Painted Gorge Trail aka Carrizo Mountain Trail

5/5 (7 reviews)
In the desert of California is a hidden gem that many don't know about and should be on everyone's bucket list. Painted Gorge, aka Carrizo Mountian Trail, is near San Diego in the hills just outside of Ocotillo off the 8 Freeway and can easily be said to be one of these bucket-list trails. With i...Read More
Start 7-Day Free Trial
All-Access Icon
Painted Gorge Trail aka Carrizo Mountain Trail is an All-Access Member Only trail guide. You'll need to start a 7-Day Free Trial to see this guide.

Highlights of Painted Gorge Trail aka Carrizo Mountain Trail

Altitude Category IconAltitude
Camping Category IconCamping
Desert Category IconDesert
Iconic Category IconIconic
Overland Category IconOverland
Rock Category IconRock
Sand Category IconSand
Scenic Category IconScenic
Wash Category IconWash
Highest Elevation
2169 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
07/01 - 12/31
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
Painted Gorge Road
Nearest Town
Ocotillo
Nearest Services
Ocotillo
Management Agency
Bureau of Land Management
District
El Centro Field Office

Overview

In the desert of California is a hidden gem that many don't know about and should be on everyone's bucket list. Painted Gorge, aka Carrizo Mountian Trail, is near San Diego in the hills just outside of Ocotillo off the 8 Freeway and can easily be said to be one of these bucket-list trails. With its vibrant colors and unique dirt and stone formations, the natural beauty of this trail is definitely on the list of the most beautiful trails in Southern California. The road starts as a nice graded dirt road that takes you back into the hills; as the hills begin to close in, the colors seem to come out. Now, it can also be said that this trail only gets harder as you continue so it is best to understand that even though a stock 4x4 can make this trail, most people who drive 4wd vehicles might not appreciate the last section as it climbs up this spectacular shelf road up the narrow canyons to the top of Carizzo Mountain. So if you are looking for some adventure, planning your epic overland adventure, or just needing what could be the ultimate day trip, check out this trail, and you won't be disappointed. There are two parts to this trail; the lower half that leads to camping and the upper half (this part of the trail) that takes you up the canyon. Note that the upper half is behind a gate, and that gate is closed during certain parts of the year for the Longhorn Sheep breeding season.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
11 Waypoints
35 Trail Photos
6 Trail Concerns
7 Community Reviews
1 Video
Trail Tools
App Store Icon Open in App
Gaia GPS Icon Upload to Gaia GPS
Download GPX
Directions to...
Share Trail
Print Trail

Start a 7-Day Free Trial and Unlock 5,000+ Trail Guides

3000+ Detailed Trail Guides
2000+ Member Only Scout Routes
Companion App with Offline Use
New Tracks Added Weekly
Download GPX Files and Print Guides
Access to Trail Guide Writer
What makes our Trail Guides so great?

Sign Up for Free to Get a Taste of Adventure

Free Members get 206 introductory guides to explore. Upgrade to an All-Access Membership for 5,000+ trails at your fingertips.
Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial