Field GuideSan Jacinto R.D.

San Jacinto
Dirt Bike Routes

The San Jacinto Mountains between Palm Springs and Idyllwild are one range with two very different sides. The Garner Valley and Santa Rosa side has designated green-sticker OHV roads; the forested Idyllwild side is plated dual-sport country up to the Black Mountain lookout and the PCT trailheads. The Pacific Crest Trail itself is closed to every motor vehicle. Those are places to park, not singletrack to ride. Route geometry and elevation come from the Forest Service's official travel maps and public terrain data.

San Jacinto, California · San Bernardino N.F. · San Jacinto R.D. · 11 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?

San Bernardino N.F. · San Jacinto R.D. travel map

Every legal motorized road and trail in the San Jacinto 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.

Garner Valley OHV Day

~24mi↓ GPX

The range's green-sticker corner, strung into one rocky high-country day.

The designated OHV roads above Garner Valley are the one place in the San Jacintos a non-street-legal bike is legal: the Indian Mountain spur (4S21), Bee Canyon (5S07), and the marquee San Jacinto Ridge (5S09), a long, rough ridge run with sweeping desert and Garner Valley views. One honest catch: these are green-sticker OHV roads, not singletrack, and the roads linking them are plate-only, so on a non-plated bike they're isolated stretches you trailer or shuttle between, not one continuous loop. The Ridge alone is slow, rocky, high-clearance going, so budget by hours, not the ~24-mile number. Either way it's the green-sticker riding to prioritize here.

Indian Mountain OHV RoadBee Canyon OHV RoadSan Jacinto Ridge

Idyllwild & Black Mountain

~26mi↓ GPX

Forested plated dual-sport up toward the Black Mountain lookout.

The Idyllwild side is plated country and makes a relaxed, view-packed day: climb Dark Canyon (4S02), link onto Black Mountain Road (4S01) toward the lookout and the PCT trailheads, then add the Idyllwild Control Road (5S06) to round it out. Graded dirt through pine and cedar with big drop-offs toward the desert. A dual-sport day, not a technical one. Plate-legal throughout; the PCT itself is closed to motors, so those are places to park, not ride.

Dark Canyon RoadBlack Mountain RoadIdyllwild Control Road

The Routes

11 rides
GPX Track↑ 413 ft↓ 3,461 ft
2,979 ft6,027 ft

San Jacinto Ridge

No. 5S09
Green sticker OK
Distance
11.0mi
Difficulty
Difficult

Per the MVUM, 5S09 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required.

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

High, rocky ridge road with sweeping Garner Valley and desert views.

Forest road 5S09 works along the high ridge on the east side of the San Jacintos above Garner Valley, a rough, high-clearance OHV route with loose, rocky, rutted pitches. Up top, a long ridgeline opens onto the Santa Rosa Mountains and, on clear days, the Coachella Valley far below.

Elevation
3,000–6,050 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
High-clearance dirt with loose rock and rutted climbs
  • Long ridgeline views over Garner Valley
  • Genuinely rocky high-clearance OHV riding
  • Links into the Santa Rosa backcountry network
GPX Track↑ 1,214 ft↓ 945 ft
3,862 ft4,603 ft

Red Mountain OHV Road

No. 6S22
Green sticker: partial
Distance
8.1mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, Red Mountain OHV Road is mixed: some segments are open to all vehicles (green-sticker OK) and others are open to street-legal vehicles only, so access goes segment by segment. Read the signs at each junction; registration + spark arrestor required.

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

Pinyon-slope climb on Red Mountain, green-sticker on part of it.

6S22 climbs through pinyon and chaparral on the flanks of Red Mountain south of Garner Valley, mixing smooth graded stretches with looser, rockier climbs as it gains the ridge. Part of the road is open to all vehicles, so green-sticker access comes and goes by the segment.

Elevation
3,850–4,600 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
Graded dirt with rockier, looser climbs up high
  • Green-sticker access on part of the road
  • Pinyon-and-chaparral high country
  • Quieter than the Garner Valley fire roads
GPX Track↑ 351 ft↓ 2,126 ft
3,127 ft5,059 ft

Indian Canyon Road

No. 4S06
Green sticker: partial
Distance
7.2mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, Indian Canyon Road is mixed: some segments are open to all vehicles (green-sticker OK) and others are open to street-legal vehicles only, so access goes segment by segment. Read the signs at each junction; registration + spark arrestor required.

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

Canyon road through the Garner Valley high country, partly green-sticker.

4S06 runs up Indian Canyon in the Garner Valley area, a high-clearance road with a mix of forest and high-desert transition, sandy washes, and rocky sections. Part of it is open to all vehicles, with green-sticker access varying segment to segment, a solid intermediate option that connects to the surrounding road network.

Elevation
3,150–5,050 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
Mixed dirt and sandy wash with rocky sections
  • Green-sticker access on part of the road
  • Forest-to-high-desert transition scenery
  • Connects the Garner Valley road network
GPX Track↑ 879 ft↓ 1,621 ft
4,695 ft5,728 ft

Indian Mountain OHV Road

No. 4S21
Green sticker OK
Distance
4.2mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 4S21 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required.

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

Short, scenic green-sticker spur toward Indian Mountain.

A shorter designated OHV road (4S21) branching toward Indian Mountain. Open to all vehicles, it's a quick, scenic high-clearance ride with rocky pitches and good views, a nice add-on to a Garner Valley day rather than a destination in itself.

