Trail Overview
This wide, sandy route travels across the Stoddard Valley Open Riding Area, a large OHV area with extensive dispersed camping and a 14-day camping limit. The main staging area has room for hundreds of vehicles and includes a restroom. Ruts begin around 2–6 inches deep, while around 1.6 miles in, rougher sections include deeper ruts and 14–20-inch whoops. The soft sand can reduce traction, so 4WD or AWD is recommended but not required. Camping is abundant throughout the area, with more than 40 campsites within the first 0.3 miles alone, many with fire rings and views of the surrounding desert and mountains. Around 0.6 miles, another restroom and large parking area can accommodate roughly 100 vehicles. The route provides access to an extensive network of OHV trails and hundreds of dispersed campsites. Camping is permitted, but shooting is prohibited within the OHV area.
Difficulty
This trail is rated Level 2 because of the very soft sand, deeper ruts, and 14–20 inch whoops. The route is generally wide and easy to navigate, but 4WD or AWD is recommended for improved traction in the softer sections.
History
The BLM lands around Sawtooth Canyon reflect the long history of California’s Mojave Desert, where Indigenous peoples traveled and lived for thousands of years before miners, ranchers, and settlers arrived in the 1800s. The surrounding desert also contains remnants of the region’s mining and homesteading era, while its rugged volcanic rock formations preserve a much older geologic history.
Offroad