Cows Heaven Canyon Road (SC51) provides a corridor through the beautiful untouched hills of the Kiavah Wilderness from the Mojave Desert to the Sequoia National Forest. The road moves through the transition zone between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Mojave Desert, where you'll find an unusual mix of plants and animals, including creosote bush, Joshua trees, burro bush, and shadscale. This is an up-and-back trail with convenient access from Highway 14.
This is an easy trail, consisting almost entirely of packed sand. It requires only a two-wheel drive but still requires high clearance.
Vehicles can travel up the Wilderness Corridor to the end, where dispersed camping is allowed along the road. To minimize impacts, previously used or predisturbed sites should be used. Vehicles must park on the shoulder of the road in previously used locations as well. The Wilderness boundary is 30 feet from the road's centerline, so no motorized vehicles can travel further from the road even if a disturbed area extends past this boundary line. Dispersed camping is limited but can be enjoyed when meeting BLM Camping Guidelines. During high fire danger, campfires may be restricted, and if planning to camp here, one should review the current BLM Campfire Restrictions and have a Campfire Permit.