EC 285 Yuha Desert

Trail Overview

EC 285 Yuha Desert is a 2-mile point-to-point trail rated 3 of 10 in Imperial County. EC 285 is a BLM-designated "Open" trail and may be used by all types of vehicles. EC 285 is primarily a hard-packed track that runs along the edge of the Jacumba Wilderness Area and ends at the U.S. border. The highlight of this trail is the photo opportunity at the U.S. border fence. Along Highway 98 and at other access points to the Yuha, you'll see Limited Use Area signs. This means that motorized vehicle travel is allowed, but that it is limited to approved routes of travel. No cross-country travel is allowed, including off-road hill climbs and construction or use of three- and four-wheeler play loops. The area is accessible year-round but summer temperatures can exceed 115 degrees. Cell phone service is intermittent. All major services are located 23 miles east in El Centro.

Photos of EC 285 Yuha Desert

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Difficulty

This is a county dirt road with infrequent or light maintenance after rain or snow. High-clearance light-duty 4WD may be required.

History

The Yuha Desert is a section of the Sonoran Desert located in the Imperial Valley of California, south of Interstate 8, west of El Centro, and north of the international border. Unique aspects of the Yuha Desert include the Oyster Shell Beds, De Anza Historical Monument, Crucifixion Thorn Natural Area, and the Yuha geoglyph. It is the homeland of the Kamia, also spelled Kumeyaay, and may have been used by other Native American groups such as the Cahuilla, Quechan, and Cocopah Native American people. The Yuha Desert is a BLM area of critical environmental concern (ACEC). It is home to sensitive plants and animals as well as historic and prehistoric cultural sites. It is a limited-use area, meaning that travel is limited to designated routes of travel to protect these resources, so please observe all posted signs. An audio tour describing several points of interest in the area is available from BLM's El Centro Field Office. The Yuha Desert can be accessed from State Highway 98 and from the Dunaway Road exit off Interstate 8.

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