Bradshaw Trail — Salton Sea to Colorado River Desert Crossing

William Bradshaw blazed this route in 1862 to haul gold out of La Paz, Arizona, and the desert hasn’t softened much since. The trail runs east from Salton City across the Chuckwalla Valley and through the Mule Mountains, threading washes, sandy flats, and volcanic rock shelves before dropping toward the Colorado River. Midway, the Chuckwalla Bench gives you a wide-open read on just how alone you are out here — no towns, no pavement, no safety net. The Orocopia Mountains loom to the north, and if you catch the right winter light on the sand dunes east of Desert Center, it’s the kind of view that justifies the whole endeavor.

This route is genuinely remote. Sand traps in the eastern washes will swallow an unprepared rig, and temperatures from May through October are dangerous — 115°F isn’t a worst case, it’s a Tuesday. Best run November through March. High-clearance 4WD is the minimum; lockers are strongly recommended for the deeper washes. Carry minimum 10 gallons of water and all your fuel — there’s nothing between Salton City and the Arizona border. No permits needed. BLM land throughout. Satellite communicator is non-negotiable.