Coso Range Road — China Lake to Coso Hot Springs via Wild Horse Mesa
Volcanic range, 100,000 petroglyphs, zero shade.
The Coso Range rises abruptly from the Owens Valley floor east of Lone Pine, a volcanic jumble of rhyolite domes and obsidian flows holding the largest concentration of Native American rock art in the Western Hemisphere — over 100,000 petroglyphs pecked into the dark desert varnish of Petroglyph Canyon. Access to the interior, including the Coso Hot Springs and Wild Horse Mesa, runs through land adjacent to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which controls significant portions of the range. The public-access corridor via US-395 and the BLM-managed southern margins allows overlanders to push into the volcanic tablelands, cross the dry washes below Rose Valley, and reach the southern Coso foothills where geothermal steam vents are still active. The road surface alternates between hardpacked caliche, loose volcanic cinder, and rocky wash crossings.
This is a moderate-to-difficult desert route best run in a high-clearance 4WD with a locking front differential for the cinder sections. Spring and fall are ideal — summer heat in the China Lake basin is genuinely dangerous, with temps regularly exceeding 110°F. Water is zero between Ridgecrest and the route; carry at minimum four gallons per person. Some petroglyph canyon access requires advance coordination with the Naval Air Weapons Station public affairs office. BLM Rose Valley OHV area is open and permit-free on the southern margins. Ridgecrest is your last fuel stop. This is remote high desert volcanic country — respect the access restrictions or it closes for everyone.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 41 mi / 66 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7628 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Ridgecrest, CA |
| Land manager | BLM Ridgecrest Field Office / Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (partial) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with low range can get through most of it, but the rocky sections on Wild Horse Mesa will punish anything with street tires or less than 8 inches of clearance. Skid plates are strongly advised — the volcanic rock is sharp and unforgiving on underbodies.
Is this trail accessible in summer?
Technically passable, but summer temperatures in the Coso Range regularly exceed 105°F with zero shade and no water sources — that's a vehicle breakdown turned life-threatening fast. Stick to October through April; spring and fall are the sweet spots.
Do I need a permit, and what's the deal with the Navy land overlap?
The BLM sections require no permit for vehicle travel or dispersed camping, but portions of this route border or cross Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake restricted land — access there requires prior military authorization and is generally closed to civilians. Stay on the BLM corridor and check current boundaries with the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office before you go.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The approach up onto Wild Horse Mesa is the crux — loose volcanic rock, embedded boulders, and shelf road with no room to turn around if you second-guess yourself. One bad line here will mean body damage or a stuck rig with no cell service and nobody coming to help.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and should I worry about fuel range for 41 miles of this terrain?
Ridgecrest is your last fuel stop — about 25 miles from the China Lake trailhead — and with 41 miles of slow, technical driving plus any scouting or backtracking, plan on burning significantly more fuel than the mileage suggests. Carry a jerry can; there is no bail-out option mid-route.
Trail track
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