The deserts
of California and southern Nevada are enormous, but they are not abandoned.
Much of the land is privately owned and not open to recreation. However, there
remain large tracts of public land that are open to public use. These lands
are managed by several federal, state, and county agencies. Each has different
rules, and it is your responsibility to find out these rules before using
the land. What follows are some general rules, but you must contact appropriate
agencies for specific rules.
The desert looks
tough as nails. One would not think a person traveling through could do much
to harm this rocky land filled with spiny cactus, scorpions, and rattlesnakes.
But appearances are deceiving, and underneath that rugged exterior the desert
is fragile. Life is tough enough already for desert plants and animals; any
extra stress can tip the balance between life and death.
You could spend the rest of your life roaming the millions of acres of California's desert,
but there are some places you can't go. It's important to remember the desert
is a checkerboard of land ownership. Some lands are managed by the federal
government, some by state or county agencies, and some are privately held.
Different laws and restrictions apply to each area. Some areas are closed to protect the
environment; research may be going on or it's necessary to protect the habitat
of plants and animals. Others lie on military lands (you may have to enlist
to see them!). Trespassing on military installations may be treated as a serious
offense with immediate consequences. Other areas have limited access available
through special tours only.
All national park and state park lands have specific rules about use and travel routes.
In National Park Service areas, certain sites with sensitive resources may
be closed to public access unless accompanied by authorized agency personnel.
Other areas may be open only for daytime use. Some US Forest Service and Bureau
of Land Management lands allow multiple uses with less restrictive regulations.
In addition, there are state and federal vehicular recreation areas with their
own guidelines.
Out in the desert,
a single tire track can scar the land for decades. Just one off road vehicle
or motorcycle driven in the wrong place can tear up plants and crush the burrows
of threatened desert tortoises or other animals. Large numbers of these vehicles
can damage plant and animal habitats so severely that they will never recover.
At the same
time, lots of folks love to get out and head up the side of a sand dune or
down a dusty four-wheel drive trail. To protect wildlife, and still allow
for recreation, areas of the desert have been set aside for off highway vehicles
(OHV's).
Here are some
rules to remember:
- You are responsible
for knowing, and obeying, all the rules and regulations of the land, and
for your vehicle. Contact the appropriate agency for where you're headed.
- Important!
Driving off established roads is prohibited on all National Park Service
lands. This prohibition is strictly enforced.
- You must
register your non-street legal vehicle and get a Green Sticker from the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Speeding
is not allowed and you cannot go faster than 15 mph within 50 feet of a
person, campsite or animal.
- A headlight
and taillight are required for night driving.
- All persons
operating/riding all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) must wear an approved safety
helmet.
- No one under
the age of 14 shall operate an ATV without being accompanied and supervised
by a legal guardian, 18 or older.
- No ATV operator
shall carry a passenger while operating on public lands.
California residents must register their off highway vehicle with the Department
of Motor Vehicles and clearly display the "green sticker" vehicle
identification tag.
Non-residents
are required to either purchase a special "Non-Resident OHV" permit
through the California Department of Parks and Recreation or selected vendors
, or have a valid registration through their home state. Call
California Department of Parks and Recreation, (916) 324-4442, or e-mail for more information.
Here are the
Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas where off roading can take place:
| Heber
Dunes |
Imperial County,
State Vehicular Recreation Area |
| Ocotillo
Wells |
San
Diego County,
State Vehicular Recreation Area |
| Dumont
Dunes |
Barstow,
BLM |
| El
Mirage Dry Lake |
Barstow,
BLM |
| Johnson
Valley |
Barstow,
BLM |
| Rasor |
Barstow,
BLM |
| Stoddard
Valley |
Barstow,
BLM |
| Imperial
Sand Dunes |
El Centro,
BLM |
| Lark
Canyon(McCain Valley) |
El Centro,
BLM |
| Plaster
City |
El Centro,
BLM |
| Superstition
Mountain |
El Centro,
BLM |
| Jawbone
Canyon/Dove Springs |
Ridgecrest,
BLM |
| Olancha
Dunes |
Ridgecrest,
BLM |
| Spangler
Hills |
Ridgecrest,
BLM |
When you really
want to get away from it all, you will find more than five million acres of
wilderness waiting for you. The National Park Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, and other organizations have congressionally designated wilderness
areas. Each wilderness may have different regulations, so be sure to check
on the specific rules of your destination.
The basic rules
are aimed at keeping the wilderness wild. Practice low-impact travel and camping
in these primitive areas. Leave them looking as unspoiled as they were when
you arrived.
Here are some
basics to remember. (You can print the list and take it with you!)
- Leave the
land and the life on it as you found them.
- Camp away
from water. Water means life in the desert, and if animals cannot get to
a water source because you are camped there, they may die.
- Do not make
new scars on the land; use previous campsites.
- Leave your
campsite just as you found it.
- Use a camp
stove, not open fires. In some areas, permits may be needed.
- Pack out
all your garbage (including toilet paper). Dig a "cat hole," six
inches deep, for human waste.
- Avoid making
new trails by using established trails or walking on rocks and sand. Keep
off the plants!
- Keep it down!
Wilderness is a quiet place to escape from the noise of people.
- Do not dig
large trenches or deep holes.
Fire hazard
in the desert varies from year to year. Fire restrictions are imposed to minimize
fire hazard and prevent wildfires. Some areas require campfire permits. To
obtain more information on the rules, contact any BLM office in your area.