Outdoor Adventure USA

Took the Rhino up and over Otay. Was leaving a very dusty Sycamore Canyon when I stumbled upon Ollie and his friend (with new FJ). They were looking for some 4wheel-low driving spots. I headed for Marrone Valley over the Ridgeline Road. They just graded all of that, making it easy to get into the valley. Looks like they have some project going on down there, lots of drainage pipe laid out. I'm thinking they might be re-doing the old mule trail that skirts the border side on Mine Canyon.

The Rhino was a lot nicer ride that the jeep has been. Talked to the Pio Pico folks about parking my trailer in the lot there, no problem, as long as it doesn't block access to the propane tank. So if you want to exercise your ATVs and don't want to go to the desert you can take them up and around Otay. I put over 40 miles and I didn't cover alot of the area there.

Denis

It was good to see you out there. I've always enjoyed your company on the trail. I couldn't believe you guys weren't wearing any dust masks of any type. The silt out there was murderous. It was like moonscape in a lot of areas. I was in the lead and even then I had to stop because I couldn't see the road in front of me.

We didn't stay in that area too long, the ride over Ridgeline was fun. We got around Otay a lot faster than I usually would with the Jeep. Gotta love that 4 wheel independent suspension. I took it down Proctor Valley road, the washboard section and couldn't believe how smooth the ride was.

We're lucky to have the Otay area so close to play around in, saves on gas.

Denis

Are you calliing what we refer to as "H"-Street Jeep Trail as Ridgeline??? Or should I say, is Ridgeline actually the name of what we call "H"-Street Jeep Trail???

Ridgline is the trail that takes you to Marron Valley OVER the ridge vice going down Marron Valley Road which takes you there down by the creek which has a gate that is locked most of the time.

As you head up Otay from Marron Valley Road, right before the Sycamore Canyon access there's a turn off to the left as you go up (not the turn-off directly across from the Sycamore Canyon access). You pass one of the 200KV towers and it heads due south. There's an old Cadillac that is shot full of holes as well as some home appliances.

Cottonwood Creek flows into Marron Valley. There are still cattle that graze there, probably from across the border. There are more trails down there that take you out to Barrett Junction via the Kuchama Trail. That's an interesting trail, plenty of 4wheel stuff there.

So, no this is not the H street trails (Proctor Valley). It's better than that. This is Marron Valley looking West from the BP helo pad.



This is Cottonwood Creek looking northeast from the same spot.





Denis