Trail Overview
BLM 47 is a deeply engaging, 1.8-mile out-and-back backcountry route that treats off-road explorers to a beautifully secluded high-desert transit. This distinctly tight and twisty mixed-surface trail playfully meanders through a wonderfully dense landscape heavily populated by mature green juniper trees, sharp desert cactus, and thick rustic brush under a brilliant blue sky. Along this quiet and highly immersive drive, backcountry travelers will quickly discover numerous flat, highly inviting dispersed campsites perfectly positioned safely off the path for an isolated overnight retreat. A crucial characteristic of this highly fragile environment is the considerable abundance of delicate cryptobiotic soil found all over the place on either side of the deeply tracked route; explorers must remain strictly on the designated trail to properly "tiptoe through the crypto" and protect the living desert crust. The highly scenic journey officially culminates at the dramatic edge of an elevated bluff, deeply rewarding drivers with breathtaking, unobstructed views looking straight down into the rugged canyon below and directly onto the lower barracks trail.
Difficulty
BLM 47 confidently earns a Level 3 Moderate technical rating. While the trail's distinctly rugged surface alternates heavily between remarkably soft red sand and sections of uneven, loose rock, the primary challenge is navigating the exceptionally narrow driving corridor. Because the sharply winding path weaves so tightly between rigid juniper trees and desert cactus, aggressive cosmetic pinstriping along your vehicle's side panels is a guarantee for anything larger than a short-wheelbase 4x4. Furthermore, drivers are strictly forced to maintain highly precise tire placement to safely clear the rocky sections and avoid crushing the highly fragile cryptobiotic soil thriving immediately off the trail edges.
