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Easy rides for some beginners?

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We are a couple of new (to dirt) riders looking for some easy fire roads or trails to get our feet wet on the weekends.  The past two weeks we've gone out to Pine Valley and rode south taking the quick loop back to the parking area, but I'm curious if any of you have some suggestions for some easy local rides we can do.  I'm on a KTM 450EXC and she's on a DR200.  They're both plated but we prefer to pack the bikes in the back of the truck if there is any significant amount of freeway riding.  We could connect to a trail via side streets, but our bikes don't really like 55mph.

Any suggestions for some safe and obvious routes around the county?  Thanks in advance!

Chris

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Ramona. Off Pamo valley rd. 3 trails out there are fun and good to learn on. Oroscoe ridge. Black mtn truck trail and Lusardi truck trail. 

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Otay Mountain via Otay Lakes Rd. 

You do have to be very careful about oncoming vehicles, and Border Patrol. 

I would be glad to show you around out there if you like. It's my go to spot. If you were to truck the bikes you can park at Hollenbeck canyon down the street on Honey Springs Rd. 

There are fire roads and other dirt trails when you're ready. 

Boulder Creek Rd goes from Descanso to Pine Hills, dirt graded. 

Black Canyon in Ramona also dirt graded. 

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San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
14352–14366 Otay Lakes Rd
Dulzura, CA  91917
United States

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Nate Harrison up Palomar Mountain is gorgeous and very beginner friendly. The fire roads out at Corral Canyon can be fun, and the fire lookout tower is worth the trip. 

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1 hour ago, Wierdrider said:

Otay Mountain via Otay Lakes Rd. 

You do have to be very careful about oncoming vehicles, and Border Patrol. 

I would be glad to show you around out there if you like. It's my go to spot. If you were to truck the bikes you can park at Hollenbeck canyon down the street on Honey Springs Rd. 

There are fire roads and other dirt trails when you're ready. 

Boulder Creek Rd goes from Descanso to Pine Hills, dirt graded. 

Black Canyon in Ramona also dirt graded. 

...

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
14352–14366 Otay Lakes Rd
Dulzura, CA  91917
United States

This sounds like a good run for us.  I found the wildlife refuge, which looks like where we could park the truck and unload, but I'd like to positively identify the route before we commit to it.  Looking on street view, all of the little trails on the map appear to be on private property with gates at the entrances.

 

Wildlife refuge:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hollenbeck+Canyon+Wildlife+Area/@32.6683413,-116.8250663,1209m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x80dbd858c54b48bf:0x19791b9768376168!2sBoulder+Creek+Rd,+Descanso,+CA+91916!3b1!8m2!3d32.9312935!4d-116.6384054!3m4!1s0x0:0xbc12e7ca20ee045d!8m2!3d32.6705974!4d-116.8228921!6m1!1e1

A little south of there on the 94 I can see what looks to be an entrance to the "Otay Truck Trail", but street view shows a locked gate:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hollenbeck+Canyon+Wildlife+Area/@32.6547221,-116.8068921,3a,60y,248.6h,70.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s30aN--S0ZnaMTAwaCHUNlg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x80dbd858c54b48bf:0x19791b9768376168!2sBoulder+Creek+Rd,+Descanso,+CA+91916!3b1!8m2!3d32.9312935!4d-116.6384054!3m4!1s0x0:0xbc12e7ca20ee045d!8m2!3d32.6705974!4d-116.8228921!6m1!1e1

A little north of the refuge there's another trail head but also gated:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hollenbeck+Canyon+Wildlife+Area/@32.6737974,-116.8357904,3a,60y,228.35h,69.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVPaMzn8dNNQ0PcxE8808zg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x80dbd858c54b48bf:0x19791b9768376168!2sBoulder+Creek+Rd,+Descanso,+CA+91916!3b1!8m2!3d32.9312935!4d-116.6384054!3m4!1s0x0:0xbc12e7ca20ee045d!8m2!3d32.6705974!4d-116.8228921!6m1!1e1

 

Thanks again to all those who posted their easy routes.  We will get to all of them in due time!

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That bike is a plated TTR 250. 

The pin in the picture is where I go up the mountain, it has never been locked for me. That is at Thousand trail campgrounds or Pio Pico. They don't really have a good place to park though. 

image.png

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if you take the 8 to kitchen creek road and head north on kitchen creek: kitchen creek rd to Fred canyon rd (you have to turn right at chibbits flats campground) to thing valley rd to la posta truck trail is a nice loop for beginners, you can also go left on thing valley and take it up to mount laguna. Im a beginner and i did this road last weekend by myself with no problem. Im going riding this saturday, probably around otay where a couple of the guys suggested for you, but if your interested in riding this route at a slow beginners pace, shoot me a text or email and we can ride together, either otay or fred canyon. Dave moore 773-220-5061

 

Screen Shot 2016-06-29 at 10.39.20 AM.png

 

 

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I feel a beginn errs ride brewing up, 

Definitly some nice routes listed here.

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Question: my wife has been riding Street bikes confidantly for 4 years. She got a 500x adventure, and is also confident in the street with it. Dirt scares her, so she also got a xt 225 to practice on. Sand is not going to happen for her until she gains some dirt confidence. Hills are new, turns are painfully slow. Anyone else in this beginning stage? Suggestions?

 

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Corral Canyon Saturday morning. Fire roads. Very been friendly. 

See my post. 

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4 hours ago, V-Dog said:

Question: my wife has been riding Street bikes confidantly for 4 years. She got a 500x adventure, and is also confident in the street with it. Dirt scares her, so she also got a xt 225 to practice on. Sand is not going to happen for her until she gains some dirt confidence. Hills are new, turns are painfully slow. Anyone else in this beginning stage? Suggestions?

 

You and your wife could come riding with me and my girlfriend (she also rides an xt225) were beginners and I know a couple easy dirt routes: fred canyon/thing valley, otay, or corral canyon are all good ones for beginners. Pm me or shoot me a text if you want directions to any of these places. better yet, It looks like Ken s just set up a noob ride at corral for this saturday.

Dave Moore

773-220-5061

 

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Ken, we can't make tomorrow, next weekend? Or weekdays

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