Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Darwin, California

This trail is easy to complete in almost any vehicle. Along the way you'll encounter the Darwin Falls trailhead, various side trails, and some interesting abandoned structures. There are some spots with loose sand and…
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Death Valley is famous for its barren valleys and soaring vistas, but few people wander into its more remote regions like Saline Valley. The road into this area is dirt and often heavily corrugated and…
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This route bypasses a section that would normally run through a salt pond (on the way back, we took that route, and it was firm, not recommended though). Running on mostly engineered raised berms and…
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North Haiwee Road departs from the CA-190 / US-395 junction and makes a run through open desert toward the North Haiwee Reservoir, one of the storage facilities in the Los Angeles Aqueduct system. The hard-packed…
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This 1.5 vehicle-wide sandy trail follows power lines while offering views of both the Coso Range Mountains and Eastern Sierra Mountains, creating layered scenery. Nice views of the Haiwee Reservoir appear as you navigate. The…
Learn more about BLM SE781

This limited-use area trail cuts across Highway 395, starting just above the South Haiwee Reservoir, a private lake owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Hard-packed sand with embedded rocks forms…
Learn more about Haiwee Canyon Road - BLM SE776

This rocky trail starts in the north at the Ubehebe Crater. It travels through a long canyon in the Panamint Range between Tin Mountain (8,927 feet), Dry Mountain (8,678 feet), and White Top Mountain (7,493…
Learn more about Racetrack Valley Road North

Walker Creek Road begins just off Old US-395 south of Olancha, starting as a wide two-track sand trail before gradually narrowing as it gains elevation. Shortly after leaving the highway, the trail crosses over the…
Learn more about Walker Creek Road - FS 19S01

Starting just off Highway 395 on the north side with no access from southbound lanes, this sandy route navigates through lush desert flora, including large Joshua trees, smoke trees, and creosote bushes, creating unusually dense…
Learn more about BLM 37E402

BLM SE740 is a trail tracing a course parallel to US-395 beneath a series of power line corridors. The route offers a useful link trail in the Olancha area network while delivering a solid mix…
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BLM SE743 is a short, accessible out-and-back spur that branches off Walker Creek Road and makes for an easy add-on to that route or a standalone mellow desert run. The trail travels through open BLM…
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Nemo Canyon Road is an easy two-track that runs about 2.5 miles to two mine sites. The trail has minor ruts and rocks and follows the canyon to an old mining area where the route…
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Tucki Mountain Road is situated off Emigrant Canyon Road. The trailhead is not marked, so proceed cautiously and scan to your left for the trail. This is an out-and-back trail that is 10 miles one…
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This short connector starts off Highway 395, delivering access to the Aqueduct Access Road efficiently. Hard pack sand at 1.5 vehicles wide provides comfortable navigation room. Nice views of the Eastern Sierra mountains frame your…
Learn more about BLM SE105

This easy trail leads to the mining town of Skidoo. The trail is wide enough for vehicles to pass and is not technical. Along the trail, explorers are treated to an old miner's cabin, rundown…
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Wood Canyon Road is situated off Emigrant Canyon Road. It is an "out and back" trail; it is a rarely visited mining area, the Argenta mine is from the early mining area of Death Valley.…
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Following the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power aqueduct on BLM land, this seasonally graded soft sand route delivers stunning views of the Eastern Sierras and surrounding mountains to the south. The trail winds…
Learn more about Aqueduct Service Double Canyon

This route runs from Boulder Creek RV camp to the Reward Mine area. There are dirt trails shown next to Highway 136, but they are gone and fenced off, so you need to run 0.7…
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Running parallel to Highway 395 in the foothills of the Eastern Sierra Mountains, this mostly sandy route enjoys slight grading that improves the surface. The trail faithfully follows the second aqueduct of the Los Angeles…
Learn more about Aqueduct Service Road Deadfoot Canyon

This 1.5 vehicle-wide soft sand route enjoys seasonal grading that helps during maintenance periods. Following the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Aqueduct while running parallel to Highway 395 in the foothills of the…
Learn more about Aqueduct Service No name Canyon

Following double power lines for navigation reference, this mostly sandy route starts near Sand Canyon and travels through No Name Canyon. Occasional rocks appear in the middle of the trail, requiring attention and line selection.…
Learn more about BLM LAP No Name Canyon

This 2-mile "loop" starts at 5,285 feet of elevation and rises to 5,865 feet. The trail is sandy with a few rocky sections. There are also a few sections with ruts due to snowmelt and…
Learn more about South Fork Lubken Creek Canyon Loop

This loose sand trail transitions to rockier surface as you climb a shelf road along a cliff up the mountain edge. Climbing 600 feet in just under 2 miles creates serious grades with stunning views…
Learn more about BLM SE115

Following power lines for a reliable navigation reference, this sandy route navigates terrain punctuated with ruts, off-camber sections, and uneven spots, creating varied challenges. Great views unfold of Sand Canyon in the Eastern Sierra Mountains,…
Learn more about BLM LAP Grapevine Canyon

Climbing and dropping 300 feet in less than 2 miles, this shelf road clings to a cliff, delivering stunning views of the valley below, spreading to Ridgecrest, mountains in Death Valley, and beyond. The trail…
Learn more about Sand Canyon Cliff Road - BLM 117

This 1.5 to 2 vehicle wide route alternates between loose sand and packed sand surfaces, creating variable traction. Runoff ruts up to 6-8 inches deep cut the trail sides, requiring awareness to avoid catching wheels.…
Learn more about Aquaduct Service Road Grapevine Canyon - BLM LA2

Monache Meadows is a beautiful scenic valley surrounded by wilderness areas. The road follows and crosses the South fork of Kern River. There are great camp spots along the route and at the end. Explore,…
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Starting off BLM SE120 near Grapevine Canyon Road, this sand and gravel road runs just over one vehicle wide while traveling mostly on a shelf road perched high above the valley below. Serving as access…
Learn more about Aquaduct Service Road Grapevine - BLM LA1

Starting in Sand Canyon, this single-wide narrow trail wastes no time climbing a shelf road above the canyon floor, creating dramatic views. Sandy surface with loose rocks forms the roadbed as you navigate various switchbacks…
Learn more about BLM 116

The Fish Head Rocks were originally painted in the late 1930s or early 1940s, a beloved and unexpected desert sight. The route to Trona Pinnacles passes through "Poison Canyon" because the small stream at its…
Learn more about Fish Head Rocks to Trona Pinnacles