So Cal Broncos | The Ford Bronco Brotherhood of Southern California

The Ford Bronco Brotherhood of Southern California, (So Cal Broncos) is an association of Ford Bronco owners and enthusiasts from throughout Southern California. Through our various online discussion channels we share tech and upgrade advice, plan runs and events, kick the tires and shoot the shit around our virtual campfire. We aren’t just a classic car club; we believe in getting out and using our Ford Broncos the way Henry intended: on the trail and in the deserts and mountains. So we try to get out for camping and off-roading trips as often as possible, including annual trips to Calico, Truckhaven (TDS), and our yearly blow-out in the mountains, the Big Bear Bronco Bash in June (always the weekend before Father’s Day).

About So Cal Broncos

So Cal Broncos was founded on July 4, 2001, in the form of an email discussion group on Yahoo Groups. That platform is no longer around, but So Cal Broncos has evolved into a broader disorganization spanning several social media, email and forum formats. Check out the various places our Discussions happen and choose the ones that work best for you!

SCB members affectionaly refer to our little band of misfits as a “disorganization.” We mean that literally, and we are proud of it. We rather resent being called a “club”, as that denotes many things which we definitely are not. So Cal Broncos has:

No Meetings! Unless you count meeting at the trailhead for some off-road fun.

No Dues! There has never been, and will never be, any charge to be a member of So Cal Broncos or attend one of our gatherings.

No Officers! There is no power structure in place for petty-tyrants to fight over to control you.

No Vehicle Inspections! It’s up to you to keep your rig in good working order. We won’t police you. But if you hold up the group, you’ll hear about it!

No Rules of Conduct! Other than the general rules of civility that exist in a polite society. Be respectful and kind. Other than that, you do you. Just know that assholes don’t do well in our group.

Check Out our Articles & Archives

We’re working on building an archive of So Cal Broncos history articles, photos, tech writeups, trail information, and anything Bronco related. And we can use your help! See the first article below for more info.

Coon Creek

Jul 4, 2001

An easy route with spectacular views. The trail may be run in either direction, but is traditionally started at the west end at Heart Bar Campground. The route passes through a group of well-used equestrian and yellow post campsites as well as crossing the Pacific Coast Trail twice, so be courteous of campers, horses and hikers. Coon Creek Jumpoff offers a spectacular view of the desert to the southeast of the San Bernardino Mountains including the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs, and on a clear day a distant glimpse of the Salton Sea.

Front Line Road

Jul 4, 2001

A scenic route across the bench above the Santa Ana River. Front-Line Road (Forest Service road 1N04) runs from the bottom of Clark’s Grade (1N54) to Highway 38 just above it’s crossing over the Santa Ana, making it a good connector road between other routes in the area. The road features several stream crossings, wide meadows and sweeping views of the slopes of Mount San Gorgonio on the other side of the gorge.

Gold Fever Self-Guided Auto Tour

Jul 4, 2001

Gold Fever is a self-guided auto tour through the historic gold mining sites in and around Holcomb Valley. A printed guide is available at the Big Bear Discovery Center which provides interpretive information for each of the sites along the tour. The route uses well-maintained graded dirt roads and are suitable for any vehicle with suitable tires, as four-wheel-drive and high ground clearance are not needed from spring through fall.

Wildhorse Meadows

Jul 4, 2001

Wildhorse Meadows is an easy trail for stock vehicles. It does reach an elevation of 8700 feet, so weather conditions can quickly change, and snow is common in winter. The route starts near Highway 38 a short distance south of the Erwin Ranch Area (it can also be reached from Big Bear through Moonridge and Sand Canyon Road). After a long climb up a shoulder of Sugarloaf mountain, the route passes through a saddle and descends into picturesque Wildhorse Meadows. From there it emerges overlooking the Santa Ana River drainage with great views of Mount San Gorgonio and Ten Thousand Foot Ridge in the distance. The trail ends at Highway 38 near Hart Bar Campground.

Heartbreak Ridge

Jul 4, 2001

Heartbreak Ridge is a special place for So Cal Broncos, as the Alan Rowe Monument was placed here and dedicated during BBBBIV back in 2005. The trail is rocky, with some long sustained climbs to test your cooling system. Also known as “Pontiac Sluice” due to the old car that sits abandoned in a wash along the way, the trail has no Forest Service road number designation.

Clark’s Grade

Jul 4, 2001

A beautiful descent into (or climb out of) the vast Santa Ana River Gorge to the south of Big Bear via Clark’s Grade, FS road 1N54. This trail features wide open vistas, some steep sections with switch-backs, and narrow shelf roads. Usually this trail would be classified as “easy”, with the exception of one tricky spot near the bottom end. But uncertainty due to winter storms has moved this trail into the Medium section, as there may be places which require engaging four wheel drive.

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