Hemet ca to borrego springs ca on hwy 79

From Hemet, DON'T take the 74 east to 371 south (through Anza) to get to the 79South. That way has way too many tight switchbacks and very narrow bridges on the 74.

Instead, take 74 west to 15 south to get to the 79South (through Temecula). Then take 79South to the S2, to the 78 east.

Sloop Smitten wrote:


If you have a hard time descending downhill without smelling your brakes I would stay off Montezuma Valley Rd.

Would a hard time result in... "Montezuma's Revenge"?..:@

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Actually neither 79 or San Felipe Rd. is a problem. But to get down to Borrego Springs you turn off of San Felipe Rd. onto Montezuma Valley Rd. which is a steep windy road. People who want to avoid Montezuma Valley Rd. stay on San Felipe to Hwy 78 and them follow Hwy 78 to Borrego Springs Rd. and backtrack to Borrego Springs. You can turn on Yaqui Pass Rd. (before Borrego Springs Rd.) to get to Borrego Springs but is is a steep curvy climb up. If your brakes are in good working order I would use Montezuma Valley Rd and just downshift to a low gear. I see trailers transversing it all the time as well as motorhomes. Depends on your confidence level with your rig. If you have a hard time descending downhill without smelling your brakes I would stay off Montezuma Valley Rd.

People with larger rigs often take S2 (San Felipe Valley Road) to 78, then E on 78 to Borrego Springs Road, then N to town. Sure, it's the much longer way around but the grades are more gradual and you avoid S22 (Montezuma Grade), the very steep winding road that goes directly into town.

Last weekend we drove from Temecula to Julian on 79, while we weren't towing I do pull a 5'er and didn't see an issue though there are signs restricting trailers over X length from pin to axel (sorry I don't remember X). Not sure how the 78 is down to the desert but I do know that San Felipe road is one that I wouldn't do with a trailer.