Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Barstow, California

This trail begins off a nice paved highway and can be somewhat easy to miss at first glance. There is an established campground a couple of miles off this trail with pit toilets, pergolas for…
Learn more about Rainbow Basin Loop

A sandy run from the central valley to the northern open section. The wash is wide and allows for oncoming traffic to pass. The sand is generally more on the coarse side, lending to an…
Learn more about The Main North to South Access Wash

This is the main graded trail into the OHV area. It is mostly well-graded with plenty of washboard bumps and mild transitions to make life easier for those towing trailers. There is a pit toilet…
Learn more about Stoddard Mountain Road

This is the trail that takes you to the Hinkley Desert Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 2017 by artist Daniel Hawkins. The entire Lighthouse is lit at night. The route is an easy dirt…
Learn more about Hinkley Desert Lighthouse

This secluded route is perfect for a day trip or a dispersed overnighter. You'll explore lava flow regions, an opal mine, the Tuffa Cave House, and Inscription Canyon filled with petroglyphs. The route (clockwise) starts…
Learn more about Black Mountain Wilderness Route

This track starts at the Base Camp Sawtooth Canyon Camp Grounds located 15 miles south of Barstow California. You run the gas line road East to Pipkin Cindercone Road to the Volcano. There are lots…
Learn more about Pipken Cindercone

This trail takes you from the Soggy Dry Lake in Johnson Valley to Cougar Buttes. It's a fun ride for the whole family. It's all dirt and two-track, with some sand and some rocks that…
Learn more about Soggy Dry Lake to Cougar Buttes

This trail heads up toward Juniper flats and splits to either Flagpole trail or continues to the flats. The valley views below are pretty great once you ascend to the ridgeline. Once you pass the…
Learn more about Japatul Road

Coxey Road (3N14) is a long Forest Service connector route running from the north side of Big Bear Lake near Fawnskin all the way northwest to Lucerne Valley, where it terminates at Bowen Ranch Road.…
Learn more about Coxey Road - FS 3N14

This generally easy trail leads from the Bowens Ranch gate past the hot springs trailhead parking area and into the vast area of Juniper Flats. This large flat area up in the mountains is full…
Learn more about Juniper Flats Southern Access

This wide washboard trail heads up into the hills passing private property and open BLM land. It ends at the Bowens Ranch and hot springs (more info below). There are a few dispersed camping spots…
Learn more about Bowen Ranch

This is a point-to-point single-vehicle-width trail that can be combined with nearby trails to form a loop route across a scenic vista area. Occasional turnouts and wider stretches to allow vehicles to pass are present…
Learn more about Grapevine Canyon - FS 4N16

This out and back trail ends at a small turnaround loop with a great view. A short side trail heads up to the old abandoned mine, which features a few flat dispersed camping spots and…
Learn more about The "Shooting Range" Quarry

This trail tears off from the main route of Coxey into the hills. There are a few singletrack turnoffs for those looking for some adventure. There were no natural camping spots noticed on this route.…
Learn more about Psycho Ranch Turnout

This Single Track Moto trail is an enjoyable, easy route. It is also an excellent Moto-only cutover trail for the White Mountain 4x4 route. There are plenty of Joshua Trees to see and stunning lumpy…
Learn more about ST 2W16 MOTO

This section of the loop starts where Loop 1 (AC9602) meets trail AC9476. Make a sharp right turn and continue southwest for 7 miles. The terrain remains mostly hard-packed but this section has some small…
Learn more about Cady Mountain Loop - Part 2

Part 3 of the Cady Mountain Loop begins after you make the hard left turn from AC9476 (Loop 2) onto BI9470. It continues for about 11 miles east on a hard-packed trail with some fun…
Learn more about Cady Mountain Loop - Part 3

This wide-open trail is the ideal spot to get your bearings, offering a clear and predictable path that works perfectly as a warm-up loop. The layout is expansive, giving you plenty of room to stand…
Learn more about Rattlesnake Loop

This scenic double-track route is all about the atmosphere, offering wide-open vistas of the distant desert floor as you cruise along the ridgeline. The highlight of the ride is passing by a series of mysterious…
Learn more about Sunburn Ridge

This fun little offshoot is a great spot if you're looking for a quick escape with a solid campsite at the end. It's clearly a hangout, with signs that people use the area for target…
Learn more about Coyote Campout

This is a key BLM entry point that serves as a main gateway to the surrounding off-road networks. It's primarily a double-track road, providing plenty of breathing room as you transition from the pavement into…
Learn more about Juniper Pass

This is the first section of a loop that takes you from the Mojave Trail near Afton Canyon Campground around the Cady Mountains. This is an easy loop that can add another day of riding…
Learn more about Cady Mountain Loop - Part 1

This is the main access road leading down from the radio towers, offering a much more relaxed pace than the climb up. It's a great way to cool down while soaking in the expansive views…
Learn more about Radio Summit

Starting at the edge of the community of Green Valley Lake, this western approach of FS 3N16 offers a lush, alpine experience markedly different from the eastern desert-transition terrain. The trail winds through dense stands…
Learn more about Holcomb Valley Road (West) - FS 3N16

This is a smooth, flowy trail that serves as a central artery, providing easy access to a variety of other riding options in the area. Its layout makes it a great starting point for choosing…
Learn more about Prospector's Cutoff

Monarch Flat (3N36) delivers a scenic desert forest road experience just off Highway 18, directly across from the Mitsubishi Cement Plant. The route begins with a gradual climb before transitioning into steeper, looser terrain as…
Learn more about Monarch Flat - FS 3N36

This is a great, flowy trail that winds through a thick canopy of trees, offering a scenic and shaded ride. The path eventually leads you right up to a massive quarry pile, which makes for…
Learn more about Pile Up Trail

This is a fun, flowy stretch that stays mostly as a wide, double-track dirt road. For the most part, the surface is smooth and allows for a nice pace, though you'll encounter some deep ruts…
Learn more about Saltbrush Trail

Holcomb Creek Road is a great trail for the new off-roaders in the forest near Big Bear. The trail provides plenty of dense forest scenery and some easy-to-moderate 4x4 challenges. The most notable obstacle on…
Learn more about Upper Holcomb Creek Road - 3N08

Upper Holcomb - 3N83 is a quick and mildly challenging off-road run through the forest of the Upper Holcomb Valley, north of Big Bear Lake in California's San Bernardino National Forest. 3N38 - Upper Holcomb…
Learn more about Upper Holcomb - 3N83