Otay Mountain Truck Trail - Off-Roading Guide

Otay Mountain Truck Trail is an off-road adventure route through the Otay Mountain Wilderness, a nearly 17,000-acre expanse of rugged terrain in the San Ysidro Mountains of southernmost San Diego County along the US-Mexico border.
Detailed guide on OutdoorSoCal.com: www.outdoorsocal.com/posts/ot...
Muddy adventure in the areas, from my sister channel, Ordealist: • A muddy surprise on Ot...
The area offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and off-road vehicle recreation, but is particularly popular among the off-roading community. You can either stay on relatively mellow gravel roads that are suitable for your average SUV or tackle some of the more challenging technical off-road sections that require more capable off-road vehicles.
In this guide, I’ll provide an overview of the trail network and wilderness area, and share some of my favorite sections.

[@nuggers555]

Great Video, wish i would have seen this before I left to due it. When I arrived I got the gate and it was locked, thought they must have closed it. I know to go in the camp ground to the Kiosk. Would have saved me 50 mins each way today.

[@Outdoorsocal]

I've been there! No bueno.

[@jorgea.cerrato1130]

The suicide hill is definitely fun....If you don't have either front or rear lockers don't even try because you might get stuck..... the hill is very steep 😬😬😬😬😬

[@shakes00lude]

That's nearly my backyard. I've done Otay to Delzura before but not the leg up to pio pico. I need to go do that. Thanks!

[@Outdoorsocal]

The route from Pio Pico is really scenic. And that steep section is fun. A little intimidating at first, but if you have the right kind of truck it's not as bad as it looks--unless it's muddy.

[@jbt7115]

Thanks for this vid, I did this trail today. Tried to get it from Pio Pico camp grounds but the kiosk lady wouldn’t give me the code, she said they were doing some investigation there. Got directions to Merrum Valley Rd and went that way. Tacos were pretty dang good too👍

[@Outdoorsocal]

Glad you found a way i!

[@OakAthainNerin]

Thanks man!! Did the pio pico entrance on Wednesday, met 3 different border patrol but only one other driver. It is insanely beautiful this time of year, so green. I seen a ton of shotgun shells after turning left on the 3 way split, can you shoot along that area or just down on sycamore?

[@Outdoorsocal]

I'll bet it's nice out there right now. I Need to get back up there! I'm not sure about where you can shoot.

[@stacky512a]

Shelf roads always make feel a little scared because i have encountered on-coming traffic and everything in my body says "oh shit, there's nowhere to pass!" I wish more of them were designated as one way. Anyway, thanks for this vid. Great overview.

[@Outdoorsocal]

Couldn't agree more. One that really gets to me is Oriflamme Canyon - a shelf road that makes you lean out over the drop at times due to rough terrain. Yikes!

[@stacky512a]

@@Outdoorsocaloriflamme is one that I have been eyeing. I am a relative beginner, but confident enough in some trails in my Tacoma. Plenty of pass points for my mental wellbeing is always appreciated.

[@Outdoorsocal]

It's not super technical, but it does have a high pucker factor 😅

[@booglog]

be careful there are some extremely dangerous paths here

[@Brandon-nn8tx]

Hey thinking about attempting this tomorrow! What psi did you air down too? Also this would be my first truck trail anything I should know ?

[@Outdoorsocal]

@Brandon-nn8tx I drop down to 15 PSI or so. Other than suicide hill. It's all good first-timer terrain. Suicide Hill isn't super technically challenging, but you don't want to get sideways, as a rollover would be bad. Have fun out there! Don't pick up any hitchhikers.

[@OakAthainNerin]

Thanks for the video, first timer going to try it this week . Is it necessary to deflate the tires just for the regular main road?

[@Outdoorsocal]

Have fun! You don't really need to deflate your tires for traction reasons. I generally do because it makes the ride more comfortable.

