Los Coyotes Indian Reservation is a little secret kept by the 4x4 enthusiasts in Southern California. It's an off-road park near Warner Springs, California. The trails vary in difficulty and the scenery changes throughout. One moment you'll be traversing a Rubicon-like wooded area, and the next thing you know you're climbing a sandstone hill similar to those found in Farmington, New Mexico. The locals who run the park provide maps at the front gate that give some insight to the labyrinth of trails and their difficulty. There are plenty of campsites for motorhomes and tent-folk alike.
We headed to the reservation to catch Tankota's 4th Annual Coyote Crawl. The three-day carousing included a parts swap meet, free breakfasts, dash plaques, a nighttime video theater of Saturday's runs, and plenty of medium and difficult trails. If you want to catch this years event (early June) contact Steven Brown at 619/390-5643 or surf over to www.tankota.com. The Web site has information about the Los Coyotes Reservation and upcoming events. If you decide to head up to the res on an off-weekend or weekday, the best time is during the rainy season. Some of the trails increase in difficulty tenfold after a good rain, and the subsequent mud supplies ample entertainment.