California Off-Road Trails

One of the big names in Johnson Valley, Lower Johnson Canyon, aka Little Johnson, is one of the few intermediate trails in the Johnson Valley range. Because of its location in Southern California near Los Angeles and Orange County, these trails see a lot of traffic for the people that are not looking for the extreme trails of the legendary King of the Hammers area. This awesome but short trail has plenty of optional hard obstacles for the more extreme person while plenty of easier options for the newer drivers that want to get out and test out their vehicle. So the next time you hear Johnson Valley, don't think this is too extreme for me, instead head out to the Johnson Trails and have a little fun.

Hawk Canyon is a cool escape when over by the slot. Hawk Canyon itself is a small box canyon with towering rock walls. People often use this area to disperse camp and relax after a long trip. Due to the area, it doesn't see a lot of traffic, making it a great place to explore and get away from the crowds. Most people camp nearby at Blow Sand since there are restrooms, showers, and spots to park RVs. But, several areas near the mouth of Hawk Canyon would make for great spots to get away from the crowds with plenty of room for any size group.

The Manzanar Reward Road is the main trail over to the legendary Reward Mine. Located near Lone Pine, CA, this mostly dirt track takes you through the famous Owens Valley, across the Owens River, through the abandoned airstrip of the historic Japanese internment camp Manzanar, and eventually across the valley towards the towering Inyo Mountains on the eastern side where the Reward Mine resides. Even though this trail is full of rich history and great fishing, people often remember the awe-inspiring views with Mount Whitney hovering over the western background. The trail is suitable for all offroad vehicles as the trail is mostly a graded dirt road.

When looking for dispersed camping, head to the east side of the trail near the Reward Mine; you will find spaces amongst the bushes for even the biggest groups. The campsites' area is primarily flat, with a mixture of dirt, sand, small rocks, and the occasional cement slabs from the old structures. Add in the stunning views in the background, and this area can easily make a memorable camping location.

Please note: Inyo County often has extreme fire restrictions; please call before planning an open fire when camping in this area.

Cross Over Trail takes you from the northern end of Ocotillo Wells OHV to the middle section near Shell Reef. This is a great trail with optional harder lines on the sides. Now this trail is on the harder side of easy but can still be done in 2WD in shorter and narrower high-ground clearance vehicles. As you cross the desert, you will see a constant change in the desert, some areas are sandy, while others almost seem like they are being pushed out of the depths below. Just watch out near the middle mud hills if it rains. That can make things really interesting really fast. If you are looking for camping, check out the hills on the north side of this trail.

One of Anza Borrego's great southern trails, South Indian Canyon is almost a mirror image of North Indian Canyon and is a dream come true for overlanders and 4x4 enthusiasts alike who are looking to escape the headache of city life and enjoy the solitude and beauty of the amazing Anza Borrego State Park. Along the route, you will be submerged in amazing desert plant life amid stunning boulder-filled mountains in the background. You can even see the Carrizo Badlands lurking off to the north from the high points. Once you reach the trail's end, you come across an oasis with natural palms used by the Kumeyaay, also known as the Tipai-lpai, a Native American tribe. Because of this, many people often say this is one of their favorite memories while visiting the southern section of Anza-Borrego State Park.

This technical rock crawling trail, known as Dorito Hill, is located in southern California's Cougar Buttes, a small section of the Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area in San Bernardino County. Dorito Hill, while short, is one of the difficult 4x4 sections here in Cougar Buttes. Wheelers looking for an off-road challenge will enjoy running up and over Dorito Hill as a quick warm-up before hitting Hammer Down or Split Finger. Off-roaders looking for an easier day might want to stay off this trail. Still, they will find many easier trails and multiple dispersed camping opportunities in the surrounding area of Cougar Buttes.

Hollister Hills SVRA is a 6,800-acre SVRA park and was the first SVRA made by the California parks department. The park is divided into three parts, the Upper Ranch, Lower Ranch, and Hudner Ranch. The Lower Ranch is for dirtbikes. While the Upper Ranch and Hudner Ranch are for 4x4s, visitors should stop first at the ranger station in the Lower Ranch to pay the $5 entry fee and get a map of the trails, as well as the lock combination to the gate at Hudner Ranch.

