California Off-Road Trails

On the eastern slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest, Antelope Creek Road passes through a forest-to-desert transition zone, where both Pine and Joshua Trees share the landscape. Tucked in the surrounding hills, this remote out-and-back trail and its spurs are reached via Burns Canyon Road, and once past the obstacles near its start, the trail provides access to terrific dispersed camping and hiking trails. 

The trail features large rock and boulder-strewn sections that create challenging obstacles. About 0.4 miles from the start is the hardest obstacle, requiring careful tire placement over and around two to three-foot-wide boulders.  Other sections of the trail have uncomfortable off-camber sections reaching 20 degrees. This trail is best suited for an experienced off-road driver in a vehicle with larger tires and a small lift.

The trail offers several inviting dispersed campsites, under shaded trees, next to large, picturesque boulder formations, and with wonderful views of the surrounding hills. Some of these sites have existing rock fire rings, but open campfires are now prohibited here.

Antelope Cutoff is an easy trail not far off Highway 395. It traverses gentle hills, passes through wooded areas, and makes for a great scenic drive. The trail is mostly gravel, with some areas of small ruts from frequent travel, but this is not a concern for any vehicle with a moderate amount of clearance. Any stock 2WD truck or SUV could handle this trail when conditions are good.

Along this route, there are a few shaded sites with nice views for dispersed camping. Check with the Mammoth Ranger District for any fire restrictions that may be in effect.

Boone Road is the main eastern entry into California’s Johnson Valley OHV Area, a legendary off-road destination best known for the annual King of the Hammers event. Year-round, it serves as a gateway into vast desert terrain and offers easy access for all kinds of vehicles, including RVs, trailers, rock crawlers, and overland rigs. The road is wide, flat, and beginner-friendly, leading to the iconic lakebed and some of the most challenging trails in the country, including the infamous Hammers.

Whether you're exploring or camping, Boone Road delivers a true desert experience. It cuts through open terrain framed by rocky hills and dry lake beds, drawing adventurers from all over. Just past the bridge, the road opens into flat, level ground that’s perfect for dispersed camping. There’s plenty of room for tents, trailers, rooftop setups, and RVs under the vast desert sky.

Beginning at the end of Japatul Road, JF4325 is surrounded by dense thickets of tall Junipers, from which the area gets its name. This flat, easy route intersects several trails to explore, including some that climb the area's highest peaks. Occasionally, the hills part to offer beautiful views to the northeast of the valleys below and the distant Fry and Ord Mountain Ranges. The last mile of the eastern portion of the trail becomes Bowen Ranch Road and provides a connection to JF3330.

The trail is easy, with no obstacles, except for the occasional grazing cattle that should be gently avoided. Some rocky sections are easily managed using a 2-wheel drive high clearance vehicle, but exploring the many intersecting trails will require a 4x4. The Juniper Flats Subregion is a Limited Use Area requiring vehicles to stay on marked trails.

The entire trail is on Bureau of Land Management land, and dispersed camping can be enjoyed on the trail when following the Bureau of Land Management Dispersed Camping Regulations. Several suitable dispersed campsites can be found along the trail amongst the shading Junipers. Open fires may be prohibited, and it is the responsibility of campers to know the Campfire Restrictions.

An easy spur off of Upper Kitchen Creek Road with two nice places for dispersed camping. The road is fairly rutted so it may be a little difficult for minivans and camper vans.

The road is in Cleveland National Forest, where dispersed camping is allowed but requires the appropriate permits, an Adventure Pass, and/or Campfire Pass (even for gas stoves).

Cutting through the middle of the 27,000 acres El Mirage OHV Recreation Area, Mountain View Road has ten improved multi-site dry campgrounds with shade covers, benches, and grills along its length while providing access to the many trails in the area. As the road climbs, expansive views of the El Mirage dry lake and the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains are revealed.

The road is wide and graded flat, allowing passenger and recreational vehicles with trailers to reach the campsites and the large staging areas on either side of the road.

There is a $15 charge for one day/night access to the area. Dispersed camping is also available on the many rugged trails throughout the area.

SV6504 is a straight-through trail along the southern edge of Quartzite Mountain. The trail offers fantastic views and great campsites huddled amongst striking boulder formations.

Almost the entire trail is on public land, offering excellent dispersed campsites throughout its length that can be used 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.

SV6504 has only a hard stretch at its northern end, requiring a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle, but that short section is easily bypassed, making the entire trail an easy two-wheel drive.

This route in Movie Flats is directly off of the main Movie Road and is used to access a plethora of designated campsites. When seeing the iconic photos of people camped within the rounded sandstone structures with the jagged Sierra Nevadas in the background, this is most likely where those photos were taken. The entirety of this route is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, but those towing trailers will need to proceed with caution as many sections are tight and narrow.

About the 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.

Below is a brief description of each site, listed as if you were driving from the south to the north.

