Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Desert Center, California

Corn Springs Trail is a sand and gravel mix. This trail is a fun short trail that has a campground you can stay at, several side roads to explore, several areas to rock hound, many…
Learn more about Corn Springs Trail

Red Cloud Mine trail is a 12.6-mile (25.2-mile) out-and-back rated 3 of 10 located near Desert Center. This generally level dirt trail has multiple sand washes that must be crossed to get to the trail…
Learn more about Red Cloud Mine

This 11-plus-mile north-to-south trail starts off Highway 10, just past an open gate. Use caution at the start, as there is no off-ramp to access this trail from the highway. The surface is sandy with…
Learn more about Gas Line Road North 281

This 1.4-mile, relatively flat trail runs from Gas Line 281 to Red Cloud Mine Road. The surface is hard-packed sand with some rocks. The trail goes in and out of some washes with off-camber sections…
Learn more about BLM 311

This out-and-back trail climbs almost 800 feet in just under 8 miles, running east to west from Gas Line Road 281. The trail is one vehicle wide with a hard-pack sand surface and small rocks.…
Learn more about Queen Ester Road

This relatively flat trail connects Summit Road with Gas Line Road 281, running from west to east. The trail is one vehicle wide and mostly sandy. You'll encounter some washboards and whoops along the way.…
Learn more about Summit Flats 280

Palen Pass is an old WWII Army training ground used by General Patton. The trail is hardpack dirt with some soft sand in washes. The trail is easy enough that large fuel trucks can get…
Learn more about Palen Pass

This 4.5-mile trail connects Bradshaw Trail with Summit Flats Road. The surface is sandy and hard-packed with some ruts less than 12 inches deep. Coming from the Bradshaw Trail, the trail opens up into a…
Learn more about Summit Road

Dupont Rd is a 17.7-mile trail rated 3 out of 10. Depending on the direction run, two thousand one hundred seventy-seven feet of elevation are gained or lost on this trail. The majority of the…
Learn more about Dupont Road

Bradshaw's Trail is roughly a 70-mile-long trail stretching from Blythe, CA, to the eastern side of the Salton Sea. The trail runs east to west although it can be traveled from either end, and goes…
Learn more about Bradshaw's Trail

This 9 mile out and back trail starts off the Bradshaw Trail and runs north to south. The trail was originally a loop but half the trail, which is outside the wash is now private…
Learn more about Amy's Wash

Right off the 10 Freeway just South of Joshua Tree National Park is the Red Canyon Jeep Trail. A 13-mile trail that winds its way through the mountains into the Bradshaw Trail. The trail is…
Learn more about SR2013 Red Canyon Jeep Trail

This is an out-and-back trail to the ruins of General Patton's cabin near the foothills of the Palen/McCoy Wilderness area. The trail begins as a two-track path primarily consisting of sand that winds in and…
Learn more about Patton's Cabin Road

Arlington Mine Road is a very easy trail, with mostly hardpack sand and gravel with some washes to watch out for if you're going too fast. The first six miles are frequently maintained due to…
Learn more about Arlington Mine Road

This is an alternate route from the Salton Sea to Bradshaw's Trail. From the 111, take Parkside Drive and make a left on Desert Aire Drive. The road will take you right next to the…
Learn more about Salton Sea to Bradshaw's Trail

This short, sweet cutover is much easier and less technical than the Western Hauser Geode beds route. The hill transitions are less severe and steep. The northern half is private property and signage states that…
Learn more about Wiley Well District Geode Beds

This is the Mecca Orocopia Trail, a connection to the Little Box Canyon Meccacopia Loop. This is an easy dirt road trail where you can admire the beautiful views of the Orocopia mountains. There is…
Learn more about Mecca Orocopia Jeep Trail

Hidden in the Mecca Hills just South of Joshua Tree National Park is a fun little trail that winds you through tight canyon washes surrounded by high vertical cliffs of up to 40 feet. The…
Learn more about Little Box Canyon Meccacopia Loop

During the blooming season, this road offers beautiful views of multiple different flowers. This road runs through Bureau Land Management, a mixed surface of gravel, rock, and sand, with some sections more rutted, rocky, and…
Learn more about Flower Hill

Milpitas Wash is a mix surface of gravel, road and sand, with some sections more rutted, rocky and washed out. This road runs through Bureau Land Management, with plently of spots to pull over and…
Learn more about Milpitas Wash

Take 62 from Joshua Tree to Cardiz Road (fill up in 29 Palms--there's no service station beyond that). Turning north off the highway onto the dirt at Cardiz Road, you're immediately greeted by the skeleton…
Learn more about 62 to 40 Cut Off

A great trail option to get out to the geode bed collection area. It begins as a wide washboard dirt trail with easy wash crossings. It is relatively flat and straight for a while. Once…
Learn more about Midway Well Road

This trail is an old railroad route abandoned in 2011. It follows a smooth sandy path with sections of firm sandstone, making it manageable for most vehicles. Although the route parallels the former railbed, driving…
Learn more about Blythe Junction Railroad

Painted Canyon is a gorgeous landmark outside of Mecca, California. At the entrance to the road leading to the canyon, there is a warning sign that says "Passable for 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles Only". At the…
Learn more about Painted Canyon Road

Wind your way up this canyon that is primarily sand and small rocks. There are a few extra credit options that do have bypasses, except for one or two obstacles at the end. Anything other…
Learn more about Berdoo Canyon

This is a fantastic family adventure. The entire trail is located inside Joshua Tree National Park. It is a long loop trail that is very scenic with beautiful vistas, interesting rock formations, ancient volcanic lava…
Learn more about Geology Tour Road

Parachute Landing is an unmaintained paved road and beach trail leading to a decommissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station. A non-technical but eroding road with sand drifts turns into a dirt path, eventually terminating at the…
Learn more about Parachute Landing

The trail is a combo of wide-graded sections and soft sandy washes. Some sand sections are deeper and longer than others, so airing down is always a good idea. The lower section of the trail…
Learn more about Lower Blythe Olgilby

Used by early settlers to travel between Vidal, California, and the now-ghost town of Midland, the Midland-Vidal Road was perhaps also used by Wyatt Earp, who lived in Vidal for a time. Along the drive,…
Learn more about Midland Vidal Road

Mine road runs through Bureau Land Management. It is a mixed surface road consisting of rock, gravel, and sand. Some sections are overgrown, so pinstripes are to be expected. Some spots have been washed out…
Learn more about Mine Road