Means Dry Lake aka Hammertown USA is the one calm location in an area known for extreme off-road. It is typically used as a base camp and staging area for those who are attempting the legendary Hammer Trails and the King of the Hammers event. Whether it is your first time wheeling or are an extreme rock crawler, arriving at Means Dry Lake is as good as waking up to Christmas morning.
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7 day forecast for Means Dry Lake - Johnson Valley
You enter Means Dry lake from Boone Road at the northern most end. The area is wide open and you can travel anywhere you want. The route in the GPS is a path around the lakebed giving you the idea of what is there.
Means Dry Lake is at the end of Boone Road.
***To get to Boone Road from Lucerne Valley***
Take 247 east roughly 24 miles. You will see a Johnson Valley sign on the right side of the road and the white lines will be broken on the left side of the road where the dirt road starts.
***To get to Boone Road from Yucca Valley***
From Highway 62 and 247, take the 247 north / west for roughly 20 miles. The turnoff for Boone Road is on the right just after the highway curves to the left.
Camping
Dispersed
Land Use Issues
The US Government has come to an agreement with the Off-Roaders that use the area, and we will be sharing areas of the land in Johnson Valley with the US Military. During these times which are unknown, civilians will not be allowed in the area. There is no set schedule yet of when it will be closing and reopening. This is a growing concern for many people that enjoy the area for the fear that they will permanently close this area after the first time they use this area for Military training.
I moved to LA from Connecticut a few months ago and have been dying to check out the trails. So this past weekend, I took my stock Range Rover Sport Dynamic to the dry lake, as well as Skull rock. Both great trails and easy for noobs and those with non custom 4x4s (like me). Can't wait to go back and maybe push a little more power.
I think as long as you have decent clearance, you're good. Didn't notice too many deep sandy areas. I highly recommend Means Dry Lake and Skull Rock for anyone looking to have fun, even just on a day trip. Don't worry if you don't have a crazy set up. These trails are fun and forgiving.
Joshua Noesser grew up in Southern California but has lived in different parts of the country during his young adult life. Josh was first turned to four wheeling when he road with one of his friends dad up Surprise Canyon in the Panamint Valley at age14. After nearly 3 different roll overs later and a half dozen intense waterfalls, Josh was hooked. At 16 he purchased his first Jeep a CJ 7 and by 17 was putting his first locker in it.
Currently, Josh is the owner and CEO of Nybble, an IT Solutions Company based in Orange County, California. Nybble isn't your normal IT company where everyone stays in and plays video games. Nybble's average company trip is out on the trails since a good amount of his staff enjoy wheeling too. As Josh likes to say, he offers the only IT Company with the ability to provide services in extreme locations. "If you want a server at the top of The Hammers, we will take care of that for you."
Today you can find Josh out on the trail behind the wheel in one of his three different off-road vehicles. See the vehicles below for more information.
If you ever run into Josh, please say high, he is a very friendly person and is always happy to have a new person join the group.
