Features of each Sidekick Off Road Map

General Information
The focus of this map is the Arrowhead Trail System on the north side of Lake Arrowhead, extending west to Lake Silverwood and east to the only two crossings of Deep Creek: Devil's Hole (motorcycle only), and T6 on Forest Road 3N34 (4WD, motorcycle, or ATV). There are two designated staging areas to service the area: Pinnacle Staging Area (on 3N34 east of Hwy. 173) and Crab Flats Staging Area (north of Green Valley Rd. off 3N16). The Pinnacle Staging Area (see map inset) includes rest rooms and a "Warm-up Track." A little history: In the early days the San Bernardino Mountains attracted people because of abundant lumber. Several lumber mills were built in the area. A narrow gauge railroad was constructed to haul lumber down from the mountains. Gold was discovered in the Holcomb Valley area in the mid 1800's. Later dams were built to store water for the irrigation of the orange groves in the surrounding foothill areas.

Go to Order Form

Located 33 miles north of San Bernardino in the San Bernardino National Forest.   All street legal and green sticker vehicles allowed.  Mountain terrain.   Easy to Most Difficult trails.  "Adventure Pass" is required if you stop within the  San Bernardino National Forest, Angeles National Forest, Cleveland National Forest or Los Padres National Forest.  The Adventure Pass costs $5/day or $30/year.

General Information
The San Bernardino Mountains reach nearly two miles skyward to separate the east end of the Los Angeles basin from the high desert areas of Victorville and Hesperia. At 6,750 feet, Big Bear Valley is located in the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Valley was named after the grizzly bears who once roamed the mountains. Fifteen years after the discovery of Big Bear Valley, Bill Holcomb found gold in the valley north of Big Bear--Holcomb Valley. The news of his discovery in 1860 traveled quickly and Holcomb Valley became part of the gold rush era. Boom towns like Clapboard, Belleville and Doble provided services for the 1500 residents living in Holcomb Valley. The first miners dug down to the bedrock for the gold-rich soil and rock. After most of the placer mines were claimed, miners began digging hafts along quartz veins. The mountainous terrain offers Californians year round recreation: from winter sports to summer camping. The off highway opportunities, like most areas, are divided into roads for street legal vehicles (registered to drive on public streets) and those vehicles without the proper equipment for street use (green stickered ATVs and motorcycles). Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead Ranger districts have designated roads for joint and separate use. The dirt roads south of Big Bear Lake are open to street legal vehicles with only one exception. Which is, after the snow depth reaches twelve inches this area is closed to all motorized vehicles. However, the roads are open year round on the north side of the lake. The land management plan provides for a connecting ATV and Motorcycle route across the north side of Holcomb Valley. When completed the designated route will connect the staging area off Highway 18 (3N03) with the Crab Flats Campground and staging area. As permanent sections of the ATV route are designated, the current (temporary) routes will be closed to ATVs. Follow the signs and stay alert. The roads open to four wheel drives and other street legal vehicles are plentiful.

Go to Order Form

General Information
For years the Dusy/Ershim trail has been challenging those who are willing to maneuver through 32 miles of rugged mountain terrain. The trip from Courtright Reservoir to Kaiser Pass will take at least two days and most visitors stretch the trip into a 3 or 4 day excursion. Note: the trail is only open during the summer months, the exact dates depend on the snow pack each year. I recommend calling the ranger station before leaving home. The Dusy/Ershim Trail winds through a 600 foot corridor between the Dinkey Creek Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness areas. This corridor provides the off highway enthusiast with a chance to visit remote Wilderness areas without walking very far from their vehicle. The Dusy/Ershim trail is open to motorcycles and ATVs, as well as four wheel drives. Although the trail is patrolled by volunteer host vehicles (non-rangers) the rangers periodically run the trail with quads or their specially equipped Jeeps. Long ago the glaciers filled the surrounding valleys with ice. These glaciers scraped granite surfaces smooth while shaping the taller ones into unique forms. Evidence of the glaciers' handiwork can be found on the sides of the many domes and across the granite slabs that you will cross. Also left behind were many pockets to collect water. From topographical maps I counted over 40 lakes within one mile of the trail. However, only Lakecamp Lake and Ershim Lake are partially within the Dusy/Ershim corridor. The others can only be reached by hiking into Wilderness areas. Most people refer to the Dusy/Ershim Trail simply as the Dusy Trail. But actually the lower section from Courtright Reservoir to just east of Black Peak is the Dusy Trail. The section of the trail from Black Peak to Kaiser Pass is called the Ershim Trail. When you're traveling on the trail, it's the same terrain. In fact, the trail is just as challenging running it backwards -- Kaiser Pass to Courtright Reservoir. Whichever way you choose to go, it will be challenging and rated as "Most Difficult."

