Johnson Valley Motorized Trail

Description:

• Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver. The area is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Elevations range from the Hartwell Hills at about 4,600 feet to Melville Dry Lake, with an elevation of about 2,300 feet. Vegetation consists of creosote scrub, some annual grasses and wild flowers and, the symbol of the Mojave Desert -- the Joshua tree.

  Most of the area visitors ride motorcycles or ATVs, or tour the area in four-wheel drive vehicles. The areas around Anderson and Soggy Dry Lake are used extensively for OHV free play. The area is also used extensively for competitive racing events by permit. There are many opportunities for hiking, rock scrambling, rock hounding, and plant, bird and wildlife watching. There are desert tortoise, a state and federally listed threatened species, in the riding area.

  NOTE: The area has many deep mine shafts! Be careful in these areas and do not camp near these areas. The eastern boundary is shared with the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Air-Ground Combat Center. DO NOT trespass onto Marine-held lands and be careful traveling this area due to unexploded ordinance in the area.