The Desert is Closed.

From my article in theApr/May issue of the Sunrunner Magazine. (article online in full after the Apr/May issue comes out).


“You can’t play here anymore”. That is basically the decision of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors who in their wisdom have determined that the noise made by OHVs and their ilk are such that there shall be no off roading on any publicly, federal or county, owned land in Riverside County anymore unless it is on a designated trail.~

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The subject today is not the actual closing of the desert despite the fact it's been on going on for years but where do we go? Here is the very short list of where we can now legally play off road in the lo-desert. None of them in Riverside County.

Ocotillo Wells OHV Imperial County. area is located between Anza Borrego State Park on the west and the Salton Sea on the east. From Palm Springs, south on 86 to Highway 78 then west to Ocotillo Wells.

Johnson Valley. Hi-desert actually. Enter off of Highway 247 at Old Woman Springs Road or Camp Rock Road between Barstow (55mi) and Yucca Valley.(15mi).'

Glamis and Imperial Dunes. Imperial County. From Palm Springs, South on Highway 86 sto Highway 78 then east to the Glamis exit.

All other travel off road is limited to these designated trails (BLM map) Of course you can go further out say to El Mirage dry lake or into Arizona butth lo- desert in riverside County is closed off.

Locally that means OHVs and 4x4's are going to start exploring our backyards. Places like Pipes Canyon or up in Black Rock. "But wait" sez you, "Those are protected areas" "Yes, yes, "Sez I, "but the Baja Bunnies (OHVs/4X4) dont' care" The lower parts of Berdoo and Pinkham Canyons have already fallen and the destruction is very apparent. Who knows what will happen if they start driving through the Dale Mining District and into Pinto Basin or they reach upper Pinkham Canyon. The draconian measures put into place by Riverside County are going to have a far reaching negative effect on hi-desert and it's play areas until Riverside County get's it together enough to create a place to play off road in Riverside County and knowing politicians that could take years.