Some local trail info:
Last report I heard from early April 2017 was that the gates on the Orange County side and the Riverside side (Bedford Motor Way {contrary to the name it is just a dirt trail ok for 4x4}, Near Weirick Road and the 15 Fwy) of the Santa Ana Mountains is open for vehicle travel. There are some good dirt roads and trails out there to explore.
Link to some Forest Road Closures:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/c...telprdb5340229
Link to map of Santa Ana Mountains:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.asp...en&FORM=HDRSC4
Route from OC over the Santa Ana Mountains:
1. Silverado Canyon Road (must make sure gate is open, US Forest Service controls the gate and will close due to fire danger or road wash out due to rains)
2. Silverado Road (different than above, see map)
3. Silverado Motor Way/ North Main Divide Road.
You can drive around on the Main Divide road once you are up here. You can also work your way over to the Ortega Highway and various other places and decide where you want to come out. I would have this figured out ahead of time in case you decide to take an exit where there is a closed gate causing you to backtrack or do some path-finding in a unfamiliar place.
4. Now where Silverado Motor Way becomes a separate road from the North Main Divide Road keep right (East) and work your way over to Bedford Motor Way and stay on that. This is about 3-5 miles of dirt road that will drop you onto the frontage road for the 15 Freeway in unincorporated area of the City of Corona (Knabe St.) You are now next to the freeway and can get anywhere fast unless there is traffic which can be horrible and take hours. You are also near the Dos Lagos shopping centers with various restaurants if you want to reward yourself and your better half for enduring a treacherous trail ride (easy drive with some bumps...)
Unofficial trail report as of 4-1-17: My buddy at work sometimes takes this instead of the 55 Fwy, 91 Fwy, 15 Fwy due to bad traffic in the evenings in his almost stock Jeep (slightly larger than stock tires and nothing else, so it is almost as capable as your typical Montero) and he said the gate was open and all associated trails, fire roads, etc. were in good shape and he gets through comfortably. I think it will take you 1-2 hours if you just go without any sightseeing. Good trip for kids or wife/girlfriend and if everyone is having fun you can stay up there a bit longer to explore. You will see others in 4x4's and hikers but there is usually room to pass/pullover.
---Variation is to stay on North Main Divide Road and follow it along the ridgeline West/North until you get to the area of Green River Road at the 91 Freeway. I have not done this route but another Jeep guy at work has and says it is good. I do not know the road/trail conditions for this trip and do not know if any associated gates are open or closed. If you do this route please report on both of those items.
