Field GuideCleveland N.F.

Palomar
Dirt Bike Routes

Palomar Mountain in north San Diego County, the compact third district of the Cleveland after the Santa Anas and the Lagunas. It's a small, entirely plated network: the long Palomar Divide ridge, a high-clearance climb on the mountain's northeast flank, and the remote Indian Flats backcountry toward Lake Henshaw. No green-sticker roads here, so for green-sticker riding in San Diego County the place to go is the Corral Canyon OHV area in the Lagunas. Many of these roads close when wet, storm-driven rather than calendar-based, so expect closures during and after winter rains. Route geometry and elevation come from the Forest Service's official travel maps and public terrain data.

Palomar, California · Cleveland National Forest · 4 routes

Plated street-legal bikes are fine on every route here. The badges below show where green-sticker (non-street-legal) OHVs are allowed; that's the part that varies, sometimes segment by segment.

Green sticker OK

Non-street-legal (green-sticker) OHVs allowed on the route.

Green sticker: partial

Green-sticker allowed on some segments only; read the note.

Street-legal plate only

Street-legal, plated vehicles only; no green-sticker OHVs.

Access unverified

Couldn't verify green-sticker access; confirm with the managing agency.

New to this, or riding an electric or 2022-plus bike? The sticker & access guide covers green, red, and tan stickers, street-legal plates, electric bikes (SB 586), spark arresters, the Adventure Pass, and the penalties, all sourced from California government pages.

Where can I ride?

Cleveland National Forest travel map

Every legal motorized road and trail in the Palomar area, straight from the Forest Service's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Most numbered roads are open to street-legal plated bikes only; the green routes are the comparatively few where a green-sticker (non-street-legal) bike is allowed. Hover any line for its road number and access.

What can ride here

  • Green-sticker OHV allowed
  • Street-legal plate only
  • Dashed = seasonal access
Loading area map…

Make a day of it

2 suggested loops

Ways to string these routes into a full ride instead of a single road. Mileage is a rough composite; segments overlap and connect, so plan time and fuel with a margin.

Palomar Divide Traverse

~15mi↓ GPX

The signature ride: in from Oak Grove and the length of the divide.

The classic Palomar day is the divide itself. Come in on the short Oak Grove access road (9S09) from Highway 79, then run the full Palomar Divide (9S07), about 13 miles of ridge with sweeping San Diego backcountry and desert views. All plated dual-sport, street-legal bikes only, and smoother than the Santa Ana divide, so a scenic cruise more than a technical day. Best in spring and fall; the road closes when wet.

Oak Grove RoadPalomar Divide Road

High Point & Indian Flats

~20mi↓ GPX

The quieter, remote-feeling north side of the mountain.

For a more remote feel, pair the High Point flank road (8S05), a forested high-clearance climb that tops out around 4,900 feet below the lookout itself, with the Indian Flats backcountry road (9S05) dropping toward Lake Henshaw. Both are plated, street-legal bikes only, and quieter than the divide. Good seat time through conifer and oak, again best once things have dried out after winter rains.

High Point RoadIndian Flats Road

The Routes

4 rides
GPX Track↑ 3,235 ft↓ 420 ft
3,064 ft5,981 ft

Palomar Divide Road

No. 9S07
Street-legal plate only
Distance
13.1mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 9S07 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

The long backbone ridge of Palomar Mountain, about 13 miles.

9S07 runs the Palomar Divide the length of the mountain, roughly 13 miles of graded-to-rocky ridge road through oak and conifer with sweeping views over the San Diego backcountry and out to the desert. The signature ride on Palomar: a long, scenic plated dual-sport cruise, smoother than the Santa Ana divide but every bit as scenic. Open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
3,050–6,000 ft
Best season
Spring and fall (hot in summer, muddy after storms)
Surface
Graded-to-rocky ridge road
  • About 13 miles along the Palomar crest
  • Big San Diego backcountry and desert views
  • The signature ride on the mountain
GPX Track↑ 3,140 ft↓ 246 ft
1,982 ft4,895 ft

High Point Road

No. 8S05
Street-legal plate only
Distance
9.4mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 8S05 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

High-clearance climb on the northeast flank of Palomar Mountain.

8S05 climbs the northeast flank of Palomar above the Aguanga and Lake Henshaw side, gaining a couple of thousand feet of forest through conifer and oak. A high-clearance road with rocky sections and a steadier, more remote feel than the divide. It tops out around 4,900 feet, below the High Point lookout itself, which sits on a separate gated road. Open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
2,000–4,900 ft
Best season
Spring and fall (hot in summer, muddy after storms)
Surface
High-clearance dirt with rocky sections
  • Forested climb on the northeast flank
  • Quieter, remote-feeling high-clearance road
  • Tops out around 4,900 feet
GPX Track↑ 1,880 ft↓ 558 ft
2,920 ft4,354 ft

Indian Flats Road

No. 9S05
Street-legal plate only
Distance
10.7mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 9S05 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Backcountry road into the Indian Flats country on the north side.

9S05 drops into the Indian Flats country on the north side of Palomar near Lake Henshaw, a graded-to-rocky backcountry road through chaparral and oak toward the Indian Flats campground. A quieter plated ride than the divide, with a more remote feel and good seat time. Open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
2,900–4,350 ft
Best season
Spring and fall (hot in summer, muddy after storms)
Surface
Graded dirt with rocky sections
  • Into the remote Indian Flats country
  • Toward the Indian Flats campground
  • Quieter companion to the Divide
GPX Track↑ 1,040 ft↓ 289 ft
4,905 ft5,663 ft

Oak Grove Road

No. 9S09
Street-legal plate only
Distance
1.8mi
Difficulty
Easy

Per the MVUM, 9S09 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

Source: USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), 2026

Short access road linking Highway 79 to the Palomar Divide.

9S09 is the short access road off Highway 79 at Oak Grove that ties into the Palomar Divide, an easy graded climb through oak and chaparral. Brief on its own, but it's the natural way onto the ridge from the east, so it earns its place as the connector that starts a divide day. Open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
4,900–5,650 ft
Best season
Spring and fall (hot in summer, muddy after storms)
Surface
Short graded climb, generally smooth
  • Eastern access onto the Palomar Divide
  • Easy oak-and-chaparral grade
  • The natural start of a divide day