San Diego County has little legal off-highway riding: Ocotillo Wells SVRA in the desert and Corral Canyon with Bear Valley in Cleveland National Forest. Anza-Borrego and forest roads are for street-legal vehicles only. Closures and fire orders below were read 2026-10-23 and change often.Checked October 23, 2026.
Places in ATV and Overland Trails
OHV Rules and Permits
Green and red stickers, spark arresters, noise limits and the out-of-state permit, with each agency quoted.
RulesFire Restrictions and Closures
Forest Order 02-26-10 through December 31, 2026, plus closures read on 2026-10-23. Check the live page.
State OHV ParkOcotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area
About 85,000 desert acres near Borrego Springs. No entrance fee, open 24 hours, free open camping.
Overland RoadsAnza-Borrego Street-Legal Roads
500 miles of dirt roads for street-legal 4x4s only. OHVs are prohibited. Coyote Canyon closed.
National Forest OHVCorral Canyon OHV Area
Over 51 miles of OHV trails east of Pine Valley. Open on 2026-10-23, subject to weather and fire closure.
OHV StagingFour Corners Trailhead
Trailer parking, a vault toilet and a pass kiosk at the start of the Corral Canyon trails. No water.
OHV TrailheadBear Valley Trailhead
A beginner OHV route off I-8 at Pine Valley Road, close to San Diego. Authorized routes only.
OHV CampgroundBobcat Meadow Campground
18 reservable sites in Corral Canyon OHV Area. $15 single, $30 double, no cash, no water.
OHV CampgroundCorral Canyon Campground
19 reservable sites in an oak grove past Four Corners. $15 single, $30 double, no cash, no water.
Overland RoadsCleveland National Forest Open Roads
Street-legal touring on forest roads. Which roads were open or closed on 2026-10-23.
Nearby DunesImperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
The nearest big dune area, in Imperial County. Permits Oct 1 to Apr 15: $55 a week ahead, $185 season.
Start With The Rules
Read OHV Rules and Permits and Fire Restrictions and Closures before any ride. Where agencies disagree on the red sticker season or the green sticker fee, each page shows every figure.
Where Each Vehicle Can Go
OHVs (quads, dirt bikes, side-by-sides that are not street legal): Ocotillo Wells, Corral Canyon and Bear Valley. Street-legal 4×4 and overland touring: Anza-Borrego and Cleveland National Forest roads. Camping in Corral Canyon: Bobcat Meadow and Corral Canyon Campground.
Nearby on This Site
Anza-Borrego Visitor Center, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Laguna Mountain Visitor Center and Pine Valley County Park.
Events in ATV and Overland Trails
0 confirmed dates are on the ATV and Overland Trails events page, from the organizers’ own pages.
What We Could Not Verify
- Lark Canyon OHV Area (BLM, near Boulevard) is not given its own page: the BLM page for it was not found and only a map legend was read, so its hours, routes and fees are not confirmed. The BLM El Centro Field Office can confirm.
- Closures, fire orders and permits were read on 2026-10-23. Read the live agency pages before you go.
- Unconfirmed items are listed on each page.
FAQ
Can I ride an ATV in Anza-Borrego?
No. OHVs are prohibited there; ride at Ocotillo Wells instead.
Where is legal trail riding near San Diego?
Corral Canyon and Bear Valley in Cleveland National Forest, east of Pine Valley, and Ocotillo Wells SVRA near Borrego Springs.
Is the Imperial Sand Dunes area in San Diego County?
No, it is in Imperial County; see its page.
Sources
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.