Johnson Valley OHV Area
California's premier desert playground
Johnson Valley OHV Area sprawls across 188,000 acres of Mojave Desert between Barstow and Twentynine Palms, serving as Southern California’s premier off-road destination since the 1970s. The area offers everything from beginner-friendly sand washes to expert-level rock crawling routes like Aftershock Hill and John Bull, where modified rigs test their mettle against granite slabs and house-sized boulders. The famous King of the Hammers race happens here each February, transforming the desert into off-road racing’s Super Bowl with spectators camping in the thousands.
The terrain accommodates all skill levels — families cruise the sand washes in stock SUVs while hardcore wheelers tackle named obstacles that require winches and body armor. Best visited October through April when desert temperatures stay tolerable. Bring water, tools, and recovery gear since cell service is spotty and the nearest town is 30 miles away. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout, making this a perfect base camp for extended desert adventures with some of the clearest night skies in California.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Sand |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 50 mi / 80.5 km |
| Duration | 1-7 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3100 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Twentynine Palms, California |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.