Elevation
4,700–5,750 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
High-clearance dirt with rocky sections
  • Green-sticker designated road
  • Short, scenic high-clearance spur
  • Pairs well with the Indian Canyon network
GPX Track↑ 262 ft↓ 1,217 ft
1,936 ft2,979 ft

Bee Canyon OHV Road

No. 5S07
Green sticker OK
Distance
4.1mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 5S07 is designated open to all vehicles, so green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes are allowed. Registration + spark arrestor required.

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

Designated OHV road dropping through Bee Canyon.

5S07 follows Bee Canyon as a designated road open to all vehicles. It's a compact green-sticker option with sandy canyon-bottom sections and rockier benches, threading pinyon and scrub on the desert side of the range.

Elevation
1,950–3,000 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
Sandy canyon bottom with rocky benches
  • Green-sticker designated road
  • Sandy canyon-bottom character
  • Desert-side pinyon and scrub
GPX Track↑ 2,438 ft↓ 2,054 ft
4,383 ft6,686 ft

Thomas Mountain Road

No. 6S13
Street-legal plate only
Distance
15.1mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 6S13 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

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

Long, scenic climb to Thomas Mountain, plated bikes only.

6S13 is a long, graded climb up Thomas Mountain on the west side of Garner Valley, generally smooth enough for passenger cars but a fun, view-packed dual-sport ride. It passes Jeffrey pine, dispersed campsites, and overlooks of Lake Hemet and Garner Valley.

Elevation
4,400–6,700 ft
Best season
April–November
Surface
Long graded dirt, generally smooth
  • Overlooks of Lake Hemet and Garner Valley
  • Jeffrey pine and dispersed camping
  • Smooth, beginner-friendly grade (plated only)
GPX Track↑ 3,704 ft↓ 364 ft
4,593 ft7,933 ft

Santa Rosa Mountain Road

No. 7S02
Street-legal plate only
Distance
11.7mi
Difficulty
Difficult

Per the MVUM, 7S02 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

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

Remote high-clearance climb deep into the Santa Rosa Mountains.

7S02 climbs toward the high Santa Rosa Mountains and the Toro Peak area, a remote, high-clearance road with rough, rocky, sometimes washed-out sections. It tops out in cool conifer country with enormous views over the desert; come prepared and plated, since it's open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
4,600–7,950 ft
Best season
May–October
Surface
Rough, rocky high-clearance road; washouts likely
  • Remote, high Santa Rosa Mountains
  • Huge desert overlooks near Toro Peak
  • Cool conifer country up high (plated only)
GPX Track↑ 2,730 ft↓ 1,722 ft
5,367 ft7,723 ft

Black Mountain Road

No. 4S01
Street-legal plate only
Distance
11.4mi
Difficulty
Difficult

Per the MVUM, 4S01 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

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

Long forest climb to the Black Mountain lookout above Idyllwild.

4S01 climbs the north flank of Black Mountain through dense pine and cedar above Idyllwild toward the historic fire lookout and the Black Mountain trailheads. A scenic, sustained graded climb with rocky, rutted sections. Open to street-legal vehicles only, so it's a plated dual-sport ride.

Elevation
5,350–7,700 ft
Best season
May–October
Surface
Graded dirt with rocky, rutted climbs
  • Climbs to the Black Mountain fire lookout
  • Dense pine-and-cedar San Jacinto forest
  • Cooler high-elevation riding (plated only)
GPX Track↑ 220 ft↓ 2,992 ft
2,326 ft5,098 ft

Idyllwild Control Road

No. 5S06
Street-legal plate only
Distance
6.1mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 5S06 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

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

Classic dirt connector linking Idyllwild to the high country.

5S06 is a graded forest road threading the pines near Idyllwild, a relaxed plated dual-sport ride with good sight lines and forest scenery. Open to street-legal vehicles only, it's a pleasant way to link the area's roads and trailheads without technical demands.

Elevation
2,350–5,100 ft
Best season
May–October
Surface
Graded dirt, generally smooth
  • Easy pine-forest cruising near town
  • Links the Idyllwild road network
  • Beginner-friendly grade (plated only)
GPX Track↑ 909 ft↓ 1,109 ft
5,774 ft6,306 ft

Dark Canyon Road

No. 4S02
Street-legal plate only
Distance
5.6mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 4S02 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 forest road into the Dark Canyon drainage.

4S02 drops into the Dark Canyon area northwest of Idyllwild, a shaded forest road serving the campground and trailheads along the San Jacinto's western canyons. A short, scenic plated ride through pine and oak, open to street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
5,750–6,300 ft
Best season
May–October
Surface
Graded dirt with rocky sections
  • Shaded Dark Canyon forest
  • Campground and trailhead access
  • Short, scenic plated ride
GPX Track↑ 886 ft↓ 102 ft
4,442 ft5,240 ft

Fobes Ranch Road

No. 6S05
Street-legal plate only
Distance
4.0mi
Difficulty
Moderate

Per the MVUM, 6S05 is open to street-legal vehicles only: plated bikes, no green-sticker (non-street-legal) bikes.

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

Plated spur to the Fobes Ranch PCT trailhead.

6S05 climbs to the Fobes Ranch trailhead on the south side of the San Jacintos, a popular jumping-off point for the Pacific Crest Trail. A moderate, rocky graded road with chaparral-to-forest transition and big views, plated dual-sport, street-legal vehicles only.

Elevation
4,450–5,250 ft
Best season
May–October
Surface
Rocky graded dirt; rougher up high
  • Access to the Fobes Ranch PCT trailhead
  • Chaparral-to-forest transition
  • Big San Jacinto views (plated only)