Bowen Ranch
Total Miles
3.4
Elevation
1,363.22 ft
Duration
--
Technical Rating
Best Time
Winter, Fall, Spring
Trail Overview
This wide washboard trail heads up into the hills passing private property and open BLM land. It ends at the Bowens Ranch and hot springs (more info below). There are a few dispersed camping spots along the way. Just be sure you are not on private property. There is also "pay for camping" available at the Bowen Springs Ranch. The road is primarily wide washboard with a few large boulders here and there in the middle and some sandy, looser hill climbs. 2 bars LTE cellular service.
Photos of Bowen Ranch
Difficulty
Washboard mostly two cars wide with places to pass where it narrows. Some large boulders in the middle of the trail but they can be avoided.
History
Juniper Flats covers 101,272 acres of mixed public and private lands. Located between the Mojave Desert and the forests of the San Bernardino Mountains, Juniper Flats hosts a unique mixture of plants from both environments. Its streams and wetlands attract many kinds of wildlife. No less impressive are the beautiful views and varied landscape that make Juniper Flats a favorite recreation destination year-round.Visitors to Juniper Flats enjoy excellent recreation opportunities, including camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hunting. Off-highway vehicle (OHV) touring is restricted to a designated route system (see numbered routes on map).Routes not marked as open are CLOSED to all motorized vehicles. "Technical" or cross-country (off-route) OHV activities are not allowed in Juniper Flats; please use the nearby El Mirage, Johnson Valley, or Stoddard Valley OHV areas. Juniper Flats is part of a public trail network that connects the San Bernardino National Forest with Victor Valley OHV areas to the northwest. Camping and PicnickingDispersed camping and parking are allowed in areas that show obvious signs of prior use and lack of vegetation cover, that is within 300 feet of a designated open route, and that are at least 200 yards from wildlife watering places. Camping in any one location is limited to 14 days. Please obtain permission before entering private land. Fire permits are required and may be restricted in the fire season (May - October). Fire danger is extreme during most of the year.