California Off-Road Trails

Big Horn Mine Road in Mojave National Preserve leads to the historic Big Horn Mine and the Hilltop House, a cabin built by the mine owners. The bright white Hilltop House was built before 1933 as a place for the owner and investors to keep watch over their mining interests, which are visible just down the hill. From its perch, the Hill House is visible from miles away and became a gathering place for local miners, ranchers, and homesteaders for holidays and other celebrations.  The mine was finally abandoned in 1985, and the house fell into disrepair and collapsed in high winds in 2008.  To acknowledge its historic role in the area's landscape, the park service rebuilt the house, and it can now be used by desert explorers for short stays.  The main room is nice, with a fireplace and cots, but the remaining rooms of the house are in disrepair and not suitable for use. A photograph hanging on the wall shows the cabin in disrepair before its restoration. The mine, visible from the house,  is just down the north side of the hill where its water towers have collapsed and other artifacts lie in decay. Iron bars now close the mine entrances.

The best dispersed camping is at the Hilltop House site, which provides expansive views across the desert to the Granite and Van Winkle Mountains. The immediate area around the Big Horn Mine also offers several campsites with rock campfire rings that would provide wind-sheltered camping locations.

This is an easy trail with short sections of hill climbs over a rocky surface and across water-worn depressions that are easily handled by a high clearance vehicle using two-wheel drive.

On its westernmost 2.5-mile stretch of trail, SV6534 is called Cardigan or Citation Road. This straight-through trail provides quick access to Route 66 from the Stoddard Valley Subregion.

Many suitable dispersed camping locations are found on the BLM land 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 Campfire Restrictions and have a Campfire Permit.SV6534 is an easy but rocky trail requiring a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle. 

Tucked away in the north Alabama Hills are designated campsites 41 and 42. Although not near the iconic movie sites along Movie Road, these two campsites offer a nice private camping experience while still being only a stone's throw away. The road surface to the first site (41) is easily managed by any vehicle, but to reach the second, the road is rough and rocky, requiring high clearance.

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 popularity of the area, 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. 

About the sites:

41: is easily accessed via a packed dirt trail, providing a small amount of flat ground for only 1-2 vehicles and ground tents.

42: Large trailers and long vehicles (RVs, Sprinter vans, or long-bed pickups) may find trouble reaching this site with its tighter S-bend in the rocks, and high clearance is recommended. The ground is fairly uneven, although there is a large plot of dirt to situate yourself and up to three other rigs.

Both sites have great views of the eastern Sierras and the rocks of the Alabama Hills.

Located in the BLM-managed Juniper Flats area, JF3253 connects to a network of trails that cover over 100,000 acres of this desert-to-mountain transition. The trail provides beautiful views and hosts a variety of wildlife. The distinctive rock formations close to the trail invite a short hike to explore.

The trail is easy over hard-packed flat dirt and wide enough for two vehicles to maneuver and pass over most of its length. This is the perfect trail for beginning offroaders and can be handled with a 2-wheel drive high clearance vehicle. However, if continuing to explore the area, many trails will require 4-wheel drive.

This trail offers no suitable campsites, but dispersed camping is allowed throughout the area when sites show obvious signs of prior use and lack of vegetation cover and follow the BLM Dispersed Camping Guidelines. This is a high-fire danger area, and campfires may be prohibited. Campers are responsible for knowing and following the current fire restrictions.

Beginning in El Mirage Valley, EM2728 skirts the edge of a cluster of hills, passing the remains of several stone homes. Made from local stone, these once-handsome buildings are worth the drive to see. This trail, located in the El Mirage Subregion, is in a Limited Use Area requiring vehicles to stay on the trails. The trail follows a right-of-way over private land, with the last mile of the trail on BLM land. EM2728 is an easy, generally flat sandy trail requiring only a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.

Dispersed camping is available on the last one-mile trail when meeting the BLM Camping Requirements. During the summer fire season, campfires may be restricted, and if planning to camp, one should review the current BLM Campfire Restrictions.

Georges Valley Road is a short trail at the end of the Pillsbury-Indian Dick trail located in the Mendocino National Forest. This trail is a there-and-back trail with a couple of dispersed camping sites. Georges Valley Road is a one-lane, narrow trail that any stock offroad vehicle can travel, providing no real challenges except for a few potholes that will make stock vehicles choose a careful line. The end of the trail is a decent location for bigger groups to set up a dispersed camping site for a night, providing shade and ample space for multiple vehicles. 

