After a solid rain in San Diego, we blew off work and went to shred hero dirt at McCain Valley OHV east of San Diego in the Laguna Mountains. If you've never ridden McCain Valley, it's one of the most underrated dirt bike singletrack spots in SoCal — technical rock features, dry riverbed connectors, and loamy singletrack that rewards riders who know the lines.
Why McCain Valley Slaps After Rain
McCain Valley sits around 4,000 feet elevation — high enough to get real seasons and actual wet weather. When it rains, the clay soil turns into hero dirt that's grippy, fast, and confidence-inspiring. Timing it right is everything, which is exactly what we did here.
I shot the footage on my GoPro Hero 9 and my Skydio 2 autonomous drone. Before the Skydio, capturing this kind of footage required two people. The Skydio follows the subject solo, avoids obstacles, and gets angles you'd normally need a film crew for. Still figuring out all the functionality — but the results speak for themselves.
E-Moto Upgrade at McCain Valley
Since this video, I've switched from gas to electric at McCain Valley — now ripping these same trails on an eRide Pro SS 2.0. The sessions have gotten even better. Silent motor, no exhaust, and you actually hear the trail — rocks, dirt, the whole thing. Read our honest E-Moto buyer's guide if you're thinking about making the switch.
These sessions directly inspired our E-Moto and electric dirt bike shirt collection — particularly the Braap Life McCain Valley Sessions shirt, which started as a screenshot from a ride exactly like this one.
Go shred some hero dirt.
— Jeremy, Stoked Clothing Company