In Collaboration With
4x4 Overlanding Experience
Los Angeles | Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Coast | Ojai | LPNF | Sierra Madre | El Cajon | Tehachapi
View Full Itinerary. . .
Overlanding is not a sport or even a past-time - it’s a way of life…
Experience Overview
When most people think of “Southern California” they think of Hollywood and celebrities living in Malibu. When anybody who is in to overlanding or “off-roading” thinks of Southern California, the very first thing they think about is thee 4-5 hour drive it takes to get anywhere cool!
But I’m going to let you in a little secret: Southern California is chalk full of awesome overlanding routes. From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles; Frazier Park to Tehachapi; Los Padres National Forest and the Sierra Madre Mountains - SoCal has it all. You just have to know exactly where to go…
Each spot on my list of “spots” immediately feels special. Like you just discovered a secret you don’t want to share for fear of spoiling it. The pastoral landscapes will soon fill your imagination with bucolic reveries and the simple delights of a sunset framed by old-growth Live Oaks and brilliant poppy blooms.
Copyright © Google Earth 2019 > CLICK ON MAP TO LINK TO GOOGLE EARTH
When you think of “Epic” spots, Carrizo Plain aka California’s Serengeti stands out…
Stay In Style
Need a place to crash before or freshen-up after your adventure? Airbnb® has got you covered…
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Airbnb® Listings - Pacific Palisades | Malibu | Topanga | Hidden Hills | Calabasas | Agoura Hills | Oak Park | Thousand Oaks...
Airbnb® Listings - Pacific Palisades | Malibu | Topanga | Hidden Hills | Calabasas | Agoura Hills | Oak Park | Thousand Oaks...
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Discounts & Paid Referrals | Airbnb Experiences | Digital Content Creation
Focus on 4x4 Overlanding
Viewed by big-rig truckers as a “pass-through” stop at best, some of the most incredible views can be found in and around Tehachapi.
There exists a place so near yet so far that the sprawling city - and even time - forgot. It's a place where the grass is always greener. The valley ever wider. And sunsets just a little bit brighter for just a few moments longer.
They call it the land of a Thousand Oaks. But just a single glance will take your breath away. And leave the kind of impression that lasts a lifetime.
A beautiful multi-use hiking / biking trail sweeps up a grass-laden hillside in Cheeseboro | Palo Comado Canyon.
For it is here that single tracks stretch farther than six-lane freeways. And even the locals swing by to say hi in their very own special way.
So slow down. Take a ride or a stroll. Come explore every nook and cranny. Every twist. Every turn. All the bends and every bump.
Because if you stay here long enough, you just might discover an ancient and secret space. Or perhaps, the very best version of yourself.
Skill-Share Modules
The primary focus of this adventure experience is all about getting you 4x4 overlanding in the backcountry.
Some people might find this kind of travel too intimidating to pursue or even try. But my goal is to teach you some of the basic skills I employ to execute all my favorite adventure excursions so you can plan a few of your own. . .
OPTIONS
Backcountry Route-Planning
4x4 Overlanding Techniques
Self & Partner Vehicle Rescue
Camping Basics
Campcraft 101
Wilderness Navigation
Want epic photos?
Ask about options…
A mountain eBiker enjoys the view along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains NRA.
Experience Itinerary
Sunrise | Sunset Drives, Rides, Hikes, Picnics & Swings
Rendezvous at Trailhead | Get Geared Up | Ride or Hike to Viewpoints | Snack & Skill-Share or Picnic & Swing | Back to Base
Combine | Convert
Your Adventure
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Ready to get OFFZGRD?
A heavy layer of morning fog blankets the landscape as the diurnal shift sets the tone for the day in the Conejo Valley.
Morning Sunrise Rides | Hikes
7:30AM - 11AM
Sunrise Mountain Bike Rides: The Santa Monica Mountains, especially in the canyons of the Conejo Valley, are known mostly for what wine aficionados call the “diurnal shift.”
As the sun rises and sets, the barometric pressure swings rapidly in coastal ranges - the warmer air rises through the canyons and is replaced by much cooler air flow from the ocean. This typically leads to heavy layers of fog that blanket the landscape and facilitate healthy, highly-saturated fruits.
But while the region does have a variety of micro-climates that host some vineyards like Malibu Wines (which is a great place for brunch by the way!) it is not primarily known for its local cellars.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area looks more like the Serengeti than Southern California. . .