• 19: Is in the open next to the road. Can use a trailer if accessing from Movie Road nearest point.
• 20: Smallish and suitable for a rooftop, tent, or very small travel trailer.
• 21: Is directly on the edge of the road but suitable for a trailer if accessing directly from Movie Road nearest point.
• 22: Split the road so that you park on one side and tent on the other, or two rooftops can take up each side. It is guaranteed that others will drive directly through your site.
• 23: 4wd or high clearance is most likely needed. It provides a good amount of privacy and is only large enough for one vehicle and a tent or two rooftops. 
• 24: Sizeable and flat space good for up to four vehicles. 
• 25: Directly on the road edge. It is large but not exactly flat and provides a good view of the mountains.
• 26: This is a larger site, but not that level, but it does provide a bit more privacy than others in the area. 
• 27: Pull in suitable for a trailer but only if accessed from its nearest point to Movie Road.  
• 28: It is a large site, but all that flat. 
• 29: Right next to the road, which is small and great for a truck camper.
• 30: This is a pull-through large enough for two tents only, with a view and direct earshot of Movie Road. 

Deep in the Plumas National Forest sits an easy dirt trail that takes you from Butt Lake to Lake Almanor. As you travel down the trail, you will pass Butt Lake, a California reservoir. Once you pass the lake, you will climb back up, drop down the mountains, and pass over the North Fork Feather River before starting the long climb up the mountain, which ends roughly 4832 feet above sea level. The trail sits on the side of the sheer mountain cliffs for most of the route, giving it exceptional beauty, but it will also pass through burn scars. The road is maintained and suitable for any high clearance vehicle. No camping is found along the route.

IM5855, at its end, reaches into the Iron Mountain range. Some maps name this road Hillview Truck Trail, and the name is apparent as the run sweeps through the valley amongst the surrounding hills. This is an easy trail requiring only a two-wheel drive vehicle.

The road has a few pre-disturbed sites for dispersed camping.

Located south of the popular Johnson Valley OHV area, Rattlesnake Wash follows a dry wash paralleled by a green line of trees and flourishing wildlife. At its end, it intersects with Rattlesnake Canyon Road.

This easy trail requires a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle due to the deep sand.

Along this trail are a few established dispersed campsites, and dispersed camping is allowed here when following the Bureau of Land Management Camping Guidelines. Open fires are generally prohibited, and it is the responsibility of campers to know the Campfire Restrictions.

An easy trail with convenient access right off Big Pines Highway that provides wonderful dispersed camping amongst the tall pines and great views out over the desert.

Dispersed camping is allowed here when following the Angeles National Forest Dispersed Camping Restrictions. Campfires are prohibited.

Finding its way north over a flat sandy road through the valleys of the Iron Mountains, Hillview Road eventually reaches the busy Highway 58. A two-wheel drive vehicle will do fine on the road.

There is a large camping/staging area with rock fire rings along the trail.

The Bismark Shortcut in the famous Calico Ghost Town area, located in Yermo, CA, is a shortcut on Doran Canyon to the Bismark Mine. For the longest time, people thought this was Doran Cayon Trail. To many's disbelief, it isn't. This trail immediately turns right where the canyon opens up and heads up a tailing pile/jeep trail up the side of the mountain. You pass many open mines just feet off the trail along the route, so use caution while driving the trail. Once on top, you are at the Bismark Mine main spot that everyone photographs, which is the towering open-face mines where the cliff wall was just destroyed by what looks like a giant woodpecker looking for what might be his last meal. The trail is comprised of mine tailings, with rocks ranging in size from golf balls to baseball. These rocks have been compacted into a solid surface for the last 100 years. It is common for rocks to move around a little near the top of the trail as they are still settling in. This trail is suitable for any high-ground clearance vehicle with aired-down, durable off-road tires. Offroad experience is recommended, and 2WD is generally sufficient. Less experienced drivers may require 4WD.

Since this is just a shortcut, there are no suitable campsites along the trail. One spot at the top could support a group of 5+ vehicles at the top of the trail at the Bismark Mine. The spot is flat but mostly tailings, so the ground wouldn't be conducive to sleeping on it. Also, watch out for all the open mineshafts, as they have been known to ruin people's days.

Located on the eastern side of Monache Meadows, 20S05C is a scenic in-and-back trail commonly used to access the Pacific Crest Trail. This easy, offroad route is perfect for a relaxing evening drive, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape and ample opportunities to spot birds of prey perched on rocks, scanning the tall grasses for their next meal. While the trail provides a serene experience as it winds through the meadows to the wilderness boundary, it does not have any suitable camping locations along the way.

9S04 Puerta La Cruz trail is a side trail off of 9S05 Indian Flats. It runs 2.9 miles, down almost 700 feet in elevation, towards Holcomb Village, but terminates at a locked gate. This is an out-and-back trail, as there is no access to Highway 79. The final stretch of trail near the gate has a superb view overlooking the Warner Springs Valley, Palomar Mountain, and Lake Henshaw. While the trail itself may not be a destination, it does offer enticing views of the surrounding valleys and makes a great add-on for those wanting to add more miles to their offroad adventure.

The trail is primarily smooth, graded dirt, making for an easy drive. However, it becomes increasingly rutted towards the southwest section, with the deepest ruts being less than 6" deep and peppered with golf-ball-sized rocks. Any high-clearance 2WD vehicle can easily complete the trail. The northeast end resides in BLM land while the southwest end sits in the Cleveland National Forest, which requires a pass.

There are at least two pull-outs that could be used for dispersed camping in a pinch, but they have no shade and do not provide any privacy from the trail.