Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Holtville, California

This is a trail through the sand to the Mexico border and back. Depending on your rig, you may need 4WD. It can be run in an SXS with aired-down tires in 2WD just fine.…
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This trail provides access to the 'W' route on the racecourse and offers an enjoyable off-road experience just outside of Mexicali. During the rainy season and winter months, the trail may become impassable at its…
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EC 274 Yuha Desert is a 10.7-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. This is a BLM-designated "Open" trail and can be used by all vehicles. The trail can be accessed from…
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Mexicali Race Course W R is an exhilarating off-road adventure immediately after crossing the border into Mexicali. This trail offers a dynamic mix of long, flowing whoops, tight corners, and rocky washes, providing a comprehensive…
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EC 346 Yuha Desert is a 7.4-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. EC346 is a BLM-designated "Open" route and is accessible by all types of vehicles. Both the east and west…
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When this road through the lake bed is wet and muddy, this is the safe route to access the Canyon de Guadalupe Hot Springs. It is long and bumpy, so it's wise to air down…
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This more fun route to the ghost-like town of Imperial Gables takes the traveler through a soft sand wash for most of the run. It will eventually pop out of the wash onto loose off-camber…
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EC 311 Yuha Desert is a 3.3-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. EC311 is a BLM-designated "Limited Use" trail and can only be used by street-legal vehicles. The trail can be…
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Indian Pass is a smooth grated gravel road that becomes narrower and rougher the further East you travel with scattered rock gardens. This section is part of the California Backcountry Discovery Route with this out…
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EC 282 Yuha Desert is a 2.7-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. EC 282 is a BLM-designated "Limited Use" trail and can only be used by street-legal vehicles. The trail can…
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When you turn off the pavement, you'll see a few hand-built fire rings off the trail as you adventure through the Plaster City OHV Open Riding Area. The trail is fairly easy for the first…
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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…
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This easy wide, graded route leads through the desert to the ghostly-looking old town of Imperial Gables. The town is small, and interesting old roofless, abandoned structures with stone walls exist. Some buildings are more…
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Hyduke Mine is an open gravel road that crosses many washes and becomes more technical the further east you travel. It is narrow in a few areas when crossing washes with some large ledges climbing…
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Pilot Knob connects Pilot Knob Long Term Visitors Area with Ogilby Road. This sandy remote route is deep with loose sand to the west until meeting up with the powerline road which is better maintained…
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Fast pace sandy trail with low shrubs and a lot of turns. Most of the trail is not traveled much so the trail is smooth, single car wide at some points and opens up to…
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This trail is generally easy. As with most of the trails in this area, it goes in and out of washes, and there are some loose rocky off-camber climbs. The trail has a plethora of…
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This lovely out-and-back runs right to the foothills of the Stud Mountains. The craggy rocks combined with the forest of spiky ocotillo are quite a sight to see. The trail's end is a rock-bordered parking/…
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EC 236 Painted Gorge Road is a 4.9-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. Painted Gorge Road is the primary access to the Carrizo Mountain (EC 130), Carrizo Mountain Overlook (EC 125),…
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EC 285 Yuha Desert is a 2-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. EC 285 is a BLM-designated "Open" trail and may be used by all types of vehicles. EC 285 is…
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If you're lucky enough you may find one lone flower along the road that grows in the remote California desert! This road has plenty of spots to pull over and camp. This road runs through…
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Road Number 662 is a mix surface of gravel, rock, and sand, with some sections more rutted and washed out. Some of these trails have steep inclines and some large rocks. Also, be aware this…
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This is an easy-to-follow trail in the desert overlooking the valley floor. It ends at Fossil Canyon, a wilderness area where you'll have to continue on foot. To get started, you'll turn off Painted Gorge…
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This section of the black mountain road is a pretty easy way to get to the top and enjoy nearly 360deg views of the surrounding desert, the mountains, the Indian Pass wilderness, and the Imperial…
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Vinagre Wash Road runs mostly through a wash, the sand can be deep in areas, and the parts that aren't in the wash can be rocky and rutted. These spots are prone to flash floods,…
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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…
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Welcome to the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreational Area, the largest SVRA in California with more than 85,000 acres. OWSVRA is over 130 square miles with hundreds of miles of desert track open to all…
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Big open views with plenty of spots to pull over and camp. This road runs through Bureau Land Management, it is a mix surface of gravel, road, and sand, with some sections more rutted, rocky,…
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Leaving Highway 78, the wash is large and wide enough for a few cars. As you get further into the trail, the wash tightens up and becomes wide enough for 1 car. The wash turns…
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Great views of the California Desert, coupled with spots to pull over and camp. Be aware this area is prone to flooding, some sections of this road either drive in a wash or through one,…
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