The Palomar Divide Trail is located about eight miles north of Warner Springs, California, just off Highway 79. This nearly 13-mile trail travels through the Cleveland National Forest and is mostly a dirt road rated as easy with a few ruts and shelf roads along the way. 

If you’re considering having your own adventure on this trail it’s a good idea to check with the local ranger station before you go because there are times when roads and trails in this area are closed due to weather or fire hazard conditions.   

And, for anyone looking for more of a challenge, there are some offshoots where the terrain gets more technical. Or, if you’re looking to do some additional exploring, there are also a few connecting trails that are just as easy. 

We wanted to make a day of it, so we connected with the High Point Trail and increased our journey to a little more than 25 miles.    

As we enjoyed our day off-roading, our thoughts kept returning to how a seemingly simple decision to buy a Jeep ended up making such a significant impact on our lives and taught us some pretty important life lessons.  

Here are some of the lessons we've learned from heading off the beaten path....

Driving down the Palomar Divide Trail, I remember how it felt the first time Jordan and I journeyed down this road. It was only our third time off-roading and it was our first time going out by ourselves. The Jeep was stock and we were a little anxious about it, hoping we’d done everything to prepare since we’d be “off the grid.”   

But everything went perfectly on that first trip going up Palomar Mountain and helped build our confidence—in both our driving skills and the Jeep’s capabilities.    

Nearly seven years later, our Jeep, which has been named “Wallace,” now has a 4.5-inch lift and 39-inch tires, and Jordan and I have hundreds of hours of off-roading experience. We could drive a trail like this in our sleep. Okay, maybe not (and I don’t recommend it…it’s totally not safe!), but these days, a trail like this makes for a leisurely drive and isn’t something we worry about. 

Before setting off for any trail, including Palomar Divide, we now do a bit of research to discover more about where we’re going and if there is anything unique or interesting to see. While off-roading is fun all by itself, it’s also an opportunity to learn more about the world around us by exploring the history and seeking out the natural wonders of the places we visit.    

For this trip, I found a few points of interest for us to check out, including the Maple Lode Mine, a guzzler (watering hole) for local wildlife, Sourdough Springs (a natural spring alongside the trail), and the Boucher Hill Fire Tower. 

Well, of these four points of interest, three of them didn’t pan out for us that day.   

• The mine, as we discovered, was on private property and had “no trespassing” signs.   
• Sourdough Springs was aptly named—instead of clear water bubbling up from the ground we found a rusty metal cistern filled with greenish stagnant water.
• A closed and locked gate foiled our plans to check out the fire tower.    

Even though these points of interest were either inaccessible or not what we expected, each one of them still provided a worthwhile experience. 

Our hike to the mine took us down a path with views of the mountain-rimmed valley and lake below, and was lined with several chaparral yuccas in bloom. 

Our trek to the springs was equally beautiful as we wandered through a shady grove of trees. 

And even though the trail to the fire tower was closed, we discovered amazing views of rolling hilltops covered in fir, pine, and oak.    

Our win that day was the wildlife guzzler. This concrete structure was surrounded by plants and wildflowers, and it appeared to be in active use, if the large deposit of scat on its edge was any indication. 

And because we did some research ahead of time, we knew these were first built in the 1950s to provide water for birds, like the California quail, and they continue to be important for sustaining many wildlife species in this drought-prone region. So we learned something new and got to check it out. 

Left: Regena, formerly a civilian public affairs officer for Navy Medicine's regional headquarters in San Diego, Naval Medical Forces Pacific, stands in front of USNS Mercy after providing support for a media event. | Right: Regena (far left) moderating a news conference with Navy Medicine and Defense Health Agency leaders after they announced changes for military treatment facilities, locally and across the nation. 

I’d like to say it was an easy decision, but it wasn’t. I really loved my job, and I was also so used to always making the safe choice, the responsible choice, that it was really hard to push myself to do something new, daring, and unconventional. 

After thinking long and hard, I finally decided to quit my “day job.” And nearly a year later, I have to say I am so glad that I did.    

By pushing myself beyond my limits and out of the confines of my comfort zone, I’ve discovered that I am capable of learning more and doing more than I thought possible. I’ve discovered a whole new world out there filled with beautiful experiences and vibrant people.    

I know that our lives will continue to change over the years as we grow, learn more life lessons, and keep venturing off the beaten path, and I plan to continue seizing all the opportunities for adventure that come my way with both hands.   

Brad’s Lesson #5: Just Get Out There  

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is that you don’t need a lot of gear and equipment, or a heavily modified off-road vehicle to get outside and have a great time. What you do need is to just get out there.   

This advice might sound strange coming from me because I have built out several of my vehicles and I do have a lot of gear and equipment. But that’s one of the differences between then and now because I didn’t start out like that. 

When I first started hitting the trails, it was in my completely stock Jeep with my minimalist backpacking gear.    

In fact, for those just getting started with their adventures, I’d recommend a “start where you are” approach. Grab your family, get in your rig, and just go have fun. 

Left: An early off-road adventure when Brad's Jeep was completely stock and gear was minimal—an ice chest, camping chairs, and folding table, which still made for a great picnic lunch on the trail. | Right: Our dog Rocket ready to hit the trail in Regena's yellow Jeep. 

Get to know your vehicle while it’s still completely stock. This will help you get a feel for what it’s capable of—the different types of trails you can do in it, which obstacles you can manage—and help guide you when you decide it’s time for some upgrades.    

The better you know your rig, the easier it will be to know what modifications you actually need and which ones you simply want. 

The modifications you do make should enhance your off-road experience and fit you and your individual situation. This includes the level of difficulty you prefer in a trail, the area and terrain where you like to off-road, and who you’re bringing along for the ride, such as kids or pets.   

As for gear and equipment, I’ve learned so much over the years about what I need to bring on my adventures, what I want to bring, and what I absolutely do not need. 

I always recommend the basics of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and recovery gear, but beyond these necessities, you really don’t need much to get started other than shelter, water, a sleeping bag, and a way to store and cook your food.    

I've learned that the best strategy for outfitting your adventures is to start with the basics and decide what’s going to make you more comfortable and your journey more enjoyable as you gain more experience heading off-road. 

As you get to know your personal overlanding style, then you can start adding to your gear and equipment inventory while avoiding spending money on items that are just going to collect dust in your garage.    

The bottom line is, you don’t have to have all the “right” gear or a perfectly modified off-road beast to have a great time off-roading and overlanding with your friends and family. All that matters is that you just get out there! 

Adventures in a Silver Jeep 

Life is always changing, in big and small ways. Those changes can be expected or a total surprise. They can take our lives on short detours or in a whole new direction. During the past seven years, our family has experienced all the changes.    

When we began off-roading in our silver Jeep nearly seven years ago, we had no idea where it would take us—literally and figuratively—or what we would learn along the way. 

We have been to some amazing places. 

We have met some incredible people. 

And we have had the best adventures.    

We are so glad that we said yes to this adventure and leaned into the changes life brought our way—it’s been a wild and beautiful ride and we’re excited to continue this journey and see where else the trail takes us.

In the video below Brad and Regena spend the day off-roading on the Palomar Divide Trail while sharing their experiences and some of the life lessons they've learned since buying their first Jeep.