Maricopa CA & Taft CA are not typical tourists destinations. But if you're passing thru, a good stop for gas & decent Mexican food. They've been mining for oil out here since the early days & there's even a extensive museum about it. Hollywood film crews like to shoot the central Taft location, cuz it has tree-lined downtown streets, with lotsa old brick buildings & no crowds. Off-road trails are in Ballinger Canyon, in Cuyama Valley, near Taft California.
description: Oiltown USA & OHV Haven: ATV's & motorcycles like the high desert hills surrounding Maricopa & Taft for miles & miles of dirt trails. Ballinger Canyon OHV Park is not too far away - for your camping & wheeling desires. They even have a Taft Grand Prix. Taft CA is not the destination; it's all the outdoor recreation around here that is the draw.