Mountain bikers delight in the springtime wonders around every bend in the trail in Palo Comado Canyon.
Want a Pooch Pal?
These rolling hills and old-growth oak forests are very similar to what you might find on California’s Central Coast - only they’re right here in sunny Southern Cali!
When you slow down and take the time to watch and listen, you will soon see the landscape reveals its hidden mysteries in surprising ways. . .
A nesting pair of Golden Eagles display their fortitude while stalking a late-afternoon snack in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA.
California poppies bloom along a springtime trail in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Hikers idle the afternoon away under endless waves of gorgeous green grasses in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve
Afternoon Sunset Rides | Hikes
2PM - SUNSET
Afternoon Mountain Bike Rides: Mid to late afternoon in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is when you get to enjoy “Golden Hour” at its finest.
As the shadows get longer, the sun seems to get even brighter…
A lone Live Oak stands like a silent sentinel overlooking the sunrise in Upper Las Virgenes Open Preserve.
A favorite staple food of the indigenous Chumash peoples, wild wheat is the first to sprout early in every springtime.
Want to stay overnight?
A mountain biker rides off into the sunset in Palo Comado Canyon Preserve
Want epic Photos | Drone Video?
About Your Host/Guide
CERTIFIED TOUR GUIDE
Dan Smarg leads an expedition in Lander, Wyoming
National Outdoor Leadership School
Wilderness First-Aid Trained
Expertise | Access | Connection
When I’m not producing commercial content, I’m in the backcountry blazing new trails in my Jeep Rubicon, “Dollie Madison.”
Overlanding is like life: Not every road leads where you want to go, but it just might take you exactly where you want to be.
So let’s roll!
Dan Smarg leads groups of any number - from individuals seeking solitude to full-size families and even entire tribes of friends!
Gear & Services
GO FATTY! Rad Rover eBikes are equipped with 26-inch x 4-inch “Fat” tires to enhance stability and traction control in backcountry conditions.
Included with this tour to help you explore every twist and turn of these majestic paths, you will have access to premium mountain and eBikes. If you plan to adventure with a partner or your entire family, you can easily rent additional eBikes at POWER-UP Electric Bikes in Calabasas.
Need help transporting your bike(s)?
Multiple Options Available
Equipped with 26x4-inch “fat” tires that enhance stability and traction control in rough, wet or sandy backcountry conditions, this is the perfect “Whip” to get you from A to B.
Peace of mind…
Rest assured, I will guide you to all the coolest spots on my own full-suspension mountain bike or eBike so you never get lost or stranded with a flat.
REQUIRED PERSONAL GEAR
Vehicle: AWD or 4x4 Jeep | Truck | SUV
Warm, Waterproof Clothing
Sturdy Footwear
Special Dietary Foods
Personal Care Items
PROVIDED GEAR & PROVISIONS
All Trail Recovery Gear (Snatch Cables, Pulleys, Etc.)
10,000-Pound Tow Capacity Winch
2X 5-Gallon Water Containers
Old School Paper Topo Maps
Military-Issued Land-Nav Compass
Pro & DIY Emergency Locator Strobes
DISCOUNTED Mountain / eBike Rental(s)
Helmet(s) for All Riders
Knee & Elbow Pads
Small Backpack(s)
Water Bottle(s)
All Bike Recovery Gear (Tubes, Air Pumps etc.)
OPTIONAL TERRAIN & VISTAS
Old Growth Oak Forest
Sweeping Rolling Hills
Coastal Ocean Cliffs
CLICK TO VIEW RENTALS
INCLUDED WITH ALL BIKE RENTALS
Helmet(s) for All Riders
Knee & Elbow Pads
Small Backpack
Water Bottle
All Bike Recovery Gear (Tubes, Air Pumps etc.)
FREE Hammock for “Tree Naps”
OPTIONAL NATURE PICNIC | SUNSET SWING COMBO
Breakfast Picnic ‘N Swing
Brunch Picnic ‘N Swing
Sunset Charcuterie Picnic ‘N Swing
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Professional Photography Shoot
Professional Drone Shoot
Professional Video Shoot
Multimedia Shoot
OPTIONAL POOCH PAL(S)
Available Upon Request
OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING | GLAMPING
Location & Weather-Dependent
