California Off-Road Trails

On the southern side of the Superstition Hills in California is a neat area that is often overlooked due to its neighbor Glamis aka Imperial Sand Dunes. This area is full of sand dunes and other unique features to sand areas. The Superstition Sand Dunes is a rather large area meaning there are plenty of places to play in the sand and to be away from people. With some unique bowls and canyons, razorbacks, and massive sand dunes, this area is a ton of fun to explore and play around in. So if you are in the area, looking for a different place to play, check out the Superstition Hills and the Sand Dunes that are at them.

In the high Mohave Desert near Ridgecrest, California, is one of the desert's most unusual geologic wonders. The Trona Pinnacles are a concentration of large vertical spires rising up to 140 feet from the Searles Dry Lake base bed. The site has more than 500 spires, from short and squat to tall and thin, and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (tufa) formed underwater when the area was a lake 100,000 years ago. The Pinnacles are recognizable to many because they have been used as a filming location for more than a dozen hit movies, including Planet of the Apes and Star Trek. This 14-square-mile area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968, and visitors are free to drive through, hike, and camp amongst the towers. Come for the main attraction, or drive the hundreds of nearby four-wheel drive roads, or better yet, come and do both!

In Truckhaven Hills, near the Salton Sea, Coral Wash is often used as a desert highway between destinations in the vast emptiness of the Colorado Desert. This trail is often used to get to one of the many sightseeing, unique features, or legendary obstacles just off the side of the route. Another significant must-stop for this trail is the famous Coral Arch, a mud arch large enough to drive a vehicle through. So whether you are camping in the area or just passing through, take a quick detour up Coral Wash to see the unique and exciting things of the low desert.

When traveling through the deserts of Ocotillo Wells and Anza-Borrego State Park, there is an amazing scenic shortcut when heading to Fonts Point. Short Wash provides a pleasant drive in an area that humans rarely touch. This backcountry trail is one of the more peaceful drives in the area, and many find it to be one of their favorites. Along the route, you will see the Santa Rosa Mountains hovering off to the north, while at the same time surrounded by all the fantastic desert flora and fauna. If you are sightseeing or on an overland adventure, check out this scenic route through the desert.

Kramer Arch, located near the abandoned ghost town of Calico, is a stone arch just large enough for a vehicle to squeeze through. Because of this, people come from far away to experience this unique site for its interesting challenges and photogenic qualities. Simply said, a photo of your vehicle crossing the event horizon of Kramer Arch is a spectacular moment for both vehicle and driver. A moment that can live forever on the wall of your living room or office.

Whether heading to the SoCal Desert for the Famous Mojave Road or Calico for its legendary silver mining history and off-roading, a stop at Kramer Arch is a life-changing and must-do event.

With only a few hours' drive north of Los Angeles, spectacular canyons can be observed in the El Paso Mountains. Previously home to the Kawaiisu Indians, the El Paso Mountains contain much of their heritage to this day. Later on, mining became the mainstay. Many mining camps of different minerals are spread across this mountain range. The Dutch Cleanser Mines, Bickel Camp, Cudahy Camp, Burro Schmidt Tunnel, Holland Camp, and Holly Ash Mine are just a few of the attractions. Trail 86B is part of the State Motorized Trail System Route #6 and is near Cudahy Camp. Cudahy Camp is an interesting mining camp in that it has a door on the side of the mountain that leads to a single room, and nonindigenous pine trees can be found near the building foundations. So, whether you're overlanding or just taking your 4X4 out for quick access to the many trails within the Red Rock State Park system, Trail 86B is a great choice.

This easy 4x4 backcountry route is the only access to the remote Owlshead Mountains in the extreme southwestern corner of Death Valley National Park. It is perhaps the most remote backcountry road in the Park and far from much else. Wide open vistas with unusual geologic formations and the possibility of observing military aircraft training await you. You will climb nearly 4000 feet in elevation with stunning scenery along the route with the possibility of spotting wild burros and desert bighorn sheep.

Fordyce Lake Road / Rattlesnake Road is an easy and scenic trail best know as an alternate entrance/exit to the iconic rock crawling trail: Fordyce Creek / Fordyce Jeep Trail. Fordyce Lake Road sits in the Tahoe National Forest and connects from the Cisco Grove area to Fordyce Lake, just short of the dam, which is gated. This is a great trail for just about anyone. While rock crawlers might use it as a shortcut into or out of the harder trail, overlanders and new wheelers can enjoy the scenery and camping along this trail.

Alabama Hills draws people from all over for the interesting views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the endless outdoor activities that can be found in this area. This loop, at one time, was known for world-class camping and now is a day-use only area. If you are looking for a spot to pop the sunshade for a day, relax or go for a hike, this is it. Please remember to pack out more than you packed in!

A nice windy and scenic road connecting Ramona to Santa Ysabel, passing through the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation. The road ranges from nicely graded, wide dirt road, to narrow shelf road with blind turns. There views are stunning and quite memorable with places to pull off an enjoy them.

The road consists of finely ground granite/DG on top of hard-packed dirt, so it can get a little rutted with rain. Since this road is graded, virtually any street-legal vehicle can traverse it, but motorcycles should use extreme caution, as motorcycle tires, especially those with more aggressive tread, can easily lose traction.

The hardest part of this road are the narrow blind turns, which also make it quite unique. Take them slow, honk your horn, and you'll be fine.

While this isn't a road that requires high clearance or 4WD, it does provide an opportunity to traverse part of the county off-pavement.

There are no spots for camping along this route.

Just north of Ludlow, Crucero Road is a remote desert road that dives deep into the vast expanse of the Mojave Desert. Following the path of the long-abandoned Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, this sandy and rugged road offers a unique blend of history, isolation, and stark desert beauty. Drivers will traverse dry lake beds, skirt around ancient lava flows, and discover remnants of long-forgotten sidings and mysterious objects that dot this desert landscape. Along the way, keep an eye out for rusted railroad artifacts, old rail beds, and the haunting stillness that defines this part of the Mojave.