Doran Canyon - BLM CM7631

Trail Overview

Doran Canyon (CM7631) is a 3.3-mile point-to-point (bi-directional) trail rated 6 of 10 located in San Bernardino County. Doran Canyon is a well-marked BLM trail within the Barstow Management Area. The trail starts just north of Ghost Town Road, and as you approach the trailhead, you will see three distinct canyon trails. Doran Canyon is the center trail, and Odessa Canyon is on the right. This trail is made up of hard-packed dirt, sand, gravel, a few old remains of pavement, and multiple rock gardens and large waterfalls. When running south to north, the trail is a continuous climb of about 1000 feet over the first 2.5 miles. Running in this direction requires climbing the rock waterfalls. Also known as the Doran Scenic Loop (when run with the Odessa Canyon trail). Explorers can expect steep open dirt track climbs leading to scenic overviews of the Mojave Desert, the Calico Ghost Town, and the community of Barstow. Further up the trail, the canyon walls will close in, leading to moderate-sized rock gardens and various-sized waterfalls. The most significant is roughly 7 feet tall with a large hole at the base and just over the lip of the falls, making this a challenge for many. The trail eventually opens back up at the Bismark Mine. This location offers several mining tunnels to explore and offers a bit of shade from the desert sun. The trails end on the north end at the intersection with the Odessa Canyon-CM7635. Taking this canyon back south would be the completion of the Odessa-Doran Loop. A challenging weekend includes running these two trails in both directions. Once in the canyons, there was no cell phone service. The nearest gas is located at Interstate 15. The nearest full-service is located in Barstow.

Photos of Doran Canyon - BLM CM7631

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Difficulty

Trails are difficult with considerable erosion damage, loose rocks, dirt, and slickrock. Steps not exceeding 36 inches. 4WD, tall tires (33-inches plus) with two traction-adding devices (lockers, limited slips) are required. A winch would be a plus. Enhanced suspension travel and good ground clearance are required. Excellent driving skills are recommended.

Technical Rating

Doran Canyon - BLM CM7631 can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike