LakeQuest 2025: Silverwood to Arrowhead

SCORCH is back after a hiatus with a scenic lake-to-lake ride through the San Bernardino Mountains. This single-day adventure starts near Silverwood Lake, runs along the iconic Pilot Rock Trail, and wraps up at the edge of Lake Arrowhead.
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Kick off the first weekend of Summer 2025 with a flexible ride that will be fun for drivers of all levels. The first part of the day will be spent along the 11-mile stretch of rocky ridge known as Pilot Rock Trail. The beauty of this trail is that like its nearby cousin, Cleghorn Ridge, all the hard challenges are totally optional. Stay on the easy side and watch the bigger rigs tear over short, harder challenges right off the main trail.
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Want more? We've got more. Drivers looking for a shorter commitment will have the ability to bail onto pavement after Pilot Rock trail to make it an earlier day. The rest will continue on into the western edges of the San Bernardino National Forest and essentially circle around Lake Arrowhead to approach it from the eastern side. The main part of this trail will be a little harder than the easy part of Pilot Rock.

The off road forums currently rate Pilot Rock as a 3 out of 10 for difficulty. The loop to Lake Arrowhead is currently clocking in at 4 out of 10. We will report back a week before the ride with an updated trail report from our scouting run. We may recommend intermediate drivers and rigs only for this shorter part at the end of the day.

SCORCHers looking to tackle hard challenges will have plenty of options to go steep and deep on the short, thrilling, and frequent offshoots along Pilot Rock Trail. Most of the challenges on Pilot Rock take place in view of the main trail, so its also a good chance for newer off-roaders to observe more experienced drivers pushing their rigs a little harder.
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We'll take pauses along the way to take in the views, meet other drivers and riders, and have a lunch. Interested riders who stick around to the end are invited to get a bite and a drink in Lake Arrowhead Village overlooking the lake. It's about a 10 minute drive from where we will air up.

HOW HARD IS THIS RIDE?
This can be an fun day with a few moderate challenges or a long day full of challenges, or anything in between. The main trail is typically passable by any rig with some clearance. You will occasionally cross ruts left by flowing water from prior rain. They are not deep but it does mean slowing down, picking a line, and flexing a bit. The easiest route is not a rollover threat, but if you do it wrong you could need to get tugged out from high-centering or struggle with low traction.

Please visit the event page on the SCORCH website for details about the trails. We will post a trail report a week before the event.
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WHEN and WHERE
We are meeting at the Silverwood Lake Pilot Rock OHV Staging Area at 7:45am to air down and be ready for an 8am drivers meeting followed immediately by our departure. It will take a 2-3 hours to move everyone through Pilot Rock Trail to our lunch spot. Anyone who wants to call it a day can hop on the paved 173 and make their way home. The rest will lunch for up to an hour then move on the 3 hour or so romp through the forest. All in, the full day will wrap up around 4:30pm give or take 1-2 hours depending on factors that can't be predicted.
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We'll hit pavement and air up near MacKay Park. Those interested in keeping the day going a little longer will head over to Lake Arrowhead Village for dinner and drinks.

BE PREPARED
Here are some recommended items to bring along. We get a little kickback from Bezos if you buy any with our links. You can also visit our store for more gear suggestions.
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• Lunch
• VHF Radio ( good one / better one )
• A Camp Chair for Chilling ( good one / better one)
• Sunscreen
• Water

DISCLAIMER
The organizers of SCORCH meetups are not responsible for any damage done to your person or vehicle at the events, getting to the events, or after the events. We are a group of adults meeting up for an activity that takes a high degree of personal responsibility. All participants must do so at their own risk.

If you act like an asshat, douche, idiot, jerk, or in any way behave or operate your vehicle in a manner that is a risk or annoyance to others or does not respect the rules of the land we are on, you will be asked to leave the ride and be possibly ejected from SCORCH.
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