Trail Overview
This trail starts at Highway 86 and heads north, serving as a main artery to connect people to the Ocotillo Wells SVRA. The route follows an electrical pole line for easy reference and navigation. The trail is made of packed sand and winds up and down many hills, creating an undulating route. There are lots of dispersed camping opportunities and access to many trails along the way, making this an important hub for the area. This area used to be part of an oil boom where Texaco was a huge investor, adding historical context to the landscape. As you go further north, you'll encounter lots of softer sand, washboards, and whoops that increase in frequency and intensity.
Difficulty
This is an easy trail overall, especially in the southern sections with packed sand. The trail winding up and down many hills adds elevation changes, but they're gradual and straightforward. As you go north, the softer sand, washboards, and whoops increase difficulty slightly but the trail remains accessible. The electrical poles provide excellent navigation landmarks. This main artery is designed to be accessible for connecting to the SVRA.