Want to go to Truckhaven, what can you tell me?

[wantatlc]

So, I am in San Diego and want to go there with my chick over the holidays. I can find some vauge directions/comments here to get there, but looking for more specifics on the area?

Is there a map, book, another website you know of dedicated to this 'area'.

-Directions from San Diego
-How far (miles/hours) from San Diego.
-How long could spend there (1 hour, 2 days, 5 hours, a week...)
-Where do I get a specfic map of this area?
-Are there varius levels of trails?

Anything you can enlighten me on would help me. Thanks!

 

[Otis]

I do not know of a website directed specifically for this area but if you do a search on google for "Truckhaven" a bunch of stuff will show up. Directions from SD can be found in this tread:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=67818

I would spend at least 1/2 day there but you could probably spend the whole weekend tooling around and have fun on all the different challenges. It may not be the best place to go out by yourself, unless you are experienced and can extract yourself if needed. We have had quite a few rollovers on our runs over the years (look at the 4 Runner in the 1st couple of pics on the pics link in the thread above). Most of the area is an open area so you can just follow existing trails. If something looks too hard there are usually trails that go around and meet back up. From the camp described in the above post, head northwest to the top of the mesa about 1/2 mile away and work your way up to the top and then head down the backside. Work your way west from there along the base of the mesa up into a canyon and you should find some pretty good trails.

If you are heading out by yourself you may want to pass on the camping area described in the above post (unless you have a motorhome). I would head back a little farther into the hills and find a nicer place to camp.

In any case, you should have fun out there!

 

[calstyl2]

Truckhaven is very diverse place, many deep canyons and gullies, with knife edge ridges and high mesas. It is one of my favorite places in Southern California, you can take any type of vehicle out and have fun, quads, bikes, prerunner or rock crawler, there is not much in the way of rocks but there are many challenging runs, My favorite are the water fall canyon below the pay phone peak, a tight wash with a nice waterfall climb, the "Pay Phone" is a pay phone at the top of a several hundred foot peak, fairly easy climb with a nice view, it is a Geo Cache site and has a log book, Look to the highest peak around, with a binocular you will see the pay phone, then you have to figure out hove to get there. many fun routes of every level of driver.
There are inb my opinion two ways to go to truckhaven, 1, take S86 to North Marina Dr, in Salton City turn west on N. Marina till the dirt starts, this is the area of the TDS run and filled with folks most winter/spring/fall weekends. has a great mix of washes and mesas to camp. 2. The S22 road from Salton City to Borrego Springs climbs out about the truckhaven area and crosses the original trail in several places, along this road is several places to camp and exit the road for different trails, the South side of S-22 is the Ocittillo Wells OHV, the North side is a mix if BLM, State and private land with various access roads for of road vehicles,
I am going to be down there for the New Year weekend , If your interested in learning the trails, drop me a e-mail

and I have never been able to find the damn fire hydrant that was written about several years ago by sure have tried
RS

 

[calstyl2]

A great place for a map is the Salton City Super Burgers, very OHV friendly and decent food, pretty packed on the weekend but last year they had maps

 

[wantatlc]

thanks! I just got a great book from my chick for xmas and it has some good info in it about that area: Southern Ca guide to backroads and 4-wheel drive trails by Charles A. Wells. seems ot be put togther well with maps, GPS data, details. I think we will be out there 28th-29th.

 

[Otis]

Head for these GPS coordinates: N33.29641 W116.03224 and you should end up in the canyon that calstyl2 noted (I think!). From this point you should also be able to see the "payphone" peak to the north and work your way up. Also, if you look around the area of the GPS coordinates there is a bunch of petrified wood and round concretions that make nice desk ornaments...