California Off-Road Trails

Look no further than this road when looking for a bypass for the lower section of Pleasent Canyon. Recently graded in 2024, this extremely easy dirt road that snakes its way up the side of the mountains can be done in any high-ground clearance vehicle. Starting at 1,084 feet above sea level and rising to over 2,880 feet, this easy bypass takes you around the lower section of Pleasent Canyon, which is known to get eroded by flowing water and be insanely overgrown. This trail drops you where Pleasant Canyon opens up and is no longer overgrown. Along the route, you will see similar terrain to the lower Jackpot Canyon, a sparse desert terrain. This trail is graded, so all 2WD vehicles should be able to drive this trail.

Due to the nature of this trail being on the side of the hill, there are no suitable locations to camp.

Located east of Lucerne Valley, Santa Fe Fire Road is primarily on Bureau of Land Management land and, after an 1800-foot rocky climb, comes to a closed gate marking the private property of Black Hawk Mine. Near the end of the trail are several building foundations and ruins that were once buildings supporting the mining in the area can be found. This end portion of the trail provides level spots for dispersed camping and commanding views to the north of Fry and Johnson Valleys.

Santa Fe Fire Road begins on the sandy desert floor and quickly ascends a rocky trail requiring a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.

Dispersed camping is allowed here when following the Bureau of Land Management Dispersed Camping Guidelines. Several dispersed campsites can be found around the mining camp. Campfires are generally prohibited, and if you plan to camp, you are responsible for knowing the Campfire Restrictions. Operating a camp stove requires a Campfire Permit.

The Bonanza Trail is a scenic and rugged 4WD route that winds through the historic mining region of the El Paso Mountains. This remote trail takes adventurers through a landscape rich with stories of gold prospectors, pioneer settlers, and mining camps that thrived during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

As you navigate the rocky and sandy terrain, you'll pass historic sites that provide a glimpse into the area's past. The Bonanza Gulch Post Office is believed to have been built in the 1930s and once served the local mining community. Further along, interpretive signs highlight the experiences of gold seekers who hurried through on their way to the Mother Lode in the Sierra Nevada, only to return seeking their fortunes in these hills. Evidence of their persistence can still be seen in abandoned tunnels, weathered structures, and scattered mining remnants. A much more advanced and abandoned commercial mine is on the far western end, at the border of Red Rock Canyon State Park.

An abundance of dispersed camping can be found on the higher elevations out of the wash, and one can stay at any of the remaining structures along the washy area—just use the occupied signs that vary by building. Use at your own risk.

As a side of history, at one time, these cabins were officially adopted via the BLM Adopt-A-Cabin program. An older document from the BLM describes the program as: "It was a volunteer partnership arrangement administered by the Ridgecrest Field Office from the late 1980s to 2005. It operated under the ambitious but ultimately untenable goal of saving historical-period mining cabins in the region, largely for recreational reuse. Under the auspices of the program, several mining cabins in the Study Area were renovated, including the Beveridge Ridge Cabin in Inyo County. Inarguably, the work under the program prevented the collapse of several buildings. However, concerns over the lack of collection of baseline condition data prior to initiating work and the absence of involvement of BLM cultural resource managers brought an end to the program."

Located in the northern foothills of the Angeles National Forest, Big John Flat, also labeled as Ball Flat on some maps, is an out-and-back road across the transition from hills to the Mojave Desert basin, providing beautiful desert scenery.

The trail is easy, with only a single location that is rutted, requiring straddling the rut, but it remains an easy trail for new offroaders.

Dispersed camping is allowed when following the Angeles National Forest Dispersed Camping Restrictions. There are a few small campsites suitable for 1 or 2 vehicles and a large staging area size camping location near the end of the trail.

Open fires are prohibited in this area.

This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) area in the San Jacinto Mountain foothills has no designated subregion, hence the trails prefix for Riverside County (RVC). RVC170 passes through the middle of this patch of BLM land and, at its northwest end, connects to Old Idyllwild Road.

New offroaders would enjoy this easy trail in a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle. There are a few narrow and shallow washouts across the road that are easily crossed at low speeds.

Dispersed camping can be enjoyed on BLM land when adhering to the BLM Dispersed Camping Guidelines. There are only two suitable campsites along this route. These consist of clear, flat areas a few feet off the road that are positioned for great northerly views of the valleys below and the distant town of Banning.

No open fires are permitted, and it is the responsibility of campers to know and follow the Fire Restrictions.

