Trail Overview

This long trail starts off Highway 80 and ends at BLM 189, featuring hard pack sand with lots of small rocks throughout. The surface slowly takes you through a rocky, bumpy trail with small ruts, off-camber sections, and lots of whoops, creating constant challenges. You'll climb a few steep hills along the way that require momentum and skilled driving. The route offers great views of surrounding mountain ranges, including the Painted Hills and the Coyote Mountain,s providing scenic rewards. This is part of the Plaster City OHV open riding area, where registered off road vehicles are allowed. Be prepared for slow going as the length and conditions make this a time-consuming route.

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Difficulty

The combination of hard pack sand with lots of small rocks, small ruts, off-camber sections, and lots of whoops creates a challenging and bumpy ride throughout. The few steep hills require momentum and careful throttle control. The long distance and slow-going conditions mean this trail demands patience and endurance. High clearance and four wheel drive are recommended for the varied obstacles and rocky terrain.

Technical Rating

Brian K

Apr 19, 2026

Open

BLM 079 out in Plaster City shows why OnX ratings don’t translate well to desert terrain. The rating focuses on whether a vehicle can make it through, which misses the point. Most 4x4s can pass this trail, but that doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable. The trail is basically nonstop whoops with very little relief. It’s not technical, just punishing. In something like a Sasquatch Bronco, you’re realistically stuck around 10–15 mph unless you want to beat up your suspension, and the shocks will fade quickly. Even a stock Raptor doesn’t make it fun, just more tolerable. Properly tuned setups handle it better, but it’s still constant abuse. Long travel setups (15”+) are where it starts to feel manageable at speed. Bottom line, this isn’t about making it through—it’s about how much punishment your setup can handle.