Jawbone to Red Rock Canyon — El Paso Mountains Desert Spine via Last Chance Canyon
Slot canyon colors on forgotten Mojave BLM dirt.
Last Chance Canyon is the real desert — no fee kiosks, no interpretive signs, just a narrow BLM wash threading through the El Paso Mountains between Jawbone Canyon Road and Red Rock Canyon State Park. The route enters from Jawbone Canyon OHV area off US-14 near Mojave and works northeast through progressively tighter canyon walls colored in volcanic reds, yellows, and blacks. The canyon floor is loose cobble and sand in equal measure; when it’s dry it’s manageable in a high-clearance 2WD, but a flash storm upstream turns it into a no-go in under an hour. The geological transition at the canyon’s upper end — where you cross into the Ricardo Formation exposures — is worth stopping for. Abandoned mines dot the ridgelines, and the canyon walls display some of the most dramatic erosion color in the California desert.
Difficulty is easy to moderate under dry conditions; water after any rainfall changes the calculus entirely. A true 4WD isn’t strictly required in dry season for most of the route, but high clearance is non-negotiable. The BLM Ridgecrest Field Office manages this corridor — no permit, no fee on the BLM section, though exiting into Red Rock Canyon State Park requires a day-use fee. Best season is October through April; summer heat is serious and monsoon runoff is real. Carry all water, fuel in Mojave or Ridgecrest. No cell service in the canyon.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4200 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD dry / 4WD wet |
| Nearest town | Mojave, CA |
| Land manager | BLM Ridgecrest Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Jawbone Canyon OHV Red Rock Canyon State Park |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this without a lift?
Yes. Stock high-clearance trucks handle this fine in dry conditions. The rocky sections in Last Chance Canyon have some shelf road and loose decomposed granite, but nothing that demands a lift or lockers on a dry day. Wet conditions change the calculus — 4WD becomes necessary on the sandy washes.
When is this trail closed or sketchy to run?
Summer is brutal — Mojave desert heat regularly hits 100°F+ and there's zero shade in the canyon. Best window is October through April. Flash flood risk is real in the washes after rain; don't run Last Chance Canyon if there's any storm activity in the area.
Do you need a permit or is there a fee to run this?
No permit required for the Jawbone Canyon OHV and BLM sections. If you're exiting through Red Rock Canyon State Park, a day-use fee applies ($8–$10 per vehicle as of recent visits). Check the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office or the California State Parks site for current fee info before you go.
What's the hardest part of this trail and what should I actually expect?
The tightest technical section is inside Last Chance Canyon itself — narrow walls, loose rock, and some shelf road with moderate drop-offs. Nothing extreme, but you will scrape a wide vehicle and there's limited room to turn around mid-canyon. The difficulty is more about commitment than technical skill.
Is there any water or gas along the route, and where's the nearest fuel?
There is zero water on this trail — dry desert BLM land, no services, no cell service. Carry more than you think you need. Nearest reliable fuel is Mojave, CA, about 20 miles southwest of the Jawbone trailhead. Fill up before you go.
Trail track
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