This quick and easy trail is a short drive north of Movie Flat and leads to three of the designated campsites in the Alabama Hills. Located just off Hogback Road, sites 46, 47, and 48 offer peace and quiet away from the crowds. Although there are no major challenges, high clearance may be needed if passing storms cause the ruts to get much deeper.

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 popularity of the area, 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 on this route:

• 46: Quickly and easily accessed, but it is rather small and cannot accommodate trailers or more than two vehicles. A few small bumps further is site 47, a larger site within earshot of 46. This site can fit 2-3 rigs comfortably, with room to turn a small adventure-type trailer around. A quiet and small trickling creek may be heard just across the trail.
• 48: Another hundred or so yards down the trail, where users may encounter small ruts from recent storms. This site is large and exposed but provides plenty of flat ground for 3-4 vehicles and ground tents.

Located entirely within Red Rock Canyon State Park, Roaring Ridge is the connector between Sierra View Road and Opal Trail. Being a simple connector, it offers views into the park's most interesting topography and the Scodie Mountains off to the west. It is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, as the non-even terrain generally consists of packed dirt with scattered loose rock. 4WD will not be needed under normal circumstances. Dispersed camping is not allowed within the State Park.

SV6510 follows along the beautiful Ore Grande Canyon formed by Quartzite Mountain and Sparkhule Mountain and serves as a connector to several other trails in the valley.

Mostly on public land, several flat locations are making for good dispersed camping 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 Campire Restrictions and have a Campfire Permit.

SV6510 is a flat, easy trail suitable for two-wheel drive, but surrounding trails may require high clearance four-wheel drive.

Located in the Juniper Flats area, JF3275 is an easy trek over hard-packed flat dirt with short sections of exposed grapefruit size rocks and wide enough for two vehicles to maneuver and pass by over most of its length. This is the perfect trail for beginning offroaders and can be handled with a 2-wheel drive high clearance vehicle. However, if continuing to explore the area, many trails will require a high clearance 4x4.

This trail connects to a network of trails that cover over 100,000 acres of this desert-to-mountain transition, providing beautiful views and hosting a variety of wildlife. This trail can be used to access the San Bernardino National Forest and trail 3N67, which leads to even more mountain trails, and eventually Big Bear Lake.

JF3275 offers no suitable campsites, but dispersed camping is allowed throughout the area when sites show obvious signs of prior use and lack of vegetation cover and follow the BLM Dispersed Camping Guidelines. This is a high-fire danger area, and campfires may be prohibited. Campers are responsible for knowing and following the current fire restrictions.

20S04 is a short spur road off the main Monache Meadows artery that skirts along the meadow and soda springs, leads to a campsite, and eventually deadends at private land. This remote campsite is popular, so you should plan to arrive early if you want to snag it. The campsite is in an open area behind the treeline that is flat-level dirt and can easily support a large group. The trail is easy, and suitable for any high clearance vehicle.

Forest Route 5N04 is a mostly gentle out-and-back trail that leads to a cell tower station at its terminus. As the trail climbs, it narrows slightly and becomes slightly rougher, but remains easily traversable with minimal experience. Three or four dispersed campsites dot the route, each only large enough for 1-2 vehicles. Visitors new to the area may be interested in the bright green moss that seems to glow on the pine trees. 5N04 also provides general access to the area around Double Dome Rock for those who wish to explore further on foot.

Part of the King of the Hammers Qualifying course in Johnson Valley California, this steep hillclimb is not for the faint of heart. One side is extremely steep and loose, with rocks in the right spots to make it hard, and on the other side is a drastic drop that is about 4 feet. This is a short straight-through trail only suited for well-built rigs and experienced drivers.

Rickman Road, designated as OM6618 by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is a rugged and sometimes rough offroad trail that winds through the heart of the West Ord Mountains. This trail serves as a direct connector between Lucerne Valley and Quill Springs, linking to an expansive network of desert BLM roads. History lingers along the route, with remnants of the area’s rich mining past subtly scattered throughout the mountains. Weathered tailings, forgotten springs, and the ruins of old mining camps appear sporadically, whispering stories of the region’s mining past.

