California Off-Road Trails

The Mud Hills Southern Route is an entirely different experience than the other Mud Hill routes. While the other routes run along deep, narrow canyon floors, the southern route is up on the hills the entire way. Because of this, the route is much easier and an easy way to connect Odessa and Phillips Canyon. Since this trail is mostly an easy dirt trail, 2WD high ground clearance vehicles with offroad tires that are aired down can drive this trail in normal conditions.

There is no camping along the trail.

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.

Adventure Trail is a short but sweet trail in the Hudner Ranch portion of Hollister Hills SVRA. It is moderately difficult, and any 4WD or AWD vehicle can complete it. This trail is great for beginners looking to get experience offroad. The trail is made up of loose dirt with some steep hills and sharp turns. Portions of the trail are overgrown, and pinstriping is likely from the branches and bushes that have grown onto the trail. There is no camping directly off of the trail, but there are campsites available in Hudner Ranch that require a prior reservation.

Sitting at approximately 7,900 feet above sea level near the northern side of Monache Meadows, 20S05 is a popular and exceptionally scenic trail often considered the poster child for the area. Known for its crossing of the South Fork Kern River, it is one of the two most photographed trails in the region. Beyond its picturesque setting, 20S05 is the longest trail traversing the meadows, offering stunning views and excellent opportunities for photography. The trail's length also provides a great vantage point for observing wildlife as they roam the vast meadows. Near the southern end, the trail reaches a permit-required wildlife area that quickly dead-ends at the river, with an option to hike an additional 500 feet for another encounter with the beautiful Kern River. Although easy and accessible for most off-road vehicles, caution is advised when crossing the river, as conditions can change rapidly, potentially altering the trail's difficulty. Despite its length, the trail does not offer ideal camping spots, so it is recommended to camp at 20S03 near the meadow entrance for convenient access.

Please note: This is the Golden Trout Wilderness Area, one of the few areas where golden trout naturally live. Because of this, there are special fishing rules. Please research the rules and regulations before fishing in the area. More information can be found at the "Fish and Game Website."

Located south of the popular Johnson Valley OHV area and reached from RC2330, RC2340 is an up-and-back over a rugged trail. Ruins can be found within sight of the trail from this once-active mining area. Many short intersecting spurs invite exploration along this route.

The trail has steep rocky sections requiring a 4-wheel drive high clearance vehicle.

Many established campsites can be found along this trail, and dispersed camping is allowed here when following the Bureau of Land Management's Camping Guidelines. Open fires are prohibited in this area.

Hogback Ranch Road is a maintained dirt surface suitable for any vehicle. If travelling from the east and starting on Movie Road, it gains elevation until it finally leaves BLM-managed land and ends up in the Inyo National Forest, where you will get to witness pine trees! One campsite is directly on the road, which is not numbered on the BLM map, but signage indicates it's okay to camp there. The site is large and suitable for a group of vehicles looking to camp with one another.

About camping on this route:

All dispersed camping is designated to a specific site and requires a permit. A permit can be obtained online or at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center or kiosks located on Movie Road and the main entry point in Lone Pine. Permits need to be signed and displayed on your dashboard. 

The BLM has created a map showing the site numbers. However, those numbers are not used in the field, but each site is clearly marked with either a camping allowed or no camping allowed symbol on a clearly visible sign. Please be aware that all sites are first come, first served, and a permit does not guarantee you will find a site. Due to the area's popularity, it is best to arrive early. 

There are six portable restrooms throughout Alabama Hills. If you do not want to drive or walk to one, you must bring your own system to pack out human waste. 

Reaching the northernmost border of the 27,000-acre El Mirage OHV Recreation Area, the West Loop Trail begins on a flat basin before going into the rugged Shadow Mountains, where it becomes a rough and occasionally steep path. Notable waypoints along the route are Resurrection Hill, where ATVs have carved snake-like lines up its sides and are visible even from a distance, and the remnants of Rabbit Hole Mine directly next to the trail. At the trail's northernmost reach is the Fearless Folly 4X4 Trail intersection, an extremely rugged trail meant only for experienced offroaders in groups for mutual rescue.

West Loop Trail is an excellent trail for beginning offroaders to build their driving confidence on a bit more rugged and steep trail yet can still be managed with a two-wheel drive high clearance vehicle.

Dispersed camping is plentiful along the trail, with enticing dispersed campsites tucked amongst the rocks or beside shading joshua trees. Improved dry camps are only a short distance from its end.

El Mirage OHV Recreation Area requires a permit for one day/night, payable at the Visitor Center entrance.

SC175 is an excellent introduction to the trails of the Jawbone Canyon OHV Area. It conveniently starts and ends near Highway 14 with a must-stop at the Jose Bishop Gravesite and Claim about ½ way along the trail.  

The road is wide and well maintained and an easy drive for new offroaders, but it still requires a high clearance 4x4 to manage the soft sand and occasionally exposed rocks.     

There are only a few predisturbed sites for dispersed camping and they can be enjoyed when meeting the BLM Camping Guidelines. BLM provides better camping at many sites along Jawbone Canyon Road. 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.

Frank Raines OHV Park 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.

Rut Ridge is a moderate trail, rated blue by the park's rating system. Despite the name, Rut Ridge is one of the least rutted trails in the park and can easily be completed in 4WD or AWD. The most difficult portion of the trail is a series of short hill climbs. The trail eventually connects to Fire Road, another trail in Frank Raines.

