Total Escape Outside » California Deserts

Split Mountain Anza Borrego

DanaMite — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:13:56 +0000

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Fish Creek Campground

E of Borrego Springs CA.

Well off Highway 78, past the busy OHV area, quads at Ocotillo Wells, past all the rural homes & the redneck bar, past the Elephant Trees hike – where the road goes from pavement to graded dirt to a wild desert wash, in a few short miles. If you don’t know where you are, then you’re almost there.

This is a large wild desert wash with huge unstable walls, several areas for wind caves and a few historic markers. Lots of 4×4 trails beyonf Split Mountain, to the south. No real water in sight, except maybe the puddle you are standing in as it starts to poor. The soft sand can give way to a few heavy rain drops. May not be a great area to be during a serious storm or flash flood possibility, unless you want to get buried alive. Check the weather forecast in advance.

A ratty, small developed campground of Fish Creek is on the left side, upon the ledge. Fish Creek Campground is picnic tables & a pit toilet – at most. Ya may as well camp out in the open, off road, like the pioneers did. You can do that out here in Anza Borrego. (Just keep it clean & carry a metal fire container.)

Split Mountain, Anza Borrego Desert State Park

This portion of the “mountain” is less than a mile from Fish Creek Campground. Fossils can be found in these walls. Shade is good in summer months, when day temps reach 100+. The rest of the year is ideal weather. This mountain split from water, erosion, mega force. High walls, wind caves, desert washes, great primitive camping & 4×4 routes.

This desert scenic drive will require you to get that SUV dusty. 4 wheel drive not required. No RVs past the campground. All low lying passenger cars are warned, there are uneven areas, soft sand & boulders.

Duh, do not attempt this one when desert flash floods are possible.

ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK

ANZA BORREGO MAP – San Diego Deserts

nearby towns -

BORREGO SPRINGS CA

OCOTILLO WELLS CA

SALTON SEA CA

Great desert back road exploring out here. A zillions washes & canyons.

Colorado River Jet Ski

DanaMite — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:47:57 +0000

Mojave Lake

Colorado River: Tri-State area includes Arizona, California, Nevada. From the northern Lake Mead @ Las Vegas to the lower Colorado River marshes of Yuma, a span of fresh water that travels the western deserts. From the snow melt of the Rocky Mountains, through the red rock of Utah’s canyonlands, Grand Canyon and all it’s glory, way down to the farms near Mexicali, this is the biggest river in the west.

outdoor recreation includes -
fishing, camping, kayaking, canoeing, boating, houseboats, water ski, watercraft rentals

Below are personal water craft rentals and shops around the region.

LAKE MEAD PWC RENTALS

Callville Bay Marina
800-255-5561

Lake Mead Resort Marina
877-765-3745
702-293-1191

Skiwi Rentals
702-568-8999

Temple Bar Marina
800-255-5561

World Wide Jet Ski
702-558-7547

LAKE MOHAVE PWC RENTALS

Cottonwood Cove Marina
800-255-5561

Willow Beach Marina
928-754-2443

BULLHEAD CITY, AZ

AC Watercraft Rental
928-767-4747

River Rats Water Sports
928-754-4782

LAUGHLIN, NV

Avi Resort
800-430-0721
702-535-5526

Best Jetz
702-298-0757

Xtreme Watercraft Rentals
702-298-7541

LAKE HAVASU CITY

All Seasons Water Sports
928-706-2512

Champion Rentals
928-855-8088

Dana’s Rental
928-854-1124

Desert Sun Watersports
928-706-3958

London Bridge Watercraft Tours & Rentals
928-453-8883

Walt’s Motorsports Marine
928-855-5019

Wet Monkey Powersport Rentals
877-938-6659

Windsor Beach Rentals
888-428-2792
928-453-4792

YUMA, AZ

Jet Rent
928-314-4345

Jet Ski is a registered trademark under Kawasaki
Watercraft manufacturers also include: Sea-Doo & Yamaha

California Off Road Maps

DanaMite — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:58:33 +0000

Dirt roads, backroads, desert trails, OHV routes, single tracks, dunes, fire roads

When you wanna explore a new area, California has plenty of public land to offer. Off Road Maps can get you away from the crowds & the main staging areas. Maps can show you prime areas to ride & camp that you may not have ever imagined. Whether you seek secluded stream side camp sites, with some fishing or a dusty, long, desert trail that spans the entire Mojave desert, you can find these secret spots with maps.

All California OHV maps are priced under $10

4×4 Panamint Valley has numerous canyons & ridges to conquer

Here are some of the off-roading maps Total Escape carries:

JAWBONE CANYON OHV MAP
Randsburg, California City, Dove Springs, Red Rock, North Mojave Desert Trails
SAN BERNARDINO OHV MAP
Big Bear, Arrowhead, Johnson Valley, Stoddard Wells, Barstow, Mojave Desert Trails
HUNGRY VALLEY OHV MAP
Los Padres National Forest, Frazier Park Trails, Lockwood, Quatal, Ballinger Canyon
ANGELES FOREST OHV MAP
Los Angeles Area, Antelope Valley Desert Trails
SOCAL OHV MAP SET
Buy all & get ‘em cheaper. This is a collection of 4 of the California Trail Users maps.
ROCK CREEK OHV TRAILS (outta print USDA)
Georgetown, Gold Country California, Sierra Nevada, El Dorado National Forest
MOUNT PINOS OHV TRAILS (outta print USDA)
Los Padres National Forest, Frazier Park Trails, Ballinger Canyon

