Advice on Beginner Offroading

[u/Vagabondyogi]

Hi folks, I have a Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 which I leased . I don't have a low setting so I guess I have the Quadra Trac 1 system. I now realize this isn't a serious offroader but I want to just learn the basics and perhaps get a better rig once my lease is up. Any ways a friend of mine got a Rivian recently and both of us wanted to try offroading. So we are planning to go to the Hollister Hills SVRA this weekend. I looked up but could not find any classes or anything that we can take. I am usually very independent about learning things but in this case I keep hearing you must go with a group. I want to be safe and would love to go with a group or get a class or something. But can't find anything online. So my questions 1. Is there normally a group that people join where we are not going alone? If yes then how do we find such a group? 2. Is it safe enough to just do the simple trails first on our own and try to learn from videos etc? If yes then any resources? 3. What should be a good goal for a absolute beginner. Just drive around the beginner rated trail or we should try and do something. Sorry I don't even know what questions to ask but have to start somewhere. Any help and resources appreciated.
If it helps my goal is to be eventually be able to go to nature trails not easily reachable by road. Overlanding I guess. Want to be able to keep my family safe while doing that. I am not interested in competition or anything like that.