In northern Death Valley National Park, Racetrack Valley Road is a classic backcountry route to the mysterious Racetrack Playa and its famous “sailing stones.” The rough track starts near Ubehebe Crater and runs roughly 30 miles one way to the Racetrack Playa parking area. Expect loose gravel, heavy washboard, sharp volcanic rock, and occasional rocky wash sections. In dry conditions, some 2WD vehicles can make it, but offroad tires are a necessity due to the distance, lack of services, and rough terrain. After storms, 4-wheel drive should be anticipated, as washouts and ruts can appear until the road is regraded.

Plan for 2–3 hours each way depending on conditions, plus time to explore: about an hour to walk out to the sailing stones and anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours at Ubehebe if you hike the rim or drop into the crater. The scenery shifts from stark black cinder fields to a Joshua tree forest before opening into big desert views with the playa ahead. Vehicles are strictly prohibited on the playa surface—use the far southern parking area to shorten the walk to the stones. This is a high-risk, no-cell-service zone with extreme heat (often 120°F+ in summer) and fast-changing weather, so bring ample water, extra fuel, a full-size spare, and reliable emergency communication.

There’s no designated camping directly along Racetrack Valley Road, but just beyond via Lippincott Mine Road is a small, first-come, first-served improved campground with about nine marked sites that’s easy to access. For more amenities, head south toward Furnace Creek for lodging, fuel, and basic services.

The Helendale Mountains Trail is north of Victorville and intersects the famous Route 66. This unmarked Burea of Land Management (BLM) trail winds eight miles through the Helendale Mountains. Climbing the hills reveals beautiful views of the desert valley and distant mountain ranges. Surface conditions range wildly from soft, deep sand to rough rocky inclines. This trail is a straight-through road and eventually reaches Interstate 15 and, along the way, crosses several unnamed trails to explore.

While on the BLM portion of this trail, there are plentiful dispersed camping sites to overnight when meeting the BLM Camping Guidelines. Only the first and last one-mile segments are not on public land.

During high fire danger, campfires may be restricted, and if planning to camp, one should review the current BLM Campfire Restrictions and have a Campfire Permit.

Helendale Mountains Trail surface consists of deep, soft sand and steep rocky slopes requiring an experienced offroad driver in a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle.

Sheephead Mountain is a moderately difficult 1,300-foot climb to an expansive view of the I-8 corridor and mountains of northern Baja Mexico. The narrow shelf road feels as if it has no end. Navigating the climb, with erosion control berms, switchbacks, and steep edges, can be exhilarating, while the view from the top is icing on the cake.

Difficulty

The trail is almost entirely a narrow shelf road with few opportunities to pass. Being a shelf road, it is filled with large erosion control berms, requiring high clearance to navigate them. The switchbacks are tight and may require multi-point turns near steep drop-offs.

Camping

There is a single open area near the top of the trail that can be used for camping. It is roughly 30 feet from the trail and could accommodate 2 to 3 vehicles. Camping does require a dispersed camping permit from the Descanso Ranger District.

Access

The trail starts at the northeastern end of Buckman Springs Road, just feet from I-8.

North Philbrook Road is one of the main access trails into the High Lakes OHV. It is graded and suitable for any vehicle. Near the trail's end is a large staging area that can be used to leave trucks and trailers. This road is not suitable for camping. If you are looking to camp in this area and want a legendary dispersed camping location, look at High Lakes Trail for fantastic lake camping that can fit groups of 2 to 6 vehicles relatively easily.

CM7600 parallels the paved Calico Road for 0.8 miles from its trailhead at Mule Canyon. It provides convenient access to large flat sandy staging areas and dispersed camping with many existing rock fire rings.

The trail is easily driven by large recreational vehicles. The location is conveniently close to gas, charging, and supplies at EddieWorld, only about 1.5 miles to the south. Also, Calico Ghost Town, with its improved camping, is only two miles north.

Two interesting connecting spurs, CM7606 and CM7608, invite exploration, but these require four-wheel drive high clearance vehicles.

At its end, CM7600 connects to the paved Calico Road.

Sage Canyon Road is an out-and-back trail guided by the smooth meandering of the shallow canyon walls, through a corridor into the Kiavah Wilderness, and eventually reaching into the Sequoia National Forest. Several springs feed a small creek that runs through the canyon center, and it's no surprise the canyon supports a medley of plant and animal life. A burgeoning joshua tree forest is taking hold here, along with the namesake Sage Bush, whose aroma fills the canyon.  Along its length are a few intersecting roads and several established hiking trails.   

