California Off-Road Trails

Black Gulch 4WD trail, at 11 miles long, drops you about 3,000 feet in the dense Sequoia National Forest from its start at Rancheria Road, eventually leading to paved roads and the shores of Lake Isabella. The road has challenging sections that are well-marked, allowing us to bypass these difficult portions. The trail is narrow and heavily rutted and will take maneuvering to enable another vehicle to bypass. We found no camping along the trail but did camp near the trailhead on Rancheria Road at Evan Flats.

Old Yosemite Coulterville Road is a historic trail located in Stanislaus National Forest that crosses over into Yosemite National Park. Coulterville Road was opened in 1874 and was the first highway into Yosemite, a toll road that mainly served stagecoaches. The road was popular until around 1915, when free alternatives such as Big Oak Flat Road made Coulterville Road obsolete. Today, the forest service maintains Coulterville Road for vehicle travel. While it may not be the quickest or most efficient way to enter Yosemite, Coulterville Road provides miles of beautiful scenery on seldom-traveled forest service routes and is a fantastic way to start your visit to Yosemite National Park.

Old Yosemite Coulterville Road is well maintained by the forest service, and the vast majority of the road could be done in a 2WD. However, there is one large obstacle that requires 4WD. On the Yosemite side of the trail, there is a large pile of downed trees that have been covered with loose dirt to allow vehicles to travel over them. Other than the one obstacle, the trail is graded dirt with small hills and ruts and a shallow water crossing. Camping is not allowed.

Black Eagle Mine Road begins in Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) and crosses its eastern border into the Bureau of Land Management controlled areas and the Eagle Mountain Mining District. Before the JTNP was established, Black Eagle Mine Road provided the main route to the many mines along its path. It now provides park visitors a Mojave Desert experience following a corridor between the untouched Pinto Basin Wilderness to the north and the Eagle Mountains Wilderness to the south. Along the way, experience both the natural beauty of the Mojave Desert from the flat open desert and views of the distant Eagle Mountain Range to the man-made remnants of its mining history.

Turkey Claw isn’t just a trail, it’s a rite of passage for true offroad warriors. Tucked into the legendary Johnson Valley, California, the stomping grounds of King of the Hammers, this short but savage rock-crawling beast will challenge your rig and your nerve from the very first boulder.

Whether you're behind the wheel of a nimble Jeep 2-door JL, a classic CJ, or a fully-built 4-door JKU, Turkey Claw doesn’t discriminate, it dishes out punishment and thrills in equal measure. Expect steep climbs, axle-snapping rocks, and narrow lines that demand precision, guts, and a serious sense of adventure. Body damage? Possible. Driveline carnage? Maybe. Epic stories and unforgettable memories? Guaranteed.

If you're craving a heart-pounding challenge in SoCal’s offroad playground, head southwest from Means Dry Lake and put Turkey Claw on your must-conquer list. It's not just a trail, it’s a test of everything you and your 4x4 are made of.

Are you looking for a nice short off-road trail near Wrightwood to spend an hour or two?  Then Fenner Saddle Road is the trail for you.  This trail winds through the Angeles National Forest from Highway 2, over to Big Pines Highway N4, and brings you out at Jackson Lake, a popular day-use area, where you can picnic under shady pine trees and, if you are so inclined, go fishing.  Along the route are incredible vistas of the mountains and the Mojave desert to the north.

2N38 Valley of the Moon is in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest. It is between Crestline/Lake Gregory to the south and 2N37 Miller Canyon OHV to the north. This trail's attraction is its access to miles of OHV designated trails to the north. There are thousands of miles of roads and trails on public lands that are appropriate and accessible for Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV's) use. OHV's are a fun and exciting way to experience America's natural treasures. These vehicles are not street legal and must display a Green or Red Sticker issued by the State. Unless otherwise posted, normal sized vehicles may use the OHV trails also. To the west around Waypoint 2, there are some beautiful views of Lake Silverwood.

Part of Coyote Canyon Lower, Sheep Canyon Trail used to be a popular thruway people enjoyed often. Sheep Canyon got its name from the seasonal pools of water and mud that the big horn sheep come down from the mountains to drink. Now since the park service has closed the trail for a short distance between Coyote Canyon Upper and Coyote Canyon Lower, this area sees a lot less traffic on it. Thus, now this area is a great retreat to avoid crowds and enjoy the peaceful scenery of the Anza Borrego Desert.

Aqueduct Road is located in the Mojave and Colorado desert on BLM land just south of Joshua Tree National Park. The road's namesake, the Colorado River Aqueduct, whose water is the lifeblood of greater Los Angeles, courses through a series of tunnels bored into the rugged foothills to the north of the road, a portion of which is beneath your feet. There are still many trails and Aqueduct artifacts to explore off of Aqueduct Road that were leftover from that massive project and access to other courses traveling into the Joshua Tree National Park. Aqueduct Road itself closely straddles the somewhat arbitrary division between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, and at times you can stand with a foot in each. The desert offers a stark desolation with a beauty of its own. It is accented by the brilliant white summer afternoon clouds making a casual drive over its length a memorable experience.