Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area
Johnson Valley is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver. It is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Elevations range from 4,600 feet at Hartwell Hills to 2,300 feet at Melville Dry Lake. Vegetation consists of creosote scrub, annual grasses, wild flowers and Joshua Trees.
Access:
The riding area can be entered from Highway 247 at Old Woman Springs Road or Camp Rock Road, 55 miles southeast of Barstow. Most visitors access the area off Camp Rock Road by driving north off of Highway 247. Staging for many competitive events is at Anderson Dry Lake, 10 miles north of Highway 247 and east of Camp Rock Road. These are graded dirt roads.
Activities:
Most visitors tour the area in four-wheel drive vehicles. The area near Anderson and Soggy Dry Lakes is used extensively for competitive racing events and OHV free play. There are numerous opportunities for hiking, rock hounding, and wildlife watching. The eastern boundary is shared with the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Air-Ground Combat Center. DO NOT enter this area.
- Helmets are required on all ATVs! Also, there are no passengers allowed on ATVs.
- All vehicles must have a muffler or spark arrester and have either a street-legal license or be registered as an off-highway vehicle.
- Vehicles being operated at night must have head and tail lights.
- SHOTGUN SHOOTING ONLY IN THE JOHNSON VALLEY OHV AREA! No pistol or rifle shooting allowed!
- The desert tortoise lives here and is a federally protected species. Please do not handle or disturb these animals.
- Camping is allowed anywhere within the riding area that does not block travel on a road and is limited to 14 days.
- Possession or use of pallets or wood containing nails is prohibited (43 CFR 8365.1-6).
4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for Boone Road. See map below, lower right.
Do not burn pallets or wood with nails!
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