California
DifficultMojave Road — Fort Piute to Government Holes via Piute Gorge Wash and Lanfair Valley (Classic Interior Segment)
Army ghost road. Basalt gorge. Zero shade.
USA
Overlanding Trails in California
Trails curated for overlanders in California.
288 Trails
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California
Kelso Depot Visitor Center — Mojave National Preserve Desert Railroad Hub
Restored 1920s railroad depot in the heart of the Preserve — the best intel stop between Needles and…
California
Hole-in-the-Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve
The Preserve's most-used developed camp, wedged into volcanic ring-dike country with pit toilets, water, and direct access to…
California
Mojave National Preserve — Government Holes Road Dispersed Camp
Flat desert camping along the historic Mojave Road corridor near one of the route's most storied water stops…
California
DifficultMojave Road — Needles to Barstow via Fort Piute, Government Holes, and Afton Canyon (East-to-West Classic Full Crossing)
America's oldest overland route. Still unforgiving.
California
ModerateMojave Road — Rock Springs to Afton Canyon via Government Holes and Soda Dry Lake
Lava, salt flats, and a Civil War–era ruin.
California
ModerateMojave Road — Soda Dry Lake to Afton Canyon via Government Holes and Rainstorm Mine (Classic Interior Segment)
Desert history driven, not read about.
California
ExpertRubicon Trail — Georgetown to Loon Lake via Rubicon Springs and Buck Island Lake (Classic West-to-East Full Traverse)
California's hardest trail. No exceptions.
California
ModerateMojave Road — Afton Canyon to Piute Spring via Soda Lake and Government Holes (Westbound Classic Dry Run)
Wagon ruts, desert springs, and open Mojave sky.
California
ModerateMojave Road — Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall via Wild Horse Canyon and Black Canyon Road (Interior Loop)
Volcanic rings, Joshua trees, and zero cell bars.