Valley Dirt Riders Meetup

We'll be camping North of the of S22 at the Truckhaven Trail exit on the right (If coming from the 86), shortly after the 4X4 training area. The turn off is 3.7 miles from the intersection of 86 and 22. Approximate coordnates 33.269594, -116.020391 I'll update with exact coordinates once I've landed in a spot. The camping area is fairly wide open and will accomodate large motorhomes and trailer rigs.

I'll lead rides on Saturday and Sunday, staging from camp. Saturday we'll stage at 8:30, have a quick driver meeting and head out at 9:00. We'll head South and stop at Gas Domes and Artesian Well. From there, we'll head Southeast for a stop at Superstition Mountain, followed by a drive-by of the Airplane Junkyard and a stop at the Blue Inn for lunch. After lunch, we'll visit Blow Sand Hill, Devils Slide, Shell Reef, Little People Rock Formations, Pumpkin Patch and Techtonic Gorge on our way back to camp. I would rate this ride as Intermidiate covering around 100 miles.

Sunday's ride will be on the Truckhaven side. We'll stage at 9:00 and head out by 9:30. We'll continue our search for the Fire Hydrant, then head to the Phone Booth, Basketball Hoop, and over to the Arch Trails Notches.
I would rate this ride as intermediate covering around 25 miles.

☆☆☆Whips and flags now required on all SxS at Ocotillo Wells.

These organizers are not professional guides or trained leaders and are not medically trained to handle emergencies. Please carry a personal medical emergency kit and any medications you need.

Motorized off-road driving/riding is an inherently dangerous activity that can lead to serious injuries including but not limited to slip and fall injuries, fractures, rattlesnake bites, heat exhaustion, poison oak, ticks and frostbite.
By participating in this event/ride, you agree to not hold these organizers liable for any harm that may come to you, your guests, or your property. Always remember to let the event organizer know if you are leaving the group. Stay on the trail, never drive/ride alone and use your own common sense.

I have decided to change the ride after Xmas from Trona Road to Dove Springs. Because it is getting dark earlier, and the rides from Trona Road are longer, I think it best to move that ride out and do a couple shorter (70 mile) rides on Friday & Saturday December 27th & 28th at Dove Springs.

Friday Ride
We will ride into the El Paso Mountains, drop down into lower Last Chance Canyon, swing by the Burro Schmidt Tunnel, then head up to the Walsh Cabin. From there we will take EP26 down into Goler Gulch and over to Sheep Springs. After a short break its EP26 to EP1 and a fast cruise over to the Indian Wells Brewing Company. Now if daylight allows, we will ride up the canyon and stop at the Seibert Cabin. Our return ride will cruise past Robbers Roost and then back to camp.

Saturday Ride
We will leave camp and ride into the El Paso Mountains and up Opal Canyon. We will ride the ridge and climb into the Mountains before dropping down into Cruise Canyon and over to Garlock Road. We will cross the highway and take some soft wide sand washes over to the Jawbone Canyon Store. After a short break its up the wash before crossing Jawbone Canyon Road and taking SC123 up onto the ridge above Jawbone and Dove Springs. That will take us to Dove Spring for another short break. Now its up SC103 and back into the mountains before taking a steep downhill and the winding SC47 trail then up to the hanging rock, down to SC37 and the narrow twisting sand wash before climbing back out on SC50. Then its back up SC47 and down into the valley. We will cruise across the desert on SC94 and then take a short side trip onto SC129 for a nice view of the Dove Springs Hill Climbs and back to camp. Around 70 miles.

More info as we get closer to the ride.

Barry

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On this camp-n-ride will be explore the Logandale Trails and the area surrounding Mesquite Nevada.

I will try and get out there a few days before the scheduled ride and do some pre-running

The campsite exit is about 45 miles East of Las Vegas, just off the 15 freeway. Motel accommodations are available in Moapa Valley about a 15 minute drive.

The three planned rides will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday so hopefully some of you working folk will be able to head out early on Friday and return home on Monday

More info on the rides as we get closer to the date.

I will provide a link to those who have signed up for the ride to download the GPX files.

These organizers are not professional guides or trained leaders and are not medically trained to handle emergencies. Please carry a personal medical emergency kit and any medications you need.

Motorized off-road driving/riding is an inherently dangerous activity that can lead to serious injuries including but not limited to slip and fall injuries, fractures, rattlesnake bites, heat exhaustion, poison oak, ticks and frostbite.

By participating in this event/ride, you agree to not hold these organizers liable for any harm that may come to you, your guests, or your property. Always remember to let the event organizer know if you are leaving the group. Stay on the trail, never drive/ride alone and use your own common sense.

I will be hosting a ride on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday February 14th - 16th 2025 just West of Calico off Copper City Rd. Come for the day or stay for the weekend.

Driving Instructions

Find your way to Barstow and head North on the 15. About 5 miles past the intersection of the 15 & 40 take the Ft. Irwin Rd exit and turn left over the freeway. Stay on Ft. Irwin Rd for about 7.25 miles. You will see a left turn lane at the intersection of Ft. Irwin Rd and Irwin Rd, turn left. I will place a sign pointing the way to the campsite on the right side of the road. Travel down Irwin Rd for about 3.3 miles until you come to the intersection with Cooper City Rd. I will place another sign pointing to the campsite there. Turn right on Cooper City Rd (dirt) and travel about 3.6 miles and look for another sign pointing to the campsite. Turn left at the sign and you will see the campsite (Picture of my RV is below).

We will leave the staging area at around 9AM on Friday & Saturday and 8AM on Sunday. Riders meeting 15 minutes before we head out. All rides are rated as intermediate for 4-wheel drive UTV's / ATV's. There are many long sections of deep sand and some rocky hill climbs and descents.

Friday Ride

We will traverse the mud hills and drive through Rainbow Basin and then head over to the Desert Lighthouse. From there we will travel across the desert and make a short stop at the Gold Fish Pond. Now it's on to the Husky Memorial and then down into Black Canyon and Scott's Cove. Finally we will travel through the Black Mountains and back to camp. Around 85 miles.

Saturday Ride.

We will leave our Copper City campsite and head North over to the White Cliffs. Then we will continue North onto the Superior Dry Lake Bed. Next we will Follow the fence line West then South over to Inscription Canyon. We will climb back into the mountains and stop at Scotts Cove. Now we will ride around the Black Mountain Wilderness then head over to Tonka Town. Round trip about 80 miles.

Sunday Ride (Leaving Camp at 8AM)

Leaving camp we will cross Irwin Rd and drop down into a wide sand wash. We will follow that around until it crosses Ft. Irwin Rd. We will follow the trail along Ghost Town Rd. and head up Phillips Loop and over to the Kramer Arch. Then it's over to Mule Canyon and on to the Bismark Mine. We will head North through the mountains and cross Ft. Irwin Rd. Then onto the Wells Cabin and the Treehouse before heading back to camp. If the group wants, we can stop at the XB70 Memorial first. Round trip about 60 miles.

I will post the GPX file when we get closer to the ride date.

These organizers are not professional guides or trained leaders and are not medically trained to handle emergencies. Please carry a personal medical emergency kit and any medications you need.

Motorized off-road driving/riding is an inherently dangerous activity that can lead to serious injuries including but not limited to slip and fall injuries, fractures, rattlesnake bites, heat exhaustion, poison oak, ticks and frostbite.

By participating in this event/ride, you agree to not hold these organizers liable for any harm that may come to you, your guests, or your property. Always remember to let the event organizer know if you are leaving the group. Stay on the trail, never drive/ride alone and use your own common sense.