Go to Order Form

NEW! - Red or Black Bandana with our Glamis map printed on it.

Never get lost again at Glamis. Tie this red or black bandana on your rollbar, stuff it in a pocket or protect your face from blowing sand. The bandana has a complete map of Glamis: hill locations, GPS coordinates, canal crossing, railroad tracks, highways, camping areas and proposed boundaries. 22"x22". All cotton. Fully washable and dryable.

Imperial Sand Dunes, "Glamis," is 27 miles east of Brawley, California near Yuma, Arizona.  All street legal and green sticker vehicles are allowed.  The Imperial Dunes are the largest sand dunes open to recreational use in the United States.

General Information
The Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis) are the largest sand dunes open to Off Road use in the Unites States. The dunes begin 21 miles east of Brawley and stretch all the way into Mexico, over 40 miles away. The dunes vary in width from about a quarter mile at the north end of the Mammoth Wash area, to about 5 miles in width below Highway 78. There are over 150,000 acres designated as open or having limited use. About 27,000 acres are closed (mostly north of Hwy. 78).  Although off road enthusiasts and campers visit the area year-round, during the summer months you need to be prepared for temperatures consistently exceeding 100º and reaching 120º on occasion. However, like most of the California desert, the humidity is low and the nights cool down considerably. Since the annual rain fall is less than 2”, the only winter hazard is blowing sand. Winter temperatures are in the 60-70º range (popular season). Checking the weather forecast for El Centro CA, or Yuma AZ will give you a good idea about the weather conditions at the dunes.

General Information
About 60 miles north of Los Angeles, California (35 miles north of Six Flags-Magic Mountain) is a great area for off highway vehicles of all types. Located west of Gorman is both the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) and the Los Padres National Forest. By connecting trails, these two agencies have created a series of off highway routes for enthusiasts with mountain bicyclists, ATVs, motorcycles and four wheel drives. You can camp at one of several campgrounds within the SVRA. From there you can ride anywhere within the designated Open Area or on one of many OHV routes within the park. If you get bored with the terrain, ride into the Los Padres Forest on one of the several connector routes. Travel within the Los Padres Forest is limited to designated trails (no cross country travel). These National Forest routes reach remote areas on challenging trails. Routes range in difficulty from Easy to Most Difficult. With four wheel drive you can also enter Hungry Valley via Lockwood Creek and Miller’s Jeep Trail. This route is reached by driving past Gorman, exiting the freeway at Frazier Park and driving west into Lockwood Valley. Our Trail Guide section describes this route in detail.Regardless of your vehicle and skill level, this area offers something for everyone. Most of the area is effected by rain and snowfall each year. This creates washouts and other hazards for the off highway recreationist. For example, I’ve seen Lockwood Creek high enough to wash a 4WD vehicle downstream. The area’s close proximity to Los Angeles makes it perfect for a one day trip, but the running streams and scenic beauty of the Los Padres National Forest encourage people to camp overnight in the area. Camping within the SVRA is permitted at one of the 10 designated campgrounds. You can disperse camp in the National Forest, however building a campfire within the Forest is mostly restricted to campgrounds. 

Go to Order Form

NEW! - Bandana with our Moab full color, topographical map printed on it. Moab Bandana Map is 22"x22" 100% cotton, natural color fabric, fully washable and dryable. GPS coordinates, 25 Safari trails, highways, landmarks, hills, and full color topographic detail. Bandana Maps are durable, can be stuffed in a pocket, worn around your neck, or used to protect your face from dirt or rain.

