Collins Valley via Coyote canyon
addendum follow on post...
Alan,
don't know where you live in Irvine, but if in the South Irvine/ Lake Forest area, the route to Borrego might be quicker if :
A)you go down I5 to Oceanside, east on H78 thru Escondido, on to Santa Ysabel, North on H79, East on S2, left east on S22 into Borrego. Terrific Borrego valley views on Montezuma Grade, ~el.4000' in Ranchita down into Borrego Springs el.~800ft.
Otherwise:
B) you go thru Corona to Temecula and SE on H79 and past Warner Springs to "T", east on S2, ditto above.
And:
C) I5 to Ortega Hwy 74, Elsinore south to Temecula, etc.
This would be the most time consuming route, IMHO, because of the ride over Ortega to I15.
Note: Ranchita is burned out from the intersection of S2/ S22 to "town" from last years Julian Pines Fire.
My bud Desert Dan [Dan Cain] owns Carrizo Hike and Bike in Borrego Springs right behind Road Runner Realty & is The Man regards the environs of Borrego 4WD. He could give all the info regards any trails you may like to explore, back road camping, etc., etc.
I did most of the Borrego jeep roads in the area with the old 1983 Toy 4WD solid axle short wheel-base, narrow profile truck. The 1991 Toy 4WD extended cab was not quite as agile and longer wheel base, wider, etc. The Missus would never let me take the 1991 4Runner 4Wd off any "bad" roads, would make her nervous. The bigger Tundra 4WD extra cab have only gone off road in the Blair valley area. It is too wide for South Pinyon & the one rock passage & some other areas the '83 could navigate.
Have also done those jeep trails on the Klein MTB, all of the pave roads on the Trek OCLV road bike out to Salton Sea and Split Mountain, greater Julian, etc., and have run many of the dirt roads too. Great Winter recreation!
If your planned trip is on a Tues., Wed., or Thurs., could meet Y'all at Christmas Circle [the only traffic circle in town center with the grass & rest room] and say hello. May not make the trip up Coyote with you., etc., as may do some road biking or MTB instead. Though the Hornet is TRD 4WD, trying to keep the rock damage down a bit and outta the sand, as she needs to go 300K trouble free miles or so.
Anywho, you prob have all the info you need, etc., but if can provide any otherwise info, let me know.
Cheers,
-RH
-breck
Julian
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