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.

Williams Creek, located within the Tahoe National Forest, is a straight-through, well-maintained dirt road that makes a great way to get around on your overland adventure. You will see towering trees well over 100 feet tall along the route. Since the forest seems well maintained, the views along the route are something else. Just be careful; the trail is so smooth it is easy to go faster than you can safely stop. Any offroad vehicle can do this trail.

Even though the area is well maintained, the majority of the trail is up on the cliffside, meaning there are no ideal places to camp.

In the forest-to-desert transition on the north side of the San Bernardino National Forest lies North Peak Road. Created to reach the once active White Knob Quarry, the trail is an out-and-back rising about 1,000 feet up the west side of White Mountain. Drivers looking for an offroad challenge to test their driving skills will enjoy this steep trail, and their efforts will be rewarded with inspiring panoramas out to the distant San Gabriel Mountains. The trail ends at the quarry where the exposed white limestone and the mountain's namesake were being harvested 

The trail is deeply rutted and follows steep rock-covered switchbacks, which have both inclines and off cambers reaching 20 degrees.  A lifted 4x4 is required to drive this trail, and lockers will be a benefit to help grip over the loose rocky sections.

While dispersed camping is allowed, there are no suitable flat and level locations to set up camp on the trail.  However, only about 1.5 miles to the west of the North Peak trailhead is the Horse Spring Campground with its improved campsites and pit toilets.

As the name suggests, the Coral to Palm Wash Cutoff is a rough, desert route connecting the end of Coral Wash to Palm Wash in the Truckhaven Hills near the Salton Sea. This path connecting the two trails passes through the mud hills, where you will encounter slightly challenging, tight, off-camber canyons and stunning views. Hosting what might be the most remote place to camp in all of Truckhaven, this trail is definitely a unique little offroad gem.

This trail is suitable for any stock, high-clearance vehicle.

The best camping on this trail can be found right in the middle of the trail, on top of the pass, where you will find a large open flat area that could easily fit 20+ vehicles. Because of the remote nature of this area, this could be a fun place to camp as it offers a minor windbreak, a level, flat dirt ground, and some fantastic views just feet away. The camp spot is suitable for ground camping.

Looking for a unique place to explore or camp when out by 29 palms? Look no further than the Gold Egg Mine just off Gold Crown Road. This unique and fun to explore area has a ton of great historical items that are ready to be rediscovered. Because the area used to be leveled for buildings, the area makes for good overland camping and dispersed camping. So when out and about, and want something new to explore while driving a 4x4 with high ground clearance, you should check out the Gold Egg Mine near Joshua Tree National Forest.

Horse Mountain is often used to access the trailhead for Forest Service road 36E52 to McIver's Cabin. A narrow ledge road winds its way up the side of the mountain with often no room for vehicles to pass. Once at the top, there is the signed trailhead for Forest Service road 36E52.

Some excellent dispersed campsites can also be found when reaching the top of the mountain. Dispersed camping here requires following National Forest Dispersed Camping Rules. Campfires are only seasonally allowed and are generally banned during the summer months beginning in May. When planning to camp, one should first determine if campfires are allowed, meet the required Campfire Safety Rules, and have a valid National Forest Campfire Permit. The best way to determine the campfire restrictions is to call the Kern River Ranger District Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781.

Frank Raines OHV Park 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 watch out for dirtbikes, quads, and SXS.

Truck Hill is a moderately difficult trail, rated a black diamond by the park. The trail has similar obstacles as other trails in the park, with steep hill climbs, ruts, and loose dirt, but to a lesser degree. Anyone with 4WD and high clearance could complete Truck Hill. The trail connects to Matt's Hill and Spider Hill, two other black diamond trails in the park.

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.

The BLM 27,000-acre El Mirage OHV Recreation Area provides several trails of varying difficulty to interest all offroaders. Discovery Trail is located in the heart of the area, providing a 15-mile tour circling "The Basin." The Basin lies between the La Mirage dry lake bed and the Shadow Mountains to the north, with its travel through the mountain's foothills providing the roughest terrain along the route.

While the improved campsites within the recreation area are located along Mountain View Road, Discovery Trail offers many dispersed camping opportunities, especially at its most western reach among the ruins of Hess Ranch.

A high clearance two-wheel drive will do fine on this trail.

El Mirage OHV Recreation Area requires a permit costing $15 for one day/night, payable at the Visitor Center entrance.

Mitchell Canyon- Long Valley Trail is on the east border of California in the Tahoe National Forest. This easy dirt trail takes you from the hills of Henness Pass down to the border. With such easy access to the area, this is a popular place for people to leave their houses for a day trip or weekend adventure. The trail is a mix of forest and desert flora. Even though dispersed camping is allowed, there are no pre-disturbed sites.

Miller Canyon offers a scenic and approachable entry point starting with a paved road just off Highway 138. The trail quickly transitions into an easy fire road, though you'll encounter sporadic patches of broken asphalt that add a bit of challenge and character to the drive.

You'll find a few level areas ideal for camping. The trail itself becomes increasingly rugged, with deep grooves and scattered rocks that keep things interesting. While four-wheel drive isn’t strictly necessary in dry conditions, it’s definitely a good option to have, especially if the road is wet or if you're planning to explore deeper into the canyon.