SoCal Broncos

Some friends are visiting from Canada for Labor Day. Was thinking of taking them to Anza Borrego, through Canon sin Nombre, then Arroyo Secco, down the Diablo Dropoff and out through Fish Creek. However it is going to be 100F+ on the weekend so that plan is a nogo.

Was looking at trails in Big Bear and came across Heartbreak Ridge - Pontiac Sluice. Will be traveling with a single Bronco, BD, lifted 2.5" with Bilstein 6112s, on 33" KO2s. I have added some skids at the bottom and have the Barnes tie rod reinforcement. Have reasonable experience with medium level trails, have watched a bunch of videos on YT, and the trail looks navigable solo, even without a spotter.

Any reason not to try it with a single Bronco? How heavily travelled is this trail on holiday weekends?

Personally I would still find a group to ride with just in case. I go up to big bear with at least one other. If you were just sticking to burns, then you’d be fine with plenty of traffic to help if something were to happen. Heartbreak is popular but never a guarantee that you’ll see someone come through since there’s so many places to wheel up there.

Heartbreak Ridge is a fun trail and should be fine for you. But as stated above, always better going with another vehicle. Be sure to sign the Alan Rowe Memorial Log book at the top.
A fun scenic one would be Pilot Rock the overlooks Silverwood lake.

@Felix808

@Felix808 thanks for the recommendation, will check it out

Heartbreak Ridge is on the hot side of the mountain so traffic on it will still be a bit sparse on Labor Day weekend. Over the past year the trail has gotten a bit rougher. Your Bronco should be fine on it but there is currently, in my opinion, a higher than usual chance of breakage on it. And it's VERY remote, and in an area that will still be very hot at that time. If you can't find a second vehicle to run it with you, I would suggest re-routing. Gold Mountain would be an excellent trail to take some visitors on to show them some thrills with low risk. It's a tougher trail than Heartbreak but its at higher elevations so temperatures will be fine, plus it's more heavily travelled so you'll be more likely to have help if you need it. Plus much of the trail has decent cell phone coverage (not the case out at Heartbreak). Gold Mountain is a little easier in the north-to-south direction as you're coming down off of ledges rather than climbing up them so it might be a good idea to traverse it in that direction. Plus the best views will be in front of you rather than behind. Another fun but fairly low-risk route would be to string together Little John Bull with The Squeeze, and tack on a few other trails for good measure such as Upper Holcomb or Delamar Mountain.

@Dusty

@Dusty thank you for the suggestions

Edit - watched a video on Gold Mountain and it is beyond my skills, particularly when alone

I did heartbreak ridge 2 weeks ago as well as last year. The trail has changed tremendously. I been known to adventure alone at time but I wouldn't recommend that on by yourself. The rocks grew and they are loose, front tires just drag them under your belly.

@BLTom

@BLTom thanks for the beta. I will have passengers in the car so technically I will have a spotter but a spotter does not help with the situation you describe. How is the road up to the Pontiac? If not too bad we can go there, turn around at the Pontiac and then exit via 2N01 and Rattlesnake Canyon

Is there a trail you would recommend in the Big Bear area (or elsewhere in SoCal) that is both scenic and somewhat challenging yet still suitable for a solo bronco?

up to the pontiac isn't too bad, the fun starts shortly after that

@BLTom

@BLTom found this very recent video. Not sure if that is you. Certainly looks unwise to do solo given the current condition of the road past the pontiac. And even up to the pontiac may not be enjoyable for visitors.

@GroovyGeek

@GroovyGeek yep i'm the white 2 door, actually we did not go all the way to the top, We were all willing to do it but the raptor ws complaining he was too wide, widltraks dash was lighting up with codes and my wife wasn't all that happy. We plan to go back soon but haven't set a date yet

Dust and Felix know a lot more about the area than I do

SoCal Broncos

GroovyGeek

SoCal Broncos

Share this group

Quick Overview