Off Roading Activities

12.2-mile, intermediate level off-road trail with stunning scenery, historic buildings, and lots of jeeping excitement. Great chance of viewing mountain goats. Beginning in the town of Montezuma, the trail climbs steeply to an elevation of 12,500 feet.

7.6 -mile (one way) relatively easy trail that follows a gulch along the west side of Keystone Ski Area, past beaver ponds, and up to a photogenic mine above the ski area

Seven miles of beach from Wasque Point on the south, past the Cape Poge Lighthouse, to Cape Poge Gut. An annual over-sand vehicle permit is required, which at the time of this writing was $80 for TTOR members and $200 for non-member, non-island residents

7.8-mile (RT) drive on a relatively easy, but very sandy road, with a big reward at the end – spectacular view of the Borrego Badlands, the Salton Sea, and the Fish Creek Mountains in the distance

25-mile (RT) drive on a 4WD sandy road to Sandstone Canyon. Interesting stops along the way include: the anticlines on the canyon walls, the short hike to the Split Mountain Wind Caves, Layer Cake Rock, and Sandstone Canyon.

7.6-mile (RT) drive on a good dirt road to a beautiful palm oasis, which stood in stark contrast to the stark and barren desert around it. Besides being a source of water for inhabitants and travelers past, this particular oasis is also very important to the wildlife in Anza-Borrego, because it is the only year-round watering hole for many miles.

Short drive along a manageable wash off of Route 78.

Aborted 4WD trip into a canyon off of S2 near Blair Valley. Large rock and steep ascents caused us to wisely turn back after about 2 miles of risking the bottom of our Subaru.

18-mile dirt road through some of the park’s most distinctive geological formations. There are 16 stops along the way, so allow approximately 2 hours for the round trip. RVs are not allowed, but two-wheel vehicles may go as far as Squaw Tank, stop #9. After that point, only 4-wheel drive vehicles are advised.

25-mile dirt road past some of the park's largest and oldest Joshua Trees to a tremendous view atop 5,518-foot Eureka Peak.

40-mile drive, the first 30 of which are on the well-maintained Death Valley / Big Pine Road and the last 10 along the sandy South Eureka Road. It ends at the Eureka Dunes primitive campground at the base of the dunes.

Rough 40-mile drive from the Big Pine / Death Valley Road to the Saline Valley Warms Springs. 32.7 of the miles are along the Saline Valley Road and the last 7.3 are on the rougher Warm Springs Road. The end destination is a palm oasis paradise.

Rather than taking 395 south to the the paved 270 into Bodie, we headed north and turned onto Masonic Road. From here, we spent the next 32 miles driving up and down the rolling Bodie Hills, past old ghost towns and abandoned mines, with sweeping views of the Sierra and the Sweetwater Mountains all along the way. It was breathtaking.

11-mile drive along a 4WD road from Bodie to the northern shore of Mono Lake

Intermediate 15-mile (each way) 4WD trail that climbs out of the Owens Valley, at about 4,400 feet, through a series of switchbacks to Coyote Flat, a gorgeous plateau at 10,000 feet, with grazing deer and awesome views of the Palisade Glacier. Since the road is quite steep and rough, our speed averaged about 8 mph.

27 miles from just past Ubehebe Crater along a rough dirt road to the remote and famous Death Valley Racetrack, where rocks mysteriously move across the dry lakebed on their own accord.

70-mile 4WD from the Racetrack to Hidden Valley Road, up over Hunter Mountain and down to the Saline Valley Road, and then up to the springs. We also took a side trip to explore the old, abandoned Goldbelt mining camp.

Rough 40-mile drive from the Saline Valley Warm springs back out to the paved Big Pine / Death Valley Road

116-mile drive (east to west) across the Mojave National Preserve on bumpy and rocky dirt roads. There is much history to explore along the way. The Mojave Road was originally an Indian trade route, as the locations of watering holes situated about every 20 to 30 miles made for safe passage through this barren and harsh landscape. Later it served as a supply and U.S. route in the 1860s and 1870s.

18-miles each way from the Hot Creek Geothermal Area along some asphalt and dirt roads towards the parking lot for the Crowley Lake Columns. Had to stop before a very steep hill with big gullies to hike the remaining 1.7 miles.

Along the hard sand beach by the Hotel Santa Maria San Quintin

27 miles from just past Ubehebe Crater along a rough dirt road to the remote and famous Death Valley Racetrack, where rocks mysteriously move across the dry lakebed on their own accord.

25.5-mile, 3.5 hour drive along a beautiful 4WD dirt road loop (rated Easy) through narrow canyons and up to Papoose Flat, a unique and otherworldly landscape with granite spires somewhat randomly strewn throughout the desert scrub.

Along the 5.5 mile stretch of the southern end of Pismo Beach that allows off-highway dune buggies to play in the huge sand dune complex.

28-mile round trip through Coyote and Sheep Canyons along a rough 4WD road

25-mile (RT) drive on a 4WD sandy road to Olla Canyon. Interesting stops along the way include: the anticlines on the canyon walls, the short hike to the Split Mountain Wind Caves, Layer Cake Rock, and the Mud Palisades

25.5-mile, 3.5 hour drive along a beautiful 4WD dirt road loop (rated Easy) through narrow canyons and up to Papoose Flat, a unique and otherworldly landscape with granite spires somewhat randomly strewn throughout the desert scrub.

35-miles along a bumpy 4WD dirt road from Highway 127 to Badwater Road, with spur trips to Saratoga Springs and Ibex Dunes

About 25 miles of off-road motorcycling along the beautiful dirt roads of Bishop

Long, bumpy and sandy 4WD from Warm Springs Road in Bishop to the actual warm springs in Big Pine where the Owens Valley pupfish reside

About 25 miles of off-road motorcycling along the beautiful dirt roads of Bishop

11.4-mile, High Clearance 4WD road that starts in Bishop and climbs from 4,200 feet to 10,400 feet up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Along the way there are tremendous views out over the Owens Valley and the Sierra.

