Trail Overview
Joshua West Trail is located just off Highway 14, across from the Springs OHV area, and is part of the Red Rocks Canyon State Park. OHVs must have a green sticker and adhere to other requirements, and users should ensure they close the gate after entering. Starting parallel to Highway 14, the trail offers great views of the Red Rocks Canyon State Park rock formations and is surrounded by desert brush, including creosote bushes and some Joshua trees. After the first mile, the trail moves away from the highway and begins climbing over 300 feet in the next 2 miles, providing great views of the Eastern Sierra Mountains as it ascends. Around mile 1.7, the trail enters a wash area with deeper sand, where airing down is highly recommended.
Difficulty
The surface is hard-packed sand, and drivers should expect ruts, washboards, small washes to go in and out of, and a few off-camber sections.