5 Inland Empire Off-Road Trails Perfect for Your Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator

Five Inland Empire Trails Worth the Drive

These routes run the full range. Some are well-graded fire roads a stock Jeep can handle. Others are black-diamond rock gardens that demand serious hardware. All sit in the San Bernardino National Forest, across three ranger districts. Grab OHV and Motor Vehicle Use maps from the district that manages your route before you head up. Use the Lytle Creek Ranger Station for Cleghorn Ridge, the Big Bear Discovery Center for the Big Bear trails (Holcomb Creek, Gold Mountain, and John Bull), and the Idyllwild office for San Jacinto Ridge.

Know Before You Go: Permits and Forest Rules

Local land-use rules keep trail access open and help you avoid fines. To park at staging areas, trailheads, and day-use sites in the San Bernardino National Forest, display a National Forest Adventure Pass. It comes in daily or annual formats. You also need a California Campfire Permit for any open flame outside a developed campground. That includes wood fires, charcoal grills, and even portable gas stoves. Fire danger can rise fast in Southern California, so seasonal restrictions are common. Always check the current fire status and forest orders before you go.

Vehicles that are not street-legal, such as green-sticker or red-sticker off-highway vehicles, must carry current OHV registration and be trailered to staging areas. Street-legal Jeeps do not need a special off-road permit on open forest-service truck trails. They do, however, have to stay on designated routes. Whether you set out from Ontario, Corona, or West Covina, sort your permits before you load the gear.

Choosing the Rubicon Hardware That Matches Your Trail

How far you push your Jeep should guide which trim you drive. For fire roads and moderate dirt, the Sport, Sport S, and Sahara trims have the traction you need. Chasing black-diamond terrain like John Bull or Holcomb Creek? Step up to the Rubicon family. A stock Rubicon on 33-inch tires clears a lot of trail, but John Bull’s hardest lines typically call for 35-inch tires, added armor, and often a winch. For those, look at the Rubicon’s Xtreme 35 package or the 35-inch-tire Moab 392. Keep in mind that the Moab 392 uses a 2.72:1 Selec-Trac full-time transfer case rather than the Rubicon’s 4:1 Rock-Trac low range, leaning on its V8 torque instead of deep gearing for slow-speed crawling. The lineup spans seven trims for 2026:

On Rubicon trims, the Rock-Trac 4×4 system is built for low-speed crawling. It pairs a heavy-duty transfer case with a 4.0:1 low-range ratio, Tru-Lok electronic front and rear lockers, and an electronic front sway-bar disconnect. The disconnect lets the front suspension flex freely over uneven ground. For full trim-by-trim detail, see the dealership’s 2026 Jeep Wrangler trim levels guide.

Wrangler or Gladiator? Match the Jeep to the Terrain

The two share Jeep’s off-road DNA but suit different trails. The Wrangler’s shorter wheelbase shines on tight, technical canyon routes with sharp turns and narrow shelf roads. It clears switchbacks easily and has stronger breakover and departure angles. The Gladiator’s longer wheelbase trades some of that nimbleness for a smoother, more stable ride. It also adds a cargo bed for overlanding gear, which helps on high-speed desert washes and forest roads. So the Wrangler feels most at home on boulder-strewn trails, while the Gladiator shines on longer scenic routes like San Jacinto Ridge. To go deeper on the hardware, read our overview of Jeep Wrangler off-road capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Cleghorn Ridge trail require a lifted Jeep Wrangler?

The main fire road of Cleghorn Ridge is a well-maintained dirt path that a stock Wrangler can navigate in standard four-wheel-drive high range. However, the trail is known for steep offshoot bypasses with deep ruts, off-camber sections, and exposed rocks. If you plan to attempt those obstacles, a suspension lift, larger tires, and locking differentials are recommended to prevent underbody damage.

Are Inland Empire off-road trails a good match for a Jeep Wrangler?

Yes. The rugged terrain of the local mountain ranges is an ideal environment for a Wrangler. With generous ground clearance, strong approach and departure angles, and skid-plate protection, the Wrangler is built for the steep climbs, deep ruts, and rocky riverbeds found throughout the region.

Is the San Jacinto Ridge trail suitable for a Jeep Gladiator?

Yes. San Jacinto Ridge is a scenic forest truck trail in the San Bernardino National Forest with moderate ruts and seasonal water crossings, but it lacks the tight, vehicle-width boulder squeezes that challenge longer-wheelbase trucks. A stock Gladiator with quality all-terrain tires and good ground clearance will handle it comfortably.

Prepare for the Trail with a Local Jeep Team

An active outdoor lifestyle is part of the local culture. Nearby Norco, “Horsetown USA,” is built around horse ranches, dirt trails, and open space. Maybe you are ready to move into a trail-capable Wrangler or Gladiator. Maybe you just want to talk through capability first. Either way, our Ontario team is here to help. You’ll find our showroom at 1202 Auto Center Dr, Ontario, CA 91761. For directions or to confirm availability before the trip, get in touch with our team.