Go to Order Form

NOTE: Surprised Canyon is CLOSED to motorized vehicles! (6/2001)

General Information
The Panamint Mountains contain considerable history about mining in the late 1800's. Ballarat began in 1897 after the miners outgrew their settlement in Pleasant Canyon (Clair Camp). Each day miners rode on wagons nearly six miles to Clair Camp before taking the 2,400' aerial tramway to the Radcliffe Mine (6,496'). Chris Wicht, Ballarat's bartender, made his home at the mouth of Surprise Canyon. Today George Novak and his son, Rocky, are living there and mining a nearby claim. Panamint City is located at the top of Surprise Canyon. During the Panamint City boom days, 1873-1876, the main street housed nearly 2,000 miners and some population figures are as high as 5,000. The bottom section of the road washed out in 1984 and now requires a winch to get over the seven falls. The road into Happy Canyon was closed by the Desert Protection Act (DPA) about 2.5 miles up the canyon. If you hike it, the road winds up into the Panamint Mountains past an old mill site and through brush as it follows the stream. Near the end of Happy Canyon is a cabin and small mine of the Westons, who still operate it. Surprise Canyon requires a winch to climb over three washed out sections. The Trail Guide describes Surprise Canyon, Pleasant Canyon and gives details on a trip through Goler Wash across Mengel Pass and into Death Valley. This is the only connecting 4WD road between Panamint Valley and Death Valley. Of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without stopping by Barker Ranch, the place where Charles Manson was captured. There are many cabins throughout the area which welcome visitors to stay on a first-come basis. The owners simply ask you to keep the cabins neat and sign the "guest book." These mountains are a great place to explore. However, with the expansion of Death Valley "green stickered vehicles" can only travel a short distance up the canyons before reaching the park boundary. For street legal vehicles, only Happy Canyon was closed by the DPA. If you wish to explore the area with an organized group, contact the Calif. Association of 4Wheel Drive Clubs for details on their annual Panamint Valley Days event held in November each year (916) 332-8890.

Go to Order Form

General Information
The Jeepers Jamboree in Georgetown (530) 333-4771 or (530) 333-4777 has been guiding 4WD enthusiasts through the Rubicon trail since 1953.  Today the trail is the most written about 4WD trail in the United States.  The narrow passages, rocky climbs and occasional mud hole keep the trail rated as "Most Difficult."  The granite slabs, remote lakes, and mountain beauty create a desire to return every year.  The trail is recommended for short wheel base vehicles with some type of rocker panel protection, and even then you may pick up a scratch or dent. Each year the snow fall closes the Rubicon trail in late October or early November.   The snow melts off in June or July, leaving behind a graphic illustration of the power of running water--rocks are moved and the trail takes on a new look.  Since 1989 I've watched the Little Sluice become nearly impassable and the Big Sluice clean-out.  On my first trip across the Rubicon, six out of the seven vehicles received some type of damage.   I saw a full size 4WD pickup (not recommended) finish the trail with both doors damaged (major dents), trail scars in the pickup bed, and the rear bumper twisted into a new position.  The Rubicon Trail is best suited for vehicles no wider than a Jeep/Bronco or longer than a Toyota pickup.  If your pleasure is mountain biking, motorcycling, or ATV riding, I suggest camping the end of the pavement just west of Wentworth Springs.  From here you can explore the Rubicon trail or the many roads in the area.  You can also camp near the Rock Creek OHV area just 4 miles east of Georgetown off Wentworth Springs Road.  Maps of this area are available at the Georgetown Ranger Station.  For information call (530) 333-4312 (24 hours). Traveling from west to east has become the most common route and although you can reach Lake Tahoe in one day, the beauty of the Sierras and the challenging Rubicon trail create a desire to linger for several days,  But without a doubt, once you have completed the Rubicon trail, the feeling of success will overwhelm you.  You and your equipment will have completed one of the most difficult and talked about trails in the United States.

