TheSamba.com :: View topic - Trip Report #2 Oak Grove Campground w/pics

Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:33 am

Wife and I decided to try out our new (to us) motorhome out at Oak Grove which is just north of Warner Springs on the 79. I looked up some maps and there is quite a bit of fire roads to check out. So we flat towed the bug, and couldn't believe how much fun we had.

Our Campsite:

On Friday we did a quick loop around Indian Flats campground and came back to pack a lunch. We then stopped by the local winery right down the way for a tasting, and went up the Palomar Div trail. This one overlooks all of Sutherland, Warner Springs, the observatory and has several trailheads. Some of the road was actually paved, but most of it was the very fun, twisty stuff with the water breaks to jump.

Old building on top of one peak..

View of Sutherland:

I couldn't believe how long the trails were before running into a locked gate..

The other side of this gate went up to a tower where we had views of the observatory, an old old outhouse and a geocache I accidently found. Signed the little notepad, but had no gift. :? Really cool views, and a nice breeze- it wasn't hot at all.

Next day we went to Santa Rosa Mountain, which is off the 74. It's just pass lake Hemet come to find out, and it was probably 30-40 minutes out of our campground to the trailhead. The views the day before paled in comparison..

There was a spring were we ran into some old hippies. So funny, the lady was very into the bug, talking about how versatile vws are and what not. I thought for sure they were going to be pissed at how loud it was.
Apparently some old man lived up there in the 60's and wrote some crazy poems on the trees on the road up. I won't ruin it for ya- you have to see them for yourself! They are hilarious.

After checking out some trails we settled on a spot aptly named "paradice". Opened up a very nice Chardoney and enjoyed lunch...

Not any real action shots but this was about the most tech road up there.

I won't bore you with any more pics, we took a ton- and I'm not a nature guy- but it was really beautiful up there. The weather was actually kind of cool up there, I could have worn a flannel in the shade. The roads were the same as the day before, but at the top some of it got a little technical. I don't own a GPS so I don't know what elevation we were at, but the car would run like crap at the top. 8,000 feet maybe?

Next day we did a Temecula wine "tour". Again, thought people would be pissed about the loud car, but got a ton of looks and smiles. Accidently took the loooong way back and got to do a small tour of Hemet, as well.

Almost three tanks of gas in the bug, and one blown out tire in the motorhome later, we made it home. So much fun. We went solo this time because it was the wife's b-day, and wanted to try out the new coach, but want to do it again with a group. Still kinda far for the LA guys, but the campground was only about an hour towing from Ramona. Also, there were a TON of trails we didn't have time to go on. So Eric, get your car done! Baja5, hurry up and move would ya! Everyone else, this is THE spot to go to avoid the heat in SoCal during the summer. The campground doesn't have hookups, but the spots should have plenty of room for an enclosed. May want to call first if you have a huge setup. I want to do it in a group so I can get the car up to speed on the trails and not worry about getting stranded...
It's defineatley not the desert- it's a different kind of fun/driving. But, it's better than looking at your expensive toy just sitting around because it's too dang hot.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:24 pm

Nice trip and nice pictures!! :)

Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:44 pm

that place looks awsome!! i might have to drive down there from san jose to check it out.. does your car have to be street registered to go out there?

Mon Aug 13, 2007 4:22 pm

twistingawrench wrote: that place looks awsome!! i might have to drive down there from san jose to check it out.. does your car have to be street registered to go out there?

Everything we did was for plated vehicles only. It was def a really good time.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:47 pm

Soon,I'll be moving Soon.My lease is up sept 7th so i'm running out of time.And say,Mike.I know you can fabricate,how are you with drywall?? :lol: Looked like a great spot to ride.I'll make the next one.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:20 pm

MikeAdams wrote: twistingawrench wrote: that place looks awsome!! i might have to drive down there from san jose to check it out.. does your car have to be street registered to go out there?

Everything we did was for plated vehicles only. It was def a really good time.

CRAP!!! still looks fun :-)

Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:41 pm

Looks like a great time. Anytime you want to bore us with pictures like that, please do. I don't know about anybody else, but its great to see action, or just out and about shots. Should make us all get out in the garage and get to work. Besides the hippies, anyone else out there exploring? Thanks for the pics.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:33 pm

I've camped there 3 times in the last three years and have camped at Indian Flats for the last 15 years of my life. I have a relitively stock Thing with bigger tires and a slightly built up motor and would LOVE to camp with you next time you go! My wife and I stopped at the winery you described (3 miles south of the campground) and enjoyed some good wine during the camping trip courtesy of them. Please PM me before your next trip as I'd love to plan a trip with you. I'm confident that my thing could make any of those hills or trails.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:37 pm

Thats neat. Have to check that out when my bug is done. Is there room at the camp ground for a 4door truck and 25ft trailer?

Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:39 pm

I also know where an unmarked BLM land that is unrestricted is just nearby as I've gone deer hunting there with my neighbor. Great trails, best for very well built bajas or 4X4's...

Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:44 pm

baja5 wrote: Soon,I'll be moving Soon.My lease is up sept 7th so i'm running out of time.And say,Mike.I know you can fabricate,how are you with drywall?? :lol: Looked like a great spot to ride.I'll make the next one.

I'd be happy to ruin a few sheets of drywall with you! Just make sure the pieces I touch are covered by a bookcase, or fridge or something...

Baja4 wrote: Looks like a great time. Anytime you want to bore us with pictures like that, please do. I don't know about anybody else, but its great to see action, or just out and about shots. Should make us all get out in the garage and get to work. Besides the hippies, anyone else out there exploring? Thanks for the pics.

I'll see if I can edit a few more pics. There were some great spots to get some action pics, but I would have had to kick the wife and dog out to get them. I can only get away with that so often :lol:
As far as other people, there were some guys in Jeeps that you could tell were a little surprised to see us up in the tech sections, and a family in a Titan that literally put their kids (all 6 of them!) in the back of the bed as they went down the grade. The only thing my wife and I could figure is that they must reallly hate their kids.

Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:01 pm

c.davis419 wrote: I've camped there 3 times in the last three years and have camped at Indian Flats for the last 15 years of my life. I have a relitively stock Thing with bigger tires and a slightly built up motor and would LOVE to camp with you next time you go! My wife and I stopped at the winery you described (3 miles south of the campground) and enjoyed some good wine during the camping trip courtesy of them. Please PM me before your next trip as I'd love to plan a trip with you. I'm confident that my thing could make any of those hills or trails.

I will do that, feel free to do the same, we are always up for "secret" unmarked BLM trails!. It's so close for us, it's a relatively cheap trip. SoCal seems to have some great people that go out, it's just organizing everyone to go out at the same time. Now if we can just get baja5 to organize yet another getogether, we'll have a pretty large crowd!

Frosty619 wrote: Thats neat. Have to check that out when my bug is done. Is there room at the camp ground for a 4door truck and 25ft trailer?
Our coach is 27ft and we had plenty of room to park the bug in that particular spot. Some of the spots were larger, some smaller. There were also some "double occupancy" spots that were $20 a night but should have plenty of room for you. Those spots were by far the nicest as well.

Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:30 am

Hey Baja 5,
I can drywall like a mad man, and its tight too. Tell ya what, get a me flight down and I'll help ya board. :wink:

And,
those picutres are making me sick. Pictures like that make me ask myself, " and I live here, why? "