Region

Johnson Valley

California

Offroad Trails in Johnson Valley

A Region within California

5/5 (186)

Johnson Valley OHV Area is a mecca for recreational offroading. Its infamous web of heartstopping trails are some of the most hardcore in the world. What makes the area so popular is its diversity of difficulty, which offers trails for every skill level and every OHV type. From punishing rock crawling to casual trail riding to high-speed desert running, Johnson Valley has it all.

It might be most well known for the extreme rock crawling found in the mountainous area known as the "Hammers." But, for those in stock or lightly modified 4X4s, Johnson Valley is also home to plenty of intermediate and novice trails. Then, adding to the variety, miles of open desert roads surrounding the Hammers are perfect for those with a need for speed.

Johnson Valley OHV Area is shared land between BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and the adjacent Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center of Twentynine Palms. Its history of rock crawling goes back to the early 1990s, when some of its most iconic trails, including Sledgehammer, Jackhammer, and Aftershock, were broken. Then, in 2007, the yearly King of the Hammers competition was founded, which exponentially grew Johnson Valley's popularity.

The harsh desert landscape brings with it extreme summer heat that consistently exceeds 100-degrees. It's not uncommon to see temperatures reaching 120-degrees in the mid to late summer months. High winds are also commonplace and overnight temperatures can dip below freezing in the winter, so keep these factors in mind when planning your trip out to Johnson Valley OHV Area.

Top Reasons to Explore Here

Altitude

Beginner

Camping

Desert

Iconic

Mine

Mud

Overland

Rock

Sand

Scenic

Wash

Water

Johnson Valley includes trail difficulties ranging from:

EASY

EXTREME

Most Popular Trail Guides

Search for Trails

5/5 (18 reviews)

Updated: 02/27/2024

Sledge Hammer

Open

Yucca Valley, California/

1.56 miles/

About 5 hours

If you want insanely hard, then the Hammer Trails are for you. Sledge Hammer is the southernmost trail of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California. This extreme 4x4 trail is a collection of large boulders, massive ledges, towering waterfalls, vertical climbs, and spots you just have to drag through. This trail is going to make you work for it if you are wanting to complete it. Once on this trail, it is clear why this is one of the hardest trails in the country and why it makes the cut for one of the hardest parts of the King Of The Hammers race. If you think you have what it takes to do this run, have a rig that is built for the extreme, and have plenty of off-roading experience, then this is for you!

California: Turkey Claw - Johnson Valley Hero Photo

5/5 (23 reviews)

Updated: 02/27/2024

Turkey Claw - Johnson Valley

Turkey Claw is a fun and difficult rock crawling trail that will put any 4x4 to its test. Whether you are a Toyota, a 2 door Jeep Wrangler, or a 4 Door JKU person. Turkey Claw will make even the most hardcore off-road enthusiast think twice in the first few feet of the trail. Body damage, driveline failure, and great memories are all likely to be found on this trail. The next time you decide to have an adventure in the home of The King Of The Hammers in Johnson Valley, California, take a trip to the southwest of Means Dry Lake and check out one of the most fun, short, and epic 4x4 trails in Southern California.

5/5 (20 reviews)

Updated: 01/08/2025

Claw Hammer

A true legend of the off-roading world, and often called the easier of the three Hammer Trails. Claw Hammer, located in Johnson Valley in Southern California, home of King of the Hammers, offers a difficult to severe-rated rock crawling trail in a short but exciting package. Be ready for lots of technical obstacles with cringe-worthy waterfalls, mountainous rocks, and boulders that just don't seem to offer a way around. The risk of doing body damage is high, along with vehicle failure. Based on how experienced your group is, you can get through this trail in as short as 45 minutes. But the average group takes about 4 hours. Whether you are a Jeep person, a Toyota junky, or a buggy driver, when looking for a truly epic offroad trail that makes most people's top 5 lists, check out Claw Hammer.

California: Fissure Mountain Trail Hero Photo

4.8/5 (20 reviews)

Updated: 05/04/2024

Fissure Mountain Trail

Possibly the only real intermediate trail in Johnson Valley, California, Fissure Mountain Trail is a great offroad trail for everyone from stock 4x4s to built buggies. This classic off-road trail is a unique scenic drive as it skirts along the famous Hammer Trails and has epic views allowing you to see miles in almost any direction. The trail got its name after a fissure opened up during the Landers quake in 1992. Since most of the trails in the area are either easy or insanely hard, this is a welcome addition to the area as it makes for a great Jeep Trail to drive for people that are learning to offroad or the people that just want an enjoyable way to take a break from the hard trails. And this one isn't just another rock crawling trail; it has some overland features to it as well, with unique camping opportunities. So if you are in Johnson Valley, and want to do something different, check out Fissure Mountain, and make it a memorable adventure in the deserts of Southern California.

