Lets unpack the wondrous world of Hungry Valley SVRA
This is a place worth sharing. Take some friends, a 4X4, and go have a blast. This is a tale of where the tires leave the tarmac. Hungry Valley SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area) is located just off the I5 freeway, 60 Miles north of LA. The exit is Smokey Bear Road, and every time I see that exit, excitement starts to build in the pit of my stomach. The great thing about this place is the amount of different types of off-road activities you can do.
There are two entrances to Hungry Valley(north and south). A daily fee of $5 or $50 for a year pass grants you entry to one of the most versatile off-road parks in California. Should you want to camp overnight, which I have done many times, there are 11 Campground areas that line the west end of the entire area. The SVRA occupies 19,000 acres and offers more than 130 miles of trails. These trails are rated both on difficulty and size (to accommodate for motorcycles and full size vehicles).
Entering from the South (Smokey Bear Rd Exit) you travel about 4 miles up Hungry Valley Road, pass the first and second campgrounds, then immediately to the left you find the 4WD “practice area”. This area includes various obstacle courses including rock crawling, mud pits, axle breakers, and uphill obstacle sections with multiple levels of difficulty. This area can be a great place to brush up on off-roading driving skills or to watch and learn… or to be entertained watching others.
Just beyond the practice area are four motorcycle practice tracks, one for dirt bikes, one for mini bikes, one for ATVs, and one for mini ATVs, if you happen to have brought a bike. There is also a full size motocross track tucked away behind some of the mountains in an area called Quail Canyon (also accessible via Quail Canyon Road from I5). The journey from the campgrounds to the track can be a nice long drive as there are various trails that lead to it, making for some great off-roading and then a good show if there are races going on.
The last couple times I’ve been to Hungry Valley I drove an F150 Raptor (gen 1), accompanied by friends in a Jeep XJ, Range Rover Sport, and F150 Raptor (gen 2). Our group covered most of the entire park including the practice area, a trip to the track, many trails, sand washes and steep inclines in between. Aaron Packard had this to say,
“Gorman was the first real off-roading experience I ever had. One minute you feel like your in the Baja 1000 going through the river beds / sand washes and the next you feel like you’re on a playground for adult Tonka Trucks grappling up the steep trails. The mud puddles made for some good laughs.”
Being in a Raptor I preferred the flatter, faster trails. Maxey Ranch Road springs to mind being one of the flattest and straightest and oddly secluded, as does the Road Runner Trail and Schmidt Ranch Road. With high visibility corners and undulating terrain this route is a go to for the Raptor, as you can exploit its prerunner like suspension and handling prowess. A full review on that vehicle to come. Another favorite is the Powerline road on the north end where you can gain some serious elevation that makes for great views. That leads to Badger Trail where you can enjoy a cruise to an oasis like area at the end of the trail with a large eucalyptus tree smack dab in the middle.
One of the most intense moments was when the group decided to tackle the mighty pronghorn trail. There’s one particular incline that stands out, and it was a steep one. It was so incredibly steep in fact, we could barely climb up it on our own two feet without falling down or slipping, and yet, all four vehicles crawled right up it with ease. I was shocked that we all made it up without a single misstep. This was, by far the steepest and most slippery hillclimb I had ever attempted, and admittedly I was nervous about it. The climb paid off though because the views from atop the mountain were fantastic. Miles of tundra and rolling hills in front of us, sunsets are particularly beautiful to watch from a Hungry Valley peak.
Wheel In The Air
Other notable mentions include “Backbone trail” and “Badlands Trail” which are particularly challenging but brilliant because they are one way trails. While vehicles like jeep wranglers can squeeze through most parts, these trails are best experienced by UTV/ATV or by dirtbike.
Wildlife is often present throughout Hungry Valley. On multiple occasions jackrabbits have jumped out onto the trail zipping alongside me as if was suddenly in a race against the critters of the Valley. The weather can vary drastically here as it can get very hot, and cold here, snow isn’t out of the question either, sometimes all in the same day. In fact, my first time to Hungry Valley was after heavy snowfall making for some seriously slushy conditions. Racing and press events are held here as the valley becomes a venue for 4Wheel Parts’ customer appreciation day where even more obstacles are set up. There are demos and competitions organized at these events, along with some good BBQ too. Poker runs are also held here which brings an extra off-road dynamic to the classic check point card game.
Tip: Remember when passing other drivers/riders/groups to use hand signals. Simply put up the number of people in your group who are riding/driving behind you so that the oncoming person can know how many to expect. If you are at the back of your group you simply raise a fist into the air indicating you are the last one in your group.
Whether it’s with family, friends, or perhaps a new friend made out on the trails, The Hungry Valley will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s the ultimate playground to decompress while combining motorsport with nature. Everybody deserves a little bit of Off-Road.