[@OakAthainNerin]

@@Outdoorsocal ok cool, yea I’ve seen posts saying a 2wd could make it easily enough on the main trail but just wanted to make sure . I have a compressor so I might just do it for the comfort ride also. Thank you for the reply! I’m super excited lol

[@CaliDad619]

I’m going now

[@Outdoorsocal]

🤘🤘🤘

[@CaliDad619]

I’m going tomorrow. I go thru dog Junction by the gun range

[@zombiekill8834]

How did it go brother?!

[@joshhill878]

when are you going to OTAY next? id love to tag along!

[@Outdoorsocal]

We tend to hit Otay in the late spring and early fall, when its still too hot to go to the desert (summer), but not too hot in the Otay area. That said, I'll try to remember to hit you up. Send me a DM with your contact info.

[@gfamilyguy]

Do you know if OHV like a RZR is allowed up these trails?

[@Outdoorsocal]

Only if it's street legal, I think. Might need to check with BLM on that.

[@Rooooodeeeee]

hey, I went today and was met with "no offroad vehicle activity" signs. Did something change?? I entered with a motorcycle so I didn't need a lock at the gate. a few feet into the trail, there is a second gate, it was also open but the signs discouraged me and I drove back out.

[@Outdoorsocal]

Guessing that means no non-street legal off-road vehicles. But not sure. It would be a significant change if they weren't letting street legal trucks and motorcycles on the trails.

[@jblackacre2325]

I think it just means to stay on the trails.

[@flipmechanical4867]

Can you use a green sticker jeep there? Thanks

[@Outdoorsocal]

Honestly, I'm not sure. Give the BLM office a call 760-833-7100

[@MAAC3GEEh]

Can 2WD do the rocky trail ?? Off the main trail?

[@Outdoorsocal]

Hmm. I've only done it in a 4x4 so can't really say. Not sure I'd try it myself. Maybe I'll give it a go with the Jeep in 4WD next time I'm there and report back...

[@joevallone7313]

Did you see a dispersed camping area?

[@Outdoorsocal]

I've seen fire rings, but nothing that was clearly a camping spot. Plenty of space to camp. But I'd be a bit hesitant given the cross-border traffic and significant border patrol presence. Wouldn't want to run into coyotes or border patrol late at night.

[@joevallone7313]

@@Outdoorsocal I agree. There is some other BLM near Laguna Mountain which might be safer.

[@Outdoorsocal]

@@joevallone7313 I've camped in the BLM area near Valley of the Moon. It's another place where people sneak across, but somehow feels a bit less sketchy than the Otay area. Maybe because its more remote, or maybe I'm just fooling myself. 🤔

[@jblackacre2325]

I jeep that trail pretty regularly, and you're likely going to see illegals. Most don't look like trouble, but I have seen some pretty dangerous looking dudes who looked like ms13. I had a Chinese guy surrender to me one night a few weeks back. If you're looking for much better dispersed camping, check out the Corral Canyon trails. There are some really great places to camp out there and the trails are more interesting overall.

[@arnoldbarajas8584]

I went to find the beginning by the pio pico tv site today. It was getting late tho so I couldn’t give a try. I current got a Subaru wilderness and wanted to try its chops. Any recommendation for beginners? Was this trail too extreme?

[@Outdoorsocal]

You should be fine if you stay on the many truck trail. Wouldn't recommend the more technical trails - Suicide Hill etc. Also, avoid the side routes like Upper and Lower Ridge.

[@arnoldbarajas8584]

@@Outdoorsocal thanks for the info.

[@_XOXOLOVELESS]

Can you ride dirtbikes there ?

[@Outdoorsocal]

I think as long as they are street legal.

[@_XOXOLOVELESS]

@@Outdoorsocal Awhh 😭 I just got a new bike and don’t know where to ride it. On the on X off-road app says dirtbikes are allowed but when I talk to people they say no dirtbikes

[@Outdoorsocal]

@@_XOXOLOVELESS In cooler months, you could try Ocotillo Wells SRVA in Anza Borrego. Or try the Corral Canyon OHV www.outdoorsocal.com/posts/corral-canyon-ohv/ or the Lark Canyon OHV in McCain Valley www.outdoorsocal.com/posts/mccain-valley/

[@traciherman4149]

'Promo SM' ☀️