Lonesome Highway — Owens Peak Wilderness Desert Spine to Ridgecrest via Nine Mile Canyon Road
Granite ramps and desert floor — no crowds, no pavement.
Nine Mile Canyon Road cuts through the southern Sierra foothills on the east face of the range, threading between the Owens Peak Wilderness and the open Mojave bajada that funnels down toward Ridgecrest. The road is unmaintained BLM two-track for most of its length — loose decomposed granite on the climbs, hard-packed wash gravel on the descents, and several rocky ledge steps that require slow and deliberate line selection. Pinyon and juniper crowd the upper sections; the lower canyon opens to joshua trees and creosote as you drop toward the desert floor. It’s a working desert road that sees prospectors, hunters, and the occasional overland rig — not a circus.
Moderate difficulty with a few genuinely rocky technical sections near the canyon head. High-clearance 4WD is mandatory; a locker on the front axle is helpful on the loose granite ramps. Best run October through April — summer heat in the lower canyon is brutal and a breakdown out here in July is a serious situation. Ridgecrest is the last fuel stop before heading in from the south; fill up. No cell service in the canyon bottom. Dispersed camping is legal throughout on BLM land. No permit required for vehicle travel.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5800 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Ridgecrest, CA |
| Land manager | BLM Ridgecrest Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Ridgecrest Field Office |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Wrangler run this trail without modifications?
Yes — a stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle handles this trail. The granite ramp sections and rocky washes reward a factory skid plate, but nothing here requires a lift or lockers if you pick your lines carefully.
Is Nine Mile Canyon Road accessible in summer?
Technically accessible but genuinely brutal — summer temps in the Mojave basin regularly hit 105°F+. October through April is the window; spring and fall mornings are ideal. Avoid July and August unless you enjoy cooking your drivetrain.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp out here?
No permit required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping on BLM land here. Standard Leave No Trace rules apply — 14-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources and roads for camping. The BLM Ridgecrest Field Office manages this area if you need to confirm current closures.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it technical?
The granite ramp descents near the Owens Peak Wilderness boundary are the crux — loose decomposed granite over solid shelves means traction is unpredictable and lines matter. It's rated moderate, but those ramps will find you if you're moving too fast or not in 4L.
There's zero cell service out here — how far is the nearest fuel and resupply in Ridgecrest?
Ridgecrest has full fuel and resupply at the trail's southern end, roughly 10–15 miles from the terminus. Top off before you drop into Nine Mile Canyon from the north — there's nothing in between, and a breakdown here means a long wait for help with no signal to call it in.
Trail track
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