These are awesome California locations that have off-road trails surrounding them:

9N09 – Los Padres NF

DanaMite — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:47:01 +0000

Quatal Canyon

Quatal Cyn: Forest Road #9N09 – Los Padres National Forest

Toad Spring Campground is located at high elevations (5700′) of Quatal Canyon, on a dirt road, half mile off the pavement of Cerro Noroeste Rd. The Chumash Wilderness, the Cuyama River Valley, Apache Saddle, Mount Abel plus the Bittercreek National Wildlife Refuge all surround this region. Los Padres National Forest meets the vineyards, orchards & farmlands, near Ventucopa. This is the badlands – 18 mile scenic dirt road, well signed at Hwy 33 & mostly graded. Quatal Cyn connects Ojai’s Highway 33 to the pinyon pine forest above near Pine Mountain Club (@ nearly a straight line?) Motorcycle dirt bikes & off-roaders dig this place. Street bikes will prefer paved Cerro Noroeste which runs the rim above to the north.

This major dirt road is not gated at either end, but winter sometimes closes the route due to snow depth. It never stays closed very long, as some beefy 4×4 will break thru the snow berm soon enough. Top elevation @ Cerro Noreste is approximately 5500′.

Quatal Canyon (possibly named after some great Chumash warrior) is a giant high desert wash, ripping down from Cerro Noroeste (aka Mt Abel). Serious erosion w/ San Andreas fault lines – make it a very interesting canyon to explore on foot, horseback, motorbike, or mountain bike. The lupine & wildflowers here are incredible in late Spring in this red dirt canyon. Both nearby mountain peaks of Mount Abel & Mount Pinos are the tallest in Kern County.

This rugged primitive canyon gets torn up during a good storm in late summer or big winter storm. Red dirt gets very slippery – especially on the edges of a cliff. Boulders in the road, flash floods – or no road, river! 2WD passenger cars can take this route, but high clearance is preferred. 4×4 is needed during heavy rain or snow – which could be half the year (Nov-April). Flash flooding is possible all over Los Padres NF, so know the weather forecast in advance.

Seen small RVs, trucks pulling trailers & even a U-haul moving truck down this way. MapQuest always amazes me where they route you. This is a graded dirt road, some of the time. MapQuest should post a ’see Total Escape for this route’. Come on folks, if you’re traveling cross-country, while moving your residence, buy a real map to explore the National Forests of California. You may end up sleeping way out here – broken down in the moving van, in the boonies & no cell coverage, cuz you had a one page, wrinkled map in faded ink, wet & smeared. And MapQuest told you it was paved. It’s not paved 90% of the way.

Primitive camping is also allowed in the canyon wash or on the side routes, on certain seasons. Use existing camp site when possible. Clean out the rock fire ring of litter & bottles, pull back all dry brush at camps & leave these places better than you found ‘em. There are hundreds of dispersed campsites out here. The open wash is especially nice on a full moon hike, just bring friends – cuz it’s big cat country. Camp fire restrictions are in tight control on this SoCal region. You will need a camp fire permit, a big shovel & lotsa water. Check with the Los Padres rangers to make sure. Recently Zaca Fire (2007) & the month long Day Fire (2006) both came very close to this precious sanctuary.

The high desert terrain is pinyon forest, with yucca & manzanita. The eroded cliffs of red rock, white & orange hues, glow best during the clearest sunsets. You will almost think your in Utah, until you get up on a ridge & see the smog in the Central Valley of California.

Mahu Tasen, a Native American camp and sweat lodge, has ceremonial grounds in a canyon off of Quatal. There is also a large rock quarry mining operation, as well as numerous wineries and ranches along this route. Several private residences too.

Ballinger Canyon OHV Park is closeby, 5 miles N on Hwy 33

Carrizo Plain National Monument is also close, N off Hwy 166

towns nearby -

PINE MOUNTAIN CA

MARICOPA CA

VENTUCOPA CA

helpful maps of the region -

Los Padres National Forest Map (USDA NFS)
Los Padres / Hungry Valley OHV Map
Los Padres Topo Atlas
Sespe Wilderness Map
Mount Pinos OHV Trail Map (USDA, outta print)

SUV Trail

DanaMite — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:29:52 +0000

Since sport utility vehicles were invented for California yuppies, it makes perfect sense that this market also has the awesome terrain to use these rugged rigs. After the first shopping cart door ding or windshield crack, most folks are open to taking their utilitarian vehicles on dirt roads, but some will only dream about it.

Here at Total Escape, we are here to change all that. The fear of outdoors, the unknown, the capability, the driving skill. Your SUV is a good reason to be outdoors in the golden state, at bare minimum. No excuses. Enjoy the California you never knew – and sometimes that means getting off the pavement. Yes, more than 2 miles.

SUV trail - any path, dirt road or route that can be driven on; high clearance vehicle are often necessary, 4×4 needed on occasion. National Forests, canyons, deserts, mountains, country lane style drives, some classic routes skirt the wilderness boundaries. We have it all for ya here. Rock crawling Rubicon adventures, all the way down to the leisurely ‘Sunday drive’ thru a forest to a meadow for a picnic.

Jeep trails, forest roads, graded roads, gravel roads, back roads, dirt roads, 4×4 routes, OHV (off highway vehicle) trails.

MAPS will get you out there!

Dust, dirt, mud, snow. Beyond the county line, way back there, where you can discover ghost towns, old mines in the desert, hot springs, historic lodges, petroglyphs, river gorges, fire lookouts, waterfalls, and so much more.

Get motivated and travel in your SUV: