Trail Overview
Kicking off directly from the trailhead marked by a brown Carsonite post, BLM 32A (South) immediately plunges explorers into a demanding, extremely deep red-sand two-track. This 2.7-mile point-to-point adventure wastes absolutely no time getting serious; right at the very beginning, drivers are faced with a notoriously steep, power-sapping sandy climb that aggressively ascends toward the magnificent Dixie Knoll viewpoint. Because of this immediate lack of traction, high-clearance vehicles absolutely must air down their tires significantly before attempting to negotiate this route. Once you successfully summit the climb and eventually drop back down off the elevated Dixie Knoll, the character of the trail transforms into an incredibly fun, fluid ride. The soft two-track winds playfully through the high-desert scrubland, featuring numerous sweeping, banked S-curves that are an absolute blast to navigate. As the path meanders past rustic metal troughs and vibrant vegetation, it gradually levels out. The route eventually concludes as it seamlessly returns to the main highway, where the dirt crosses directly over into the BLM 32A North segment.
Difficulty
BLM 32A earns a serious Level 4 technical rating primarily due to the intense combination of deep, loose, power-robbing sand and the challenging rock ledges encountered while climbing up onto Dixie Knoll. This is not a casual, hard-packed dirt road; the exceptionally soft red sand will instantly bog down unprepared vehicles. Airing down your tires to a low pressure is a strict requirement to maintain flotation and momentum on the steep ascents. Because of the aggressive ledges and deep sandy ruts, a true four-wheel-drive system with high ground clearance and aggressive tires is absolutely mandatory. Standard low-clearance AWD crossovers will quickly lose traction or get completely stranded in this demanding environment.