The trail’s terrain is a dynamic mix of sandy stretches, coarse gravel, and scattered grapefruit-sized rocks, making for a bumpy drive. It cuts through winding desert washes on either side of a 3,989-foot pass, offering scenic views and a true sense of remote exploration. At the summit, a secluded campsite awaits, perfect for a solo rig and a tent, providing a peaceful overnight stop under the vast desert sky. For those seeking a larger camping area, an additional site can be found on the east side of the pass, near the remnants of an old building foundation. This spot offers ample space for multiple vehicles.

A unique side attraction when visiting Johnson Valley is Skull Rock, which is located on a sandy wash at the end of Stellar Road. The road to get to this hand-painted boulder is an easy, hard-packed dirt road just south of the popular Cougar Buttes area. You first pass several private property parcels before entering the Johnson Valley Open OHV Area, where the road becomes a bit sandier as you continue straight towards the rocky hills. As is typical of routes within Johnson Valley, the trail splits in several directions as you come to the edge of a sand wash, up against the base of the hills. Head northeast to the start of the wash, and there you will find the skull, north-facing, hidden in the desert landscape.

Dispersed camping is allowed throughout Johnson Valley, and there are plenty of wide-open, level areas to fit any type of camp setup and any group size. Cougar Buttes is very close and a popular area for camping, with decent wind protection.

Hugging the eastern edge of the Mojave Wilderness, Cottonwood Wash and Granite Pass Camp Road provide fantastic dispersed camping for a serene escape amongst the stunning granite spires of Granite Pass.  At the start of the trail, there are at least eight dispersed campsites with fire rings, each large enough to welcome several vehicles and their tents. These encampments provide a perfect base camp to explore this breathtaking area of the Mojave National Preserve. Located far from any city lights, the black nights are perfect for stargazing and enjoying the annual meteor showers. 

As the trail continues, it passes through a beautifully lush Yucca Tree forest and offers even more excellent dispersed camping at the now dry Coyote Springs.  As the trail nears its northern end, the Kelso Dunes, rising 650 feet, soar into view, providing a spectacular view of these majestic sand piles that seem to extend forever.

This is an easy trail with occasional ruts and short inclines that can be managed by a two-wheel drive vehicle with some ground clearance.

As you pull onto this spur road, a sign reads:

"GUNGA DIN" FILMED HERE"

IN 1938, THIS HILL AREA, AMONG MANY OTHERS IN THESE ALABAMA HILLS, SERVED AS A STAND-IN FOR THE HILL COUNTRY OF NORTHERN INDIA WHEN RKO MADE THE CLASSIC ADVENTURE FILM, 'GUNGA DIN,' ON LOCATION IN LONE PINE. HUNDREDS OF HORSEMEN RACED ACROSS THE HILLS AND ELABORATE SETS WERE BUILT HERE AND NEARBY WHILE THE CAST AND CREW LIVED FOR WEEKS IN A TENT CITY OFF MOVIE ROAD. DIRECTED BY GEORGE STEVENS, THE EPIC STARRED CARY GRANT, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. VICTOR MCLAGLEN AND JOAN FONTAINE WITH SAM JAFFE AS GUNGA DIN, THE WATERBOY WHO WANTED SO MUCH TO BE A SOLDIER."

The drive starts with dropping into a short canyon with rougher dirt and erosion than the other surrounding roads. The road leads to the designated dispersed sites 7 and 8. Any high clearance vehicle can manage the erosion. Large C-class RVs should be avoided.

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. 

About the sites:

7: Large site suitable for a few vehicles, but the ground is slightly slanted. Well separated from Horseshoe Meadows Road.

8: Large site suitable for a few vehicles, but the ground is slightly slanted. It has a decent separation from site 7, but being in the canyon, voices and sounds could reverberate.

Passing the east side of Round Mountain within the Juniper Flats area, JF3275 is a short connector trail in a much larger network of trails that cover over 100,000 acres of this desert-to-mountain transition. The trail travels through a gorgeous area with swarms of boulder formations, creating stunning views.

The trail can be moderately difficult because of fairly steep, uneven, and rocky slopes. This is a good trail for a beginning off-roader to experience a slightly more rugged trail and should be driven with a 4-wheel drive high clearance vehicle.

