Forum Discussion

DOITHARD's avatar
DOITHARD
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015

California OHV Outings Advice!

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
  • mec500 wrote:
    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


    I was able to check out Dove Spring on Riderplanet.com Family visiting the area posted a pretty good video...definitely a place we need to visit.
  • I like dove springs for the kids, not much deep sand to bog them down and plenty of trails for them to learn .and it's close to red rock park ,jawbone, Spangler ,there is plenty of camping along LA1 that goes for miles depending on how isolated you want to be.
  • Corral Canyon and Lark Canyon OHV Area is right by you as well:

    http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/california_10017/ride_a450.htm

    Rider planet a great guide http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/

    Arrowhead is a (cool) place to ride check the weather and you'll need to buy a adventure pass.

    http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5208699&width=full

    Make sure you either have your current out of state
    pass or a Red or Green sticker If you dual sport you won't need it.

    California Air Resources Board (ARB) established regulations to limit the use of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) that do not meet emission standards applicable for California OHV riding areas. After the regulations were established, ARB and DMV worked together to develop criteria for identifying non-complying OHVs. OHVs are registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A red or green sticker is issued depending upon certain criteria.

    Green stickers are issued for all California OHVs year model 2002 and older, including those that were previously issued a red sticker, and to 2003 and newer complying vehicles. Green stickers are issued to OHVs for year round use at all California OHV riding areas.

    Red stickers are issued to 2003 year model and newer OHVs that are not certified to California OHV emission standards. If your OHV has a "3" or "C" in the eighth position of the vehicle identification number (VIN) then your vehicle will be issued a red sticker. Red stickers are issued to OHVs that can use California OHV riding areas for seasonal use only.

    Also a sparkarrestor on all of your bikes or quads
  • Dirtclods wrote:
    Corral Canyon and Lark Canyon OHV Area is right by you as well:

    http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/california_10017/ride_a450.htm

    Rider planet a great guide http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/

    Arrowhead is a (cool) place to ride check the weather and you'll need to buy a adventure pass.

    http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5208699&width=full

    Make sure you either have your current out of state
    pass or a Red or Green sticker If you dual sport you won't need it.

    California Air Resources Board (ARB) established regulations to limit the use of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) that do not meet emission standards applicable for California OHV riding areas. After the regulations were established, ARB and DMV worked together to develop criteria for identifying non-complying OHVs. OHVs are registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A red or green sticker is issued depending upon certain criteria.

    Green stickers are issued for all California OHVs year model 2002 and older, including those that were previously issued a red sticker, and to 2003 and newer complying vehicles. Green stickers are issued to OHVs for year round use at all California OHV riding areas.

    Red stickers are issued to 2003 year model and newer OHVs that are not certified to California OHV emission standards. If your OHV has a "3" or "C" in the eighth position of the vehicle identification number (VIN) then your vehicle will be issued a red sticker. Red stickers are issued to OHVs that can use California OHV riding areas for seasonal use only.

    Also a sparkarrestor on all of your bikes or quads


    Great info...got all state and national yearly passes plus all our equipment have green stickers.
  • Dove springs is great just not the bowl area go anywhere to the north.
    Spangler has more open area less people.
    Jawbone cyn. is another great place to go.
    all this area is covered with mines to explore old cabins, camps the pinnacles, monuments, jawbone store for lunch, Randsburg for lunch.
    The Cali desert is the place to be for 100 mile rides rides that last all day and never hit the same dirt.
    Closer to you is ocotillo wells.
    The state also has state run OHV areas that are a blast on non holliday weekends.
  • Sticky: Off Road Riding Spots (with coordinates)

    the thread above has all the cool spots
  • jackxclan wrote:
    Dove springs is great just not the bowl area go anywhere to the north.
    Spangler has more open area less people.
    Jawbone cyn. is another great place to go.
    all this area is covered with mines to explore old cabins, camps the pinnacles, monuments, jawbone store for lunch, Randsburg for lunch.
    The Cali desert is the place to be for 100 mile rides rides that last all day and never hit the same dirt.
    Closer to you is ocotillo wells.
    The state also has state run OHV areas that are a blast on non holliday weekends.

    Thank you so much....