California OHV Outings Advice!

[DOITHARD]

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

[Dirtclods]

I agree with everything from the above post.

Cal-City camp off of Twenty Mule team rode. Ride your off road equip into Randsburg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randsburg,_California


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-mule_team


Off road racing clubs: http://www.district37ama.org/offroad/clubs.html

[DOITHARD]

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....

[jackxclan]

Sticky: Off Road Riding Spots (with coordinates)

the thread above has all the cool spots

[jackxclan]

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.

[DOITHARD]

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.

[Dirtclods]

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

[mec500]

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.

[DOITHARD]

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.

[DOITHARD]

Really appreciate all the feed back, it's been very helpful.

[DOITHARD]

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

[CKNSLS]

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.

[Blackdiamond]

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.

[FrankoToo]

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.

[DOITHARD]

Thank you!