Go to Order Form

General Information
Historical, Rugged and Sensitive! This is the best way to describe the area surrounding the small town of Jacumba, California. Jacumba is about 65 miles east of San Diego off Highway 8. During the heat of the summer months, the Indians moved their camps from the shores of the ancient Lake Cahuilla (now the Salton Sea) into the Jacumba Mountains. Even today darkened soil from animal fat can still be seen around their ancient roasting pits. During the mid to late 1800's, an Overland Stage route passed through Mountain Springs and Jacumba on its way to San Diego. The old stage route winds up the mountain from the north side of Highway 8. The early settlers in the area struggled with cattle rustlers, smugglers, bandits, Mexicans and Indians. Then in 1912, the first dirt road was blasted through the rugged area. Automobiles could now travel a rough and rocky road between El Centro and San Diego. A few years later, the San Diego and Arizona Railroad built its railroad through Carrizo Gorge. The 11 mile journey went through 16 tunnels, of which two are one-half mile long, and crossed 14 wooden trestles. One of the trestles is the tallest wooden span in the world at 186 feet above the sandy wash below. Visit the restored railroad station in La Mesa and Campo. The railroad museum at Campo is open 10a.m. to 5p.m. and offers a short historic train ride (619?)697-7762. The tracks through Carrizo Gorge are currently being repaired. Anza Borrego State Park, private landowners and the BLM all manage portions of the Jacumba Mountains. The area is a great place to explore existing roads with an Off Highway Vehicle: ATV, 4WD, buggy, motorcycle or mountain bicycle. Each managing agency has its own set of rules governing Off Highway use. Here are a few guidelines that will assist you and may help to keep the area open: vehicles must be street legal within Anza Borrego State Park. Obey the road closure signs: they protect ancient sites. Travel only on existing roads. No mechanized travel within the specified Wilderness Area. Building a fire within San Diego County requires a permit issued by the Forest Service Offices within San Diego County. If you prefer to ride in an open area (any vehicle, anywhere) simply continue east on Hwy. 8 to the Plaster City OHV Open Area. The Carrizo Gorge Railroad, cave dwellings, petroglyphs, old stagecoach stations, old stagecoach routes and several legends of lost treasures create the desire to explore the backroads of the Jacumba Mountains. On each trip into the Jacumba Mountains we stopped the vehicles and hiked into the rugged terrain.

Go to Order Form

General Information
The Stoddard Valley Off Highway Vehicle Area is open to all vehicles. There are more than 50,000 acres of desert mountains (very few trees), valleys and sandy washes to explore. The terrain difficulty varies from easy to impossible.
The OHV area is bounded on the north by Barstow, the west by Interstate 15 and the east by Highway 247. Except for holiday weekends and race events, the area receives low to moderate use. Stoddard Valley has become a popular area to hold Off Road Races. There are staging areas for pit crews, but the public can dry camp anywhere. Attending the California Assoc. of Four Wheel Drive Clubs’ annual Hi Desert Round-Up event in Stoddard Valley during Memorial Day Weekend is a good way to discover the area. (800) 494-3866. The best access from Interstate 15 is Hodge Road or Outlet Center Drive. Dale Evans Parkway and Stoddard Wells Road exits from Interstate 15 will put you onto private property and several miles outside the OHV area. From Highway 247 the best access is Stoddard Wells Road or the dirt roads just north of the Slash X Ranch Cafe. The valleys and mountains are honey-combed with trails, while the mountains have trails to challenge even the best rider or four wheeler, the sandy washes and desert trails are for higher speeds. The Trail Guide describes many of the areas within the OHV Boundary. The area outside the OHV boundary is a Limited Use Area. This includes the area west of Interstate 15. Presently a Limited Use area restricts travel to Existing Roads only. The BLM is redefining Limited Use to traveling on Designated Roads rather than Existing Roads. Once the transition is complete, a new BLM Desert Access Guide will be printed. The Desert Tortoise lives in the California high desert. The tortoise hibernates through the winter in an underground burrow. After sleeping through the winter, the tortoise becomes active in the spring. It is illegal to remove a tortoise from the desert. Only move a tortoise when it is in danger of being run over, and only in the same direction it was traveling and no further than necessary. The tortoise can live to be 100 years old but can die early from diseases carried by a domesticated tortoise released into the wild. If you already have a tortoise, you must obtain a permit. For more information go to www.tortoise.org
Pack it in, Pack it out!

Go to Order Form

Only $3.00 Published 2001.
The Silverton Map included with the #15 Silverton Colorado Video can be purchased separately for only $3.00 from the order form.  Although the map is scaled and includes topographical information it is printed in a different format in order to fit inside the video box.  The 12x19 inch map includes the area bounded by Ridgway on the north, Silverton on the south, Telluride to the west and Lake City to the east. Printed on the backside are GPS waypoints, references and information about the local towns.  To view the map portion just click here: Silverton Map.

Go to Order Form