Bradshaw Trail
1860s freight route across the Colorado Desert
William Bradshaw blazed this freight route in 1862 to transport goods from Los Angeles to the Colorado River goldfields, creating what became the main supply line for Arizona mining camps before the railroad arrived. The 100-mile trail crosses some of California’s most remote desert, winding through the Chuckwalla Mountains and Palo Verde Valley past abandoned mining camps, old wells, and scattered remnants of the freight wagons that once rumbled across this desolate landscape.
This moderate route requires high-clearance 4WD and desert preparation — carry extra water, food, and emergency gear as you’ll be completely on your own for hours at a stretch. Best driven October through March when temperatures are tolerable, avoiding summer heat that can exceed 120°F. The trail offers authentic Old West history and pristine desert solitude, with opportunities for dispersed camping among the Joshua trees and ancient petroglyphs that mark this forgotten corner of California.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 100 mi / 161 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2100 ft |
| Best season | October-March |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Desert Center, CA |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run the Bradshaw Trail, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD handles this trail fine. Locking differentials are not required, but airing down to 20–25 PSI is smart given the mix of washboard, soft sand, and rocky sections across 100 miles of desert.
What happens if I try to run this in summer?
Daytime temps in the Colorado Desert routinely hit 115°F+ from June through September. Running this trail in summer is genuinely dangerous — heat can kill a vehicle and a person fast with no cell service for the entire route. Stick to October through March.
Do I need a permit to drive the Bradshaw Trail?
No permit required. The trail crosses BLM land and is free and open to the public. No fees, no passes, no check-ins — just self-registration at some points. Check with BLM Palm Springs–South Coast Field Office for any seasonal closures before you go.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The roughest stretch is the sandy wash crossings and eroded sections in the mid-route desert floor — nothing extreme, but prolonged washboard and soft sand will punish an overloaded vehicle and an inattentive driver. The bigger challenge is the sheer remoteness: 100 miles with zero services, zero cell signal, and very few other rigs on a weekday.
How much fuel do I need, and where's the last gas before I commit to the route?
The trail runs roughly 100 miles point-to-point through empty desert. Fill up in Desert Center or Indio before heading in — there are zero fuel stops on route. Carry a minimum 5-gallon reserve; desert sand and low-gear crawling burn more fuel than highway estimates suggest.
Trail track
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