Hello,Just moved to CA 3 months ago. Planning our first couple of OHV trips, especially with the cooler weather. This past weekend took a trip (no equip) to El Mirage OHV to check things out. To us the desert is a novelty and found it very cool, keep in mind we came from Florida (high humidity and frinking rain every afternoon).We want to do a lot more dry camping and find a lot more places here than what we were used to in Florida. Outings short term will be El Mirage OHV in a couple of weeks and then Calico Ghost Town Campground for Thanksgiving.Having 3 small children only interested in safe non party areas.Any advice or comments will be welcome! Thank you,Carlos

Be careful on thanksgiving most everywhere in the desert goes nuts. It's hard to escape the crazies. I take the kids to dove springs and near by areas . I avoid the dunes and find it fairly easy to find a safe non party area for the kids to play just about anywhere on non holidays

Check CA State Parks and their OHV section. That will give you some starting points for both camping and OHV.

Thanks for the advices...will look up Dove Spring.

Some places we have visited in CA:Jawbone CanyonCalifornia CityJohnson ValleySalton SeaEach place had its uniqueness and we are looking forward to another possible trip in April.

California OHV Outings Advice! | Good Sam Community

mec500
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Be careful on thanksgiving most everywhere in the desert goes nuts. It's hard to escape the crazies. I take the kids to dove springs and near by areas . I avoid the dunes and find it fairly easy to find a safe non party area for the kids to play just about anywhere on non holidays
toedtoes
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2015
Check CA State Parks and their OHV section. That will give you some starting points for both camping and OHV.
DOITHARD
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Thanks for the advices...will look up Dove Spring.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 20, 2015
Some places we have visited in CA:

Jawbone Canyon
California City
Johnson Valley
Salton Sea

Each place had its uniqueness and we are looking forward to another possible trip in April.
DOITHARD
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
Thank you!
FrankoToo
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2015
Being in the San Diego area, our destination of choice is Ocotillo Wells. We generally avoid holidays though as mec500 says, it can get pretty crazy out there.

Welcome to California.
Blackdiamond
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
I am right by you, but anyways, most areas have their party and non-party locations to go to.

I personally have only been to Dove Spring once, over a thanksgiving weekend and found it too crowed for my liking. Spangler Hills, Johnson Valley, Ocotillo Wells are much larger and more spread out.
CKNSLS
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
As an ex-Southern Californian, I can tell you it's virtually impossible to escape crowds.

There are 38 million people in the state now........It will take hours to get out to the places you menioned on a Friday night.

If you don't have reservations already for Thanksgiving weekend it's tough to get a space if you want a regular campground.
DOITHARD
Explorer
Oct 21, 2015
CKNSLS wrote:
As an ex-Southern Californian, I can tell you it's virtually impossible to escape crowds.

There are 38 million people in the state now........It will take hours to get out to the places you menioned on a Friday night.

If you don't have reservations already for Thanksgiving weekend it's tough to get a space if you want a regular campground.

I was able to make reservations early at Calico campground for TG and like that it has hookups, just bought the kids atvs 125 cc and they are itching to go asap. Lol
DOITHARD
Explorer
Oct 21, 2015
Really appreciate all the feed back, it's been very helpful.