25-mile 4WD Road from the White Mountain Road in the Ancient Bristlecones (elevation 10,500 feet) down through Wyman Canyon to Route 168 (elevation 5,200 feet) along an old mining and pole line road. There are several creek crossings along the way.

39-mile bumpy dirt road which starts near the Canyonlands Visitor Center, goes down the steep, twisty Shafer Switchbacks to the Colorado River, and along the Potash Road to Moab with many scenic views along the way.

18-mile, out-and-back drive, crossing and recrossing the shallow creek about two dozen times, driving through the narrow canyon surrounded by red sandstone walls and tall spires, and out of the narrows to a lovely valley, the same one that we had looked out on from the end of our Fisher Towers hike.

37 miles - down Shafer Trail Switchbacks, Side Trip to Lathrop Canyon, and on to Gooseberry A Campground for the night

20 miles - from Gooseberry A Campground, to Monument Basin, side trip to White Crack Camp, up Murphy Hogback, and on to Murphy B Campground for the night

49 miles - from Murphy Camp, down Murphy Hogback, to Black Crack, Holeman Slot, Hardscrabble Hill, Mineral Bottom Switchbacks, and back to civilization

59-mile driving tour through the northern part of Capitol Reef National Park and BLM lands, featuring stark landscapes, the Waterpocket Fold, and towering monoliths.

Well-graded 70-mile dirt road that runs south through the lovely Strike Valley along the eastern boundary of Capitol Reef National Park, between the Henry Mountains and the Waterpocket Fold, all the way to the Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell. We would only be going as far as the turnoff for the Burr Trail switchbacks.

Beautiful 40-mile highly scenic drive from the Notom Bullfrog Road, up the Burr Trail Switchbacks, with a side trip to the Strike Valley Overlook, and on to Boulder, passing through lovely Long Canyon. The first part of the road, which is in Capitol Reef National Park is unpaved, but the rest is a smooth asphalt.

46-mile highly scenic drive along a dirt road from Escalante through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to Kanab.

27-mile 4WD drive from Beatty through Titus Canyon, a deep narrow gorge cut into the steep face of the Grapevine Mountains, twisting sharply around steep colorful rock walls. The most exciting part is near the end (mile 23.5), where the canyon narrows so much that you can practically reach your hands out your windows and touch both walls.

7.8-mile (RT) drive on a relatively easy, but very sandy road, with a big reward at the end – spectacular view of the Borrego Badlands, the Salton Sea, and the Fish Creek Mountains in the distance

50-mile trip along 4WD roads through Hawk Canyon, Hills of the Moon Badlands, Pumpkin Patch, 5 Palms Oasis, 17 Palms Oasis, and Vista del Malpais

6-mile steep, rough 4WD-Road up to the Calcite Slot Canyon and the Calcite Mine with a side trip on the way back up the South Fork Palm Wash to another slot canyon

40 miles on a very bumpy dirt road running along the east side of the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness area, but unfortunately with no access to it. Eventually we got back to asphalt on the eastern side of the Salton Sea

25-mile dirt road past some of the park's largest and oldest Joshua Trees to a tremendous view atop 5,518-foot Eureka Peak.

Rough 40-mile drive from the Big Pine / Death Valley Road to the Saline Valley Warms Springs. 32.7 of the miles are along the Saline Valley Road and the last 7.3 are on the rougher Warm Springs Road. The end destination is a palm oasis paradise.

60-mile 4WD from the Saline Valley Warm Springs to Hidden Valley past the Saline Valley Sand Dunes, Salt Lake, and South Pass, to Hidden Valley

26-mile 4WD from Hidden Valley past Teakettle Junction to Ubehebe Crater (back to asphalt)

Rough 40-mile drive from the Big Pine / Death Valley Road to the Saline Valley Warms Springs. 32.7 of the miles are along the Saline Valley Road and the last 7.3 are on the rougher Warm Springs Road. The end destination is a palm oasis paradise.

75-mile, 4-hour drive from the Saline Valley Warm Springs north on Saline Valley Road to Big Pine Road, then east on the Big Pine Road for 25 miles, and another 10 miles on the South Eureka Road to the Eureka Dunes

Steep, twisty 4WD 18-mile bumpy dirt road which took us from Shelter Cove, up and over the King Range towards Honeydew. We took a side trip along Saddle Mountain Road for great vistas of the Pacific Ocean in one direction and King’s Peak in the other. Eventually we reached the paved Wilder Ridge Road, which took us to Mattole Road in the little town of Honeydew.

22-miles out and back from Highway 24 along the Cow Dung Road to the Mars Desert Research Center and then onto the Painted Hills and back

From Highway 24, 4 miles on Coal Mine Road (also called Factory Butte Road), then a right Factory Bench Road for an other 2 miles before another right.

30-mile drive around the entire Butte, photographing it from every angle

60-miles (out-and-back) from Caineville to Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon, the Upper Cathedral Valley lookouts, and the Upper Cathedral Valley Campground with awesome scenery along the entire way.

The mission of this 2-day course was to provide training clinics in which inexperienced SUV & 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) owners gain expertise required to safely and confidently negotiate their vehicle off-road. There was a half-day of classroom material and then another day and a half of practicing our techinical skllls at the Jawbone Canyon OHV area and El Paso Mountain area

Playing a bit driving on the deep-sand in the non-OHV area north of the state park.

4-mile drive from Highway 24 along the Cow Dung Road to the Mars Desert Research Center