This easy trail consists almost entirely of hard-packed sand that can be driven in a two-wheel drive high clearance vehicle.

A BLM-provided primitive campsite large enough for several vehicles is next to the start of the trail. 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 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.

Alpers Canyon Upper is a scenic, easy drive through the Inyo National Forest. It is a great way to traverse more terrain when overlanding or accessing other trails in the area. The trail is primarily gravel and easy to navigate with a 2WD. Dispersed camping is allowed, and there are several spacious sites. Check local conditions for campfire restrictions.

SV6542 is a straight-through starting near the Ore Grande Mine, heading east to leave the Silver Mountains and ending near I15.

Dispersed camping is available along the trail when meeting the 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.

SV6532 is an easy but rocky trail requiring a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.

Traversing along the western edge of the Mojave Trails National Monument, South Cady Flat is an easy and fairly smooth desert trail that serves as part of a connecting route from Highway 40 outside of Newberry Springs into the Cady Mountains and Hidden Valley Wash. The trail is primarily hard-packed dirt and sand with sections of shallow sand whoops and small rocks no larger than a clenched fist. The southern end offers ample, open boondocking opportunities, while a few smaller, single campsites can be found along the northern end. The railroad crossing at the southern end is not always open. If the gates are closed, you must take the BL8590 and BL8580 connector that treks east a short way to a bridge crossing under the tracks. This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

At the northeasternmost side of Monache Meadows, 20S06, also known as Kingfisher Stringer or Long Canyon, is a unique trail that feels almost out of place in the area. The short in-and-back trail starts from the east, leading you over a random sand dune in the meadows before crossing Olvia Creek. From there, you enter a forest that feels more like Missouri or Arkansas, with a distinct type of pine not found elsewhere in the region. The narrow trail twists and turns through this dense forest as you head west. Midway through, you'll encounter the trail's only significant obstacle: a 2-foot waterfall or ledge that, while not particularly challenging, requires 4-wheel drive and good ground clearance to navigate. Continuing west, you weave through clusters of trees before reaching some of the trail’s best camping spots. The camping here is unlike other areas, offering a remote and unique experience with tight, clustered trees that create a more intimate atmosphere compared to the open forests elsewhere. Though the terrain is hilly, you can still find mostly level ground suitable for pitching a tent. The camping can accommodate groups of nearly any size, making the end of this trail a sought-after destination for those seeking a distinctive camping experience.

A small leg off of Orosco Ridge that ends at a gate, making this an out-and-back trail. Similar to Orosco Ridge this is a rough dirt road with many ruts. If your vehicle can make it up the climb to Orosco Ridge (the start of this trail), it should be able to handle the Boden Canyon Trail just fine. There is an incline/decline near the gated/southern end that could be a problem for traction when wet.

El Mirage 4661 (EM4661) is an up-and-back trail following the gently rising contours of the Shadow Mountains over beautiful high desert terrain with fantastic views to the northwest. Its end is the fenced border of the El Mirage OHV Area. A wonderful trail to get away, camp for an evening, and enjoy the views.

The El Mirage Subregion is a Limited Use Area requiring vehicles to stay on designated trails. The trails are well marked with frequent BLM signs to recognize if you are on the trail.

A two-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance and a beginning offroader will do fine on this trail.

Many tortoises are in the area, and a vigilant eye is needed to avoid them as they slowly cross the trail.

There are many suitable and flat locations for dispersed camping on this route, some with existing rock campfire rings.

This area has no designated Bureau of Land Management (BLM) subregion, hence the prefix for Riverside County (RVC). RVC169 meanders through the San Jacinto Mountains foothills, heading southeast from Wolfskill Truck Trail while providing beautiful views out to the northwest.

New offroaders would enjoy this easy trail in a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.

Dispersed camping can be enjoyed on BLM land when adhering to the BLM Dispersed Camping Guidelines. The trail has a few suitable areas suitable for dispersed camping. These sites open flat areas a few feet off of the trail, and several provide northerly views of the surrounding foothills or distant valleys. The last portion of the trail intersects a once-active creek and provides greenery and shade trees, offering a quiet and peaceful dispersed campsite.

No campfires are permitted, and it is the responsibility of campers to know and follow the Fire Restrictions.