California: Chocolate Thunder Hero Photo

5/5 (17 reviews)

Updated: 01/08/2025

Chocolate Thunder

A trail that many have heard of, Chocolate Thunder is a popular rock crawling trail in Johnson Valley, California. The trail is usually part of the famous King of the Hammers track and has even been one of the famous Shootout Challenges. The short but fun trail is full of large rocks that are big enough to flip even the largest vehicles, sand that can make climbing the countless ledges and waterfalls impossible, and unique and tight obstacles that can easily destroy a body panel or two. One of the unique things about this trail is it has some great spots on the sides of the trail that any stock 4x4 can get to, making it a popular place for people to gather to watch others work their way through. Now, if you want a good challenge or are looking for a unique night run, check out Chocolate Thunder in the home of KOH, Johnson Valley, and see if your offroad rig has what it takes to complete this trail.

Recently Added Scout Routes

Search for Trails

5/5 (15 reviews)

Means Dry Lake

California

Means Dry Lake is a broad, hard-packed lakebed located in the Johnson Valley OHV Area of Southern California’s Mojave Desert. It serves as a central hub for offroad recreation and provides direct access to iconic trails like Jackhammer, Sledgehammer, and Claw Hammer, as well as milder desert routes for casual riders. The terrain is flat and firm, making it suitable for dispersed camping, staging, and large gatherings.

Best known as the site of the annual King of the Hammers event, when the area becomes a bustling temporary city, Means Dry Lake is otherwise quiet and open, offering scenic desert views, dramatic sunsets, and exceptional stargazing. The area has no services, so visitors must be self-sufficient. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for deeper trail exploration, but the lakebed itself is accessible to most vehicles. Camping is primitive but widespread, with ample space for RVs and trailers.

If roughing it isn't your thing, check out the many options in Yucca Valley, which include hotels and other housing options.

California: Boone Road & Barnes Road Hero Photo

5/5 (17 reviews)

Boone Road & Barnes Road

California

Boone Road is the main eastern entry into California’s Johnson Valley OHV Area, a legendary off-road destination best known for the annual King of the Hammers event. Year-round, it serves as a gateway into vast desert terrain and offers easy access for all kinds of vehicles, including RVs, trailers, rock crawlers, and overland rigs. The road is wide, flat, and beginner-friendly, leading to the iconic lakebed and some of the most challenging trails in the country, including the infamous Hammers.

Whether you're exploring or camping, Boone Road delivers a true desert experience. It cuts through open terrain framed by rocky hills and dry lake beds, drawing adventurers from all over. Just past the bridge, the road opens into flat, level ground that’s perfect for dispersed camping. There’s plenty of room for tents, trailers, rooftop setups, and RVs under the vast desert sky.

California: Jack and Sledge Connector Hero Photo

5/5 (12 reviews)

Jack and Sledge Connector

California

Looking for a way to cut between Jack and Sledge Hammer. Well, this is your cut-through. The Jack and Sledge Connector is a convenient off-road trail at the top of both trails, meaning you can run up one canyon and then back down the other. Of course, the hard part is the other trails, so if you can do those, you should be good to go here. Due to its short nature, camping is not found directly along this trail, but there are endless camping opportunities on surrounding trails.

5/5 (9 reviews)

Road to Short Bus and Comp Hill

California

A quick shortcut from Means Dry Lake, The Road to Short Bus, and Comp Hill is a quick path to these two popular areas. So if you are looking for an easy way to get there from means dry lake, this is your shortest route. Camping is not found directly along this trail, but there are endless camping opportunities on surrounding trails.

5/5 (10 reviews)

Qualifier Hill

California

Part of the King of the Hammers Qualifying course in Johnson Valley California, this steep hillclimb is not for the faint of heart. One side is extremely steep and loose, with rocks in the right spots to make it hard, and on the other side is a drastic drop that is about 4 feet. This is a short straight-through trail only suited for well-built rigs and experienced drivers.