Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Palm Desert, California

Wind your way up this canyon that is primarily sand and small rocks. There are a few extra credit options that do have bypasses, except for one or two obstacles at the end. Anything other…
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Santa Rosa Truck Trail is an out-and-back well-maintained fire road that climbs to over 8000ft. The lower parts are smooth and wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other. As it rises in elevation…
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This trail takes you to Eureka Peak, which is a mountain top viewpoint allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the area from a high elevation. There are hiking trails throughout this area and…
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Uneven, rutted dirt trail with loose rocks and sand. Muddy conditions should be expected during the rainy season. The trail is primarily one vehicle wide with some portions wide enough for passing oncoming traffic. Steep…
Learn more about 6S13 - Thomas Mountain Road

Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood is a trail that scales Rouse Ridge/Thomas Mountain using Cottonwood (6S18) and Thomas Mountain Rd (6S13). This trail offers stunning views in all directions as you ascend and descend the mountain.…
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Rockhouse Canyon Road is a 19.8-mile out-and-back trail rated 3 of 10 within the California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trail is restricted to street-legal vehicles. The trail starts at the end of the Clark…
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This is a fantastic family adventure. The entire trail is located inside Joshua Tree National Park. It is a long loop trail that is very scenic with beautiful vistas, interesting rock formations, ancient volcanic lava…
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This trail connects the Rouse Ridge via Cottonwood trail to the Thomas Mountain Campground via the western end of Thomas Mountain Road. During dry months, the trail is an easily passable dirt road, requiring only…
Learn more about Thomas Mountain West Approach

Painted Canyon is a gorgeous landmark outside of Mecca, California. At the entrance to the road leading to the canyon, there is a warning sign that says "Passable for 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles Only". At the…
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Rouse Hill is a ridgeline trail with tremendous west and east views. This trail is predominately hard-packed dirt with a loose top layer. It can be a bit sandy in some sections but that will…
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Rouse Hill Road is for street-legal vehicles only; no green stickers or OHV vehicles. Full-size vehicles are at home here, as the trail is a single track with plenty of room. The beginning of this…
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This is an out and back route that ends at a nice hike and small campground. Along the way, you'll encounter a small water crossing or two, depending on the time of year and rain.…
Learn more about Coyote Canyon

San Jacinto Ridge is a two-way trail running East to West between the Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Highway (SR 243) and Bee Canyon Road (FS 5S07) in the San Bernardino National Forest. Comprised of mostly hard-pack dirt,…
Learn more about San Jacinto Ridge Trail (FS 5S09)

5S06 Idyllwild Control is a 6-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 located within the San Bernardino National Forest, San Jacinto Ranger District. 5S06 climbs from Highway 74 nearly 3,000 feet, ending at the intersection…
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This is an easy trail that most stock vehicles could tackle. There are some really beautiful views, and the high point is the lookout, which gives a breathtaking view of the sunset. There are 5…
Learn more about Black Mountain Road

This well-maintained fire road takes you up to boulder basin group campsite. On the way there, you'll see some turn-outs for rock climbing and overlanding. During the winter months, trails may be impassable due to…
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Beautiful views of the valley below and mountains above. There are lots of switchbacks and about 600 feet of elevation gain in just a few miles of driving. The second half of the trail was…
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This hidden gem is part of Anza Borrego Desert State Tark. From the Boreggo Salton Seaway turn into Rockhouse Canyon Road. The sign at the intersection says "no exit" but the road is long and…
Learn more about Clark Dry Lake

This is a level 2-rated full-width road back to Highway 243. This is the fastest and safest way back up to Highway 243. The route through Bee Canyon is currently closed. 2 areas had a…
Learn more about East Indian Canyon 4S10

Check out two beautiful vistas overlooking the Borrego Badlands 100% off-road. Head into Arroyo Salado to set up camp or have lunch. The route starts at Fonts Point, a well know overlook in Anza Borrego…
Learn more about Fonts Point - Vista MalPais - Arroyo Salado

Hidden in the Mecca Hills just South of Joshua Tree National Park is a fun little trail that winds you through tight canyon washes surrounded by high vertical cliffs of up to 40 feet. The…
Learn more about Little Box Canyon Meccacopia Loop

Thimble Trail is a 2.1-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 within the California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trail is restricted to street-legal vehicles. Thimble Trail provides the shortest off-road route to the Borrego…
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This is the Mecca Orocopia Trail, a connection to the Little Box Canyon Meccacopia Loop. This is an easy dirt road trail where you can admire the beautiful views of the Orocopia mountains. There is…
Learn more about Mecca Orocopia Jeep Trail

Not much to see along the route until you get to the end. Stay in the main wash and obey all signs. Views at the end are definitely worth this short drive. All vehicles in…
Learn more about Fonts Point

Palo Verde Wash is a 10.7-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 within both the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. The north end of the trail starts within…
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Roadrunner Rut is an easy dirt road that climbs into the jumbo boulder gardens and skirts along Black Lava Butte. It changes its name to BLM S1421 as it crosses into BLM lands and descends…
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Welcome to the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreational Area, the largest SVRA in California with more than 85,000 acres. OWSVRA is over 130 square miles with hundreds of miles of desert track open to all…
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Beautiful trail overlooking the neighboring town of Banning and the surrounding mountains. The deserted mountainscape is chock-full of secluded camp spots with some wind cover and appears to be used for shooting occasionally. The trail…
Learn more about Idyllwild Mountain Road

This is an alternate route from the Salton Sea to Bradshaw's Trail. From the 111, take Parkside Drive and make a left on Desert Aire Drive. The road will take you right next to the…
Learn more about Salton Sea to Bradshaw's Trail

Calcite Mine Road is a 7.6-mile out-and-back trail rated 3 of 10 located within the California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP). Trails within the ABDSP are restricted to street-legal vehicles. The Calcite Mine Road trailhead…
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