White Rock is a moderately difficult trail in the Hudner Ranch portion of Hollister Hills SVRA. It is one of the longer trails in Hudner Ranch and is composed of multiple tight turns, steep hill climbs, loose dirt, and narrow trails. Any 4WD or AWD vehicle with high clearance will be able to complete the trail. It is a great trail for new offroaders to learn and test the limits of their vehicle. There is no camping directly off of the trail, but there are campsites available in nearby Hudner Ranch that require a prior reservation.

If you want insanely hard, then the Hammer Trails are for you. A collection of large boulders, massive ledges, towering waterfalls, and spots you just have to drag through. This trail is going to make you work for it. This trail is only for the highly experienced with a well-built rig and strong roll cage. Do not attempt this trail alone and do not attempt this trail unless you have recovery gear, spare parts, and a group of at least 3 vehicles.

Frank Raines OHV is located not far from Patterson, CA. It is open to 4x4s from sunrise to sunset with a $5 admission fee per vehicle. The park is open to all OHV vehicles, so be sure to watch out for dirtbikes, quads, and SXS.

West Trail is a challenging track, rated a black diamond by the park's rating system. The trail is very steep and is essentially one long hill with large ruts and a few turns. The dirt is loose, causing traction issues. The trail can be descended by a stock 4x4, but to climb up the trail, you will need a lightly modified vehicle. Lockers and airing down are very helpful when trying to ascend. There is a high risk of pinstriping on this trail, as it seems to be mainly frequented by dirtbikes nowadays, causing it to become overgrown.

Deer Creek Campground is located at the park's entrance. The campground has 34 sites with picnic tables, restrooms, and other amenities. Prices range from $15 to $30 per site.

Near the end and on the west side of Tin Can Alley is the entrance to this easy-to-miss unmarked trail. Following this rocky trail south for 1-mile connects with Phillips Canyon East. Situated on a high ridge, the trail provides phenomenal east and west views below of the heavily silver-mined canyons, sometimes driving within a few feet of open tunnels and deep vertical shafts.

There are no markings over the entire trail. Following the .gpx will keep you on track. The last bit of the trail is a long steep decline made up of large stone ridges covered in loose rock and gravel. This obstacle should only be attempted by experienced drivers and with other vehicles in the group. A bypass to this obstacle is available to the east that follows a much easier path to Phillips Canyon East and to the bottom of the hill and the end of CM7632a.

There are no pre-disturbed campsites along the trail, and the only flat locations are full of large rocks. There is better camping back down Tin Can Alley at Waypoint 5.

Consider Vista del Malpais, it's like Font's Point without the crowds. A short uphill drive on an easy road leads to a vantage point overlooking the Borrego Badlands. The Borrego Badlands get their unique topography from being near the trailhead off Short Wash. This trail is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle.

One of the big names in Johnson Valley, Upper Johnson Canyon aka Big Johnson is one of the few intermediate trails in the Johnson Valley range. Because of its location in Southern California near Los Angeles and Orange County, these trails see a lot of traffic for the people that are not looking for the extreme trails of the legendary King of the Hammers area. This awesome but short trail has plenty of optional hard obstacles for the more extreme person while plenty of easier options for the newer drivers that want to get out and test out their vehicle. Run this as part of Lower Johnson and this can make for a good hour or two run for a group of friends looking to do something different. So the next time you hear Johnson Valley, don't think this is too extreme for me, instead head out to the Johnson Trails and have a little fun.

Located south of the popular Johnson Valley OHV area, New Dixie Mine Road travels a picturesque corridor between the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness and the Black Mountain Wilderness, slowly rising towards the northern San Bernardino Mountains. It is a gorgeous drive over a desert wash that leads into narrow rocky canyons. This straight-through trail passes through a once-active mining area with numerous spurs that invite exploration and can lead to mines and their remaining ruins, established campsites, cisterns, and springs.

Along this trail, dispersed camping is allowed at the many established campsites when following the Bureau of Land Management Camping Guidelines. Open fires are prohibited.

This is an easy trail requiring a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle. However, if planning to explore off the trail, you will require a four-wheel drive high clearance vehicle.