Desert Rules!

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.

Access

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.

Off-Road

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.

Certification: State of California Laws
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

Wilderness

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.