Tenaja Road
Tenaja – Los Alamos Truck Trail, South Main Divide Road
CODE NS WC
Drive at a Glance
Route
Murrieta to Ortega Highway (SR-74) via the mountains
County
Riverside County
Region
Santa Ana Mountains
Road character
Mostly one-lane road passing through canyons and ridgelines.
Services
None entire route
Roadway advisory: Subject to closure due to low-water crossing and rockslides during winter.
About the Drive
The Tenaja Road is one of the more remote and scenic paved roads in the Santa Ana Mountains. It offers access to the upper reaches of San Mateo Canyon, which itself empties into the Pacific Ocean near Trestles Beach. Numerous trails such as Tenaja Falls can be accessed from the roadway as well as some camping areas. The road is mostly one-lane within the National Forest section, so keep that in mind when coming around one of the many blind turns you’ll encounter. Traffic tends to be light regardless. The northern end offers scenic views of the region and Lake Elsinore.
Pictorial Guide
