbia. I have been watching the Rebelle Rally, which is currently being held in the CA/NV deserts - and there's some amazing places out there- probably not too far for you, which look AMAZING.

I lived in Sacramento for 9 years (until 2014) so I know what you mean. Not much in the way of challenging trails there, but luckily, you're centrally located so you don't have to venture too far from town before you find some challenging terrain. I hope to see photos of your adventures here once you take delivery. Read: Post pix!

To the OP Scamara_17: Bravo for exploring your wild side by getting something that will probably deliver years of off-road enjoyment. I can identify with you because until the past few years, I never ventured off-road. Then, I got hooked up with a group of Subaru enthusiasts and I was bitten by the off-road bug. I barely scratched the surface and still, I was hooked. My venturing was limited to the forest service roads in the rugged terrain a few miles out of Seattle, but even then I knew I wanted to explore more. You'll understand better what I'm describing once you find yourself on roads like these, and "roads" of our own making, apart from the roads less traveled. You chose wisely in choosing the Bronco, which by all accounts is a very capable vehicle!

This will be my 4th streetable off-roader (I was raised in East Tennessee). My advice is take the time to learn how to read terrain and learn what your vehicle is capable off. YOU are always the most important upgrade in off-roading equation.

Another piece of advice is go with someone more experienced if you are going to go on unfamiliar trails as a novice. Nothing is worse than going out, getting in trouble and having to hike to get help. If at all possible find a place with easy access to practice skills and test yours and your vehicles limits. That way you are not lost, or far away from help.

Good luck and enjoy!

I would recommend that you make sure you have another vehicle with you. The buddy system is a must for just about anyone off road.

BuckYeah

I lived in Sacramento for 9 years (until 2014) so I know what you mean. Not much in the way of challenging trails there, but luckily, you're centrally located so you don't have to venture too far from town before you find some challenging terrain. I hope to see photos of your adventures here once you take delivery. Read: Post pix!

bringing up the old posts! I made my post in this thread in October '20... in December, I went to the local Chevy Dealer and bought a '21 ZR2 Bison - an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle. Front and rear lockers, 4 hi/lo, boron steel skid plates underneath, winch-ready front bumper, heavy duty rear bumper , rock sliders, etc... here's a thread of places I've been going:

https://thebronconation.com/forums/threads/northern-ca-off-roading-options.6577/

Calgecko

BuckYeah

I lived in Sacramento for 9 years (until 2014) so I know what you mean. Not much in the way of challenging trails there, but luckily, you're centrally located so you don't have to venture too far from town before you find some challenging terrain. I hope to see photos of your adventures here once you take delivery. Read: Post pix!

bringing up the old posts! I made my post in this thread in October '20... in December, I went to the local Chevy Dealer and bought a '21 ZR2 Bison - an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle. Front and rear lockers, 4 hi/lo, boron steel skid plates underneath, winch-ready front bumper, heavy duty rear bumper , rock sliders, etc... here's a thread of places I've been going:

https://thebronconation.com/forums/threads/northern-ca-off-roading-options.6577/

You’re not just kidding! I didn’t realize this post was so old. It was practically pre-pandemic, before guys became whiny bitches about everything! LOL

BuckYeah

I lived in Sacramento for 9 years (until 2014) so I know what you mean. Not much in the way of challenging trails there, but luckily, you're centrally located so you don't have to venture too far from town before you find some challenging terrain. I hope to see photos of your adventures here once you take delivery. Read: Post pix!

The Rubicon Trail is pretty close to Sacramento. ;)

EZAPAR

The Rubicon Trail is pretty close to Sacramento. ;)

Dude. No joke! Speaking of the Rubicon... You would have LOVED the Rubicon Brewing Company. My favorite haunt in Sactown before they closed their doors. Amazing IPA. And some other memorable brews. Chow wasn't too bad, either. Scamara_17: Sorry for deviating from topic. Somebody mentioned "Rubicon" and I went on a tangent. ;)

BuckYeah

Dude. No joke! Speaking of the Rubicon... You would have LOVED the Rubicon Brewing Company. My favorite haunt in Sactown before they closed their doors. Amazing IPA. And some other memorable brews. Chow wasn't too bad, either. Scamara_17: Sorry for deviating from topic. Somebody mentioned "Rubicon" and I went on a tangent. ;)

Look look! Subarus at the Rubicon. 2004 or so.

deadc0de

I'd be happy to join if you are looking for company. I've been up Black Mountain Truck Trail and I want to go to the Anza Borrego Desert area but without recovery gear (yet) it would be nice to go with some more vehicles.

Haha, well a few things changed for me since that post. Instead of organizing so-cal area trips I'm doing something kinda sorta related in Moab, but getting paid for it. ;)
If you come out here for Off-Roadeo be sure to say hi. In the meantime, maybe you can connect with @Dusty and the So-Cal Broncos club.

Scamara_17

So this is going to be my first off roading vehicle, and i have not really ever been off roading. I plan on taking the free course ford is offering to individuals who purchase a bronco but besides that once i have the bronco, any suggestions on a nice trail i can go on? Southern California area? between Los Angeles and San Diego?

If you want something a little further north there's Rowher Flats OHV which has a number of easy trails. Also, there's Hungry Valley SVRA which is near Castaic that also has a number of different difficulty level trails. If anyone is heading out this way, let me know if you want some company.