Chimney Peak Backcountry Byway — El Paso Mountains to Cinder Cones
Mojave volcanic country nobody bothers to visit.
The Chimney Peak Backcountry Byway cuts through one of the least-visited pockets of California’s Mojave Desert, looping around the El Paso Mountains and skirting the edge of the Cinder Cones wilderness area northeast of Ridgecrest. The route runs roughly 35 miles of dirt and wash crossings through country that looks like it was forgotten after the last volcanic event — because it basically was. Key waypoints include the Chimney Peak summit area offering panoramic views across Red Rock Canyon to the west, and the deeply eroded canyon passages near Last Chance Canyon where old mining shacks still lean against the hillsides. You’ll bounce through sandy washes and over hardpacked volcanic rock, occasionally wondering if you took a wrong turn into a Mars simulation.
This is a high-clearance route that most capable 4WD rigs handle without drama in dry conditions, but the sandy wash sections can swallow two-wheel-drive trucks whole. Stock 4WD with all-terrain tires will cover it. The biggest hazard is summer heat — this is genuine Mojave, and temps over 100°F in July will punish the unprepared. Best season is November through April. No permits needed. Fuel up in Ridgecrest; there’s nothing out here. Water crossings are essentially zero. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the BLM-managed corridor.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 35 mi / 56.3 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4980 ft |
| Best season | November-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Ridgecrest, California |
| Land manager | BLM Ridgecrest Field Office |
| 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 handle this trail without any lift or skid plates?
Yes — the trail is rated moderate and a stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner will get through fine. The rocky sections in the El Paso Mountains have some shelf road and loose decomposed granite that'll test your tires more than your suspension. Airing down to 25-28 psi makes a noticeable difference.
When does this trail become impassable — heat, flash floods, or snow?
Best window is November through April. Summer temps in the Mojave regularly hit 105°F+, making a breakdown genuinely dangerous and mechanical problems more likely. The sandy wash sections can flash flood hard after desert thunderstorms — check the NWS outlook for Ridgecrest before you go.
Do you need a permit or is there a fee to run this route?
No permit, no fee — it's BLM land managed out of the Ridgecrest Field Office. Standard BLM rules apply: pack out everything, stay on existing two-track, and don't disturb the volcanic geology or any historic mining remnants.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it hard?
The El Paso Mountains segment has the most technical terrain — loose rock, narrow shelf sections, and some steep grades where momentum matters. Nothing that requires lockers or extreme clearance, but it's not the place to find out your tires are bald or your brakes are soft.
There's zero cell service out there — how far is the nearest gas and how much range do I need?
Ridgecrest is your last fuel stop and it's roughly 20-30 miles from the trailhead depending on your approach — top off before you leave town. The full route is 35 miles of off-road, so budget for at least 60-70 miles of low-range, low-speed driving fuel consumption round-trip to get back to pavement.
Trail track
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