JF3275 offers no suitable campsites, but dispersed camping is allowed throughout the area when sites show obvious signs of prior use and lack of vegetation cover, and follow the BLM Dispersed Camping Guidelines. This is a high-fire danger area, and campfires may be prohibited. Campers are responsible for knowing and following the current fire restrictions.

A quick shortcut from Means Dry Lake, The Road to Short Bus, and Comp Hill is a quick path to these two popular areas. So if you are looking for an easy way to get there from means dry lake, this is your shortest route. Camping is not found directly along this trail, but there are endless camping opportunities on surrounding trails.

EM4692-1 follows a rugged valley formed by the peaks of the Red Buttes that serve as a familiar landmark in this area.

This rough rocky trail has a single suitable campsite with beautiful views across this El Mirage Subregion of the Mojave Desert. Only the westernmost 1/4 mile of this trail is on BLM land, where dispersed camping is allowed when following the BLM Camping Guidelines.

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

EM4692-1 is a rough rocky trail requiring a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle.

For a short two-year period starting in 1942, Coxcomb Camp became a massive tent city housing 15,000 soldiers training for the North African Campaign. Coxcomb Monument Road cuts through the center of this mile-wide camp, where visitors can view artifacts remaining from 1942. The camps were laid out in grids. Streets and boulevards were bulldozed, and rows of tents were set up on each side of assembly areas. When completed, the camp had 39 shower buildings, 165 latrines, 284 wooden tent frames, an observation/flag tower, and a 40,000-gallon water tank. Officers directed idle soldiers to lay extensive rock alignments along roads, streets, and walkways. These rock alignments can still be seen along this road and throughout the three-mile-long camp. The road passes the camp's flag tower circle, considered the center and most important part of the camp, and can be visited next to this road. A monument to the camp and soldiers who fought, and especially those who gave their lives, is located at the trailhead.

Coxcomb Monument Road is an up-and-back ending at the open Colorado Aqueduct over hard-packed sand and is easily handled by a 2-wheel drive vehicle.

There are no appropriate dispersed camping locations found in the area.

North Delamar Road packs a lot into its 0.9-mile length.  Its wonderful mountain scenery and peaceful campsites make it a nice escape from the busier Delamar Mountain road at its trailhead. Pacific Crest Trail hikers may be encountered as the road intersects the hiking trail at its beginning and halfway point.

This up-and-back road offers several flat dispersed campsites along its length.  Some sites are in the deep shade of the pine trees, while the best campsite, with a view, is located at the end, offering panoramas across the west end of Holcomb Valley.

This is an easy drive but still requires a high-clearance 4x4.  There is only one obstacle to traverse, over flat embedded boulders, and a bypass provides an easier path.  After this obstacle, a huge pine tree has fallen, bridging the trail, creating a tunnel, but with enough space for most vehicles to drive under.

Cougar Buttes sits on the northeast side of California’s Johnson Valley OHV Area and feels like a granite playground dropped into the Mojave Desert. Rocky domes and boulder piles rise out of the open desert, creating everything from mild sandy two-tracks and whooped-out washes to tight canyons and serious rock-crawling lines. Dirt bikes, UTVs, and full-size 4x4s all share the area, with routes that range from easy exploring for newer drivers to extreme obstacles with ledges, waterfalls, and a real risk of body damage for those who want to push their rigs. This loop is an easily accessible area for setting up camp and exploring the surrounding trails. It is suitable for tents, RVs, Toy Haulers, and anything in between.

Camping here is a classic BLM-style boondocking experience. There are no developed campgrounds, no hookups, and no services, just wide-open space where you can dry camp for free as long as you follow BLM rules and respect existing routes. Most groups tend to set up near the rock piles for wind protection, quick trail access, and expansive desert views. You must be fully self-contained, pack out all trash, and plan for changing desert conditions. Cooler fall, winter, and spring months offer the most comfortable seasons to enjoy riding and camping. Pit toilets are available at the north end, close to Transmission Line Road.

SV6546 follows a wide sandy wash with both ends connecting to other longer trails. Cattle once grazed here, and a concrete water trough engraved with "/X Cattle Co 1904" near the trail collected water from a now dried-up spring up the hill.

The eastern 1/2 mile of the trail is on public land and provides several good camping sites 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.

SV6546 is an easy, flat road that requires a high clearance two-wheel drive vehicle.