Top 5 Overland Routes for Beginners - California

[@mattblagys8774]

Got my first jeep wrangler and started overlanding last spring. Hit the mendocino discovery trail with my 15 year old son. Easy dirt roads and epic views on Mt. Hull. Disperse camped by a beautiful meadow near lake pillsbury. Memories for life time with my son! great video!

[@kdawgtv1333]

Goals man 😃

[@PokéPitstop]

Looking into buying a trailhawk just for these reasons haha

[@erikl85]

Oh man, I’m not normally one to get too protective of my secret spots, but I can’t lie, my heart dropped when you mentioned the east fork of the trinity river haha.

[@erikl85]

Great video though!

[@bobmalooga335]

I thought Californians love being invaded

[@CFRATT]

Excited to check out the mendocino route once all these storms die down

[@kaveman6061]

You have a new subscriber here, I like your style. Informative without being a how to video. Very funny intro. Overlanding is what we used to call camping.

[@elmerllamas3792]

Minimum ground clearance for intermediate over landing is 8.5 inches, but anything above 8 inches can handle beginner trails. Tacoma 4x4 stock is 9.4 inches for comparison. You can handle well maintained dirt tracks with 6.5 inches of minimum ground clearance.

[@Moondoggy1941]

Thank you this is exactly what I needed, I have a bone stock Lexus GX 470. I like the idea of a 1 day trip at first and then go from there,

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Be sure to check out our site. Tons of great info over there, and we've got more and more free events on our calendar as well ;)

[@toddshook1765]

Thanks for sharing these areas. I live in the high desert of So Calif. So these spots are close. Been camping for years but bit new to the overlanding way. Great places to start.

[@jonathankostka2650]

I saw some guys do usal rd (lost coast) in a 2006-2008 Prius. Was pretty impressed

[@LWRC]

Nothing to be impressed. These are just dirt roads that even clown car Teslas can drive!!!

[@raphaelcastro3673]

Thank you for creating this video! I enjoyed your work!

[@paulespinoza7172]

A few more for the bucket list. Thanks

[@gerardhoran]

Great work Ben. Some Happy Trails out here in CA

[@kimprocarione5473]

The hanging pickup!

[@Dronerangerspro]

Truly epic trails!

[@josels1292]

Nice, I just purchased a new 4x4 Diesel Silverado. I gave it a 4inch lift and some 35s. I’m looking for some beginner trails near southern Cali.

[@robm799]

I’m new. Thanks much.

[@jrsanchez2517]

In regards to the Shasta-trinity BDT, I left a comment & posted some pics on your website, of what the mud river crossing (time 12:13 of video) looked like when I did the trail last year. It probably looks more worst right now. A crossover wont be able to make that spot. A 4x4 with a winch or at least rear lockers is recommended.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

We always recommend that our members check the route statuses section, and help to report known issues such as this. Thank you for helping to report this issue-- we've added recommendations for detours have been provided as well. These sort of washouts and other trail issues, are just part of the game. The washout didn't exist as you can tell when we filmed the video, and I anticipate Shasta-Trinity NF will address and fix the issue in the near future.

[@noijoi1015]

Awesome video! I was wondering if there are routes I can go on with a third gen Tacoma Trd sport.

[@thetrailoutthere]

Unfortunately, the lost coast isn't so lost anymore. Awesome video btw!

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Usal Beach maybe, but most folks are too lazy to drive north of there!

[@MrBalas3]

Yeah. At least with Usal really best for Tuesday-Thursday than it’s fine. Or even just early Spring or late Fall. Done it in my stock 2013 RAV4 twice. A bit squirly when muddy, but still enjoyable.

[@Oregontrailblazin]

I am DOWN for the pot smokers trail !! AWD Acura RDX 6 speeds !

[@travelingman21000]

Nice pick on those trails, most newbies will find them fairly easy to do, would add some information about the Mojave Trail and that is of Soda Dry Lake don't cross it if there's been a descent rain within two weeks of your journey go around.

[@julioli8681]

Can a Tacoma TRD 4x2 handle these trails?

[@lunamaria1048]

I approved this. Thanks!

[@chris22anthony]

Little man eats it at 13:56 hope he’s alright.

[@mikeyy_4]

Thanks for sharing! Is there an app where you can find disperse campgrounds, easy trails (for soft roaders) Maps, etc. Thank you

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

All of these routes and 60+ more can be found on our site Overlandtrailguides.com

[@Jessica_6969]

Can I take my Honda fit on any of these trails? I don't have a 4x4 yet I'm saving up one right now.😁

[@joelmae827]

I saw a Prius at lost coast

[@Jessica_6969]

@@joelmae827 a prius ha I can definitely go then hehehehehe 😁

[@onemansthought]

Great video! Any of the 3 northern trails NOT trailer friendly?

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

As long as you're pulling something smaller and off-road capable like a turtle back, you'll be fine. Just avoid the out on backs on a few sections of the trails and you should be fine.

[@bengrant813]

Where was that cave at in the beginning on video?

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Watch more than just the intro and you’ll find out ;)

[@ryannance9673]

Wish we had off road trail access like aus

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

10s of thousands of miles of tracks out in the west, probably over a million with Mexico and BC. Pretty sure we have more total mileage in trails... what's the issue?

[@olivero-j1r]

Central Valley?

[@jonathanzepeda6048]

Hey bro! I have a full size 2500 long bed Cummins. Would my truck fit on the lost coast?

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

100%!!

[@ricosplace2]

Hey man, what trails have you found for full suze trucks, i have an GMC AT4 2500, i traded in my new 2023 trd pro 4runner

[@ricosplace2]

Is a full size 2500 gmc to big for these trails? I have an 2500 at4

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Yes- you should be fine. You can get all of the info for all of these tracks on our website, and when we think a full size truck will have issues on a particular piece of trail, we'll call that out. Just be prepared for pinstripes-- part of the game in full size rigs.

[@spicylama1681]

Is it possible for 2WD?

[@johnnynephrite6147]

My stock Forester has been all over the state, all 5 of these trails and dozens more. The only reason you need a "true 4x4" is if you're lugging 800 lbs of junk you dont need.

[@lurch2878]

I did the Mojave Road in my 2020 Forester sport. I really want to hit the discovery Trail in anza-borrego. I'm concerned about 'the squeeze' and 'heart attack Hill" is there a line around those obstacles that the subies can take?

[@ralphramirez1979]

I have a 06 suburban 2 wheel drive. I'd like to get into some off road trails. So your saying should be ok,?

[@johnnynephrite6147]

@@ralphramirez1979 nope, you need 4x4 bro and some decent clearance.

[@4x4hoth]

I’d like to get the lost coast 4x4 route.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Hit the website homeslice!

[@whatablissfullife]

I’m sure a 2wd with enough clearance can handle these in summer as well

[@tonykim1126]

Hopefully there are gas stations near by…my GX only get 12-14 mpg and 270 miles between fill ups. I guess I’d need to bring 4-5 gallon of gas with me to these trails.

[@OverlandTrailGuides]

Read the route guides on the site, gives info about gas stations, and they're marked within the GPX files as well.

[@DjPablo707]

After these storms we have had up north most of those trails are probably not looking so pretty..

[@muffman8469]

right on a lot of great info is that all BLM land just wondering

[@keebhaavana3387]

Are any of these doable with a awd sedan with 5”-7” of clearance?