Patton's Cabin Road

Trail Overview

This is an out-and-back trail to the ruins of General Patton's cabin near the foothills of the Palen/McCoy Wilderness area. The trail begins as a two-track path primarily consisting of sand that winds in and out of shallow washes. There are also frequent whoops up to a foot high in this section. The trail then changes to gravel and loose rock as it passes through a large open field of volcanic rock. Be cautious of larger rocks, both close to the sides of the trail and embedded in the middle of the tracks. Vehicles with high clearance and skid plates are advised to avoid damage. As the trail loops back on itself, it will pass through a deep wash, where the entrance and exit are steep and rutted. Protected Wilderness Area zones run along both sides of this trail, so stay on the designated route and obey signage restricting vehicle use. As the trail passes through multiple washes and is near the foothills of nearby mountains, check weather forecasts to avoid being caught in flash floods. There is limited to no cellular phone coverage in the area. Tread Lightly and Pack It Out.

Photos of Patton's Cabin Road

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Difficulty

The majority of the trail is flat and sandy, running through shallow washes. There are some short stretches of small-to-medium-sized whoops, which will limit speed and test suspensions. The area near Patton's Cabin, however, consists of a large volcanic rock garden where a path has been cleared for vehicles to pass. Even so, there are occasional larger rocks that must be carefully avoided or driven over in this section.

History

This area was selected and used extensively during WWII by General Patton and the U.S. Army to train armored and infantry troops before their deployment to Africa and other regions. General Patton established a cabin here to use while monitoring his troops during training activities. The ruins of his cabin building remain and can be reached from the trail by a short hike.

Technical Rating

Patton's Cabin Road can be accessed by the following ride types:

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