California offers some great history and 4×4 destinations. The state boasts a history going back over 10,000 years with the Native Americans and was discovered by the Europeans in 1542. Since then, the state has seen dramatic population explosions and financial booms with the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill in 1848. California 4×4 trails allow the explorer an opportunity to see history and some outstanding landscapes. The great photographer Ansel Adams made his home here.
The southern half of California is mostly an arid land, while the central and eastern sections of the state feature some of the best mountain ranges in the world. The High Sierra range dissects the state down the middle and features Mt. Whitney at over 14,000 feet in elevation. Ever diverse, just about 120 miles away to the east, Death Valley features the second lowest elevation on Earth. The high peaks of the White Mountains host the oldest living tree, the Bristle Cone pine tree, and the coastal forests and western slopes of the High Sierra feature the worlds largest Redwood trees.
The western side of the state, features the higher population growth areas and the Golden State coastal landscapes are world famous for good reason. California is a large state with diverse landscapes, weather, people, culture and history.
All campfires and gas stove fires on public lands in California require a California Camp Fire permit which is free and available online at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/
California Destinations and 4×4 Trails
California 4×4 Trails
Achy-BreakyAchy-Breaky is a very difficult, trail which circumnavigates Watkins Peak in San Bernardino County, California. This trail is one of many on the Stoddard Wells… |
 Alabama HillsLocated near Lone Pine, CA the Alabama Hills are an awesome spot to visit and explore in Inyo County. Large boulder formations erupt from the… |
 Aurora NevadaAurora, Nevada is a ghost town in Mineral County near the California border. Aurora is often mentioned as a footnote to larger better preserved town… |
 Cerro Gordo CaliforniaLocated in the Inyo Mountains on the eastern side of Owens Valley, Cerro Gordo California is a currently a ghost town after almost 100 years… |
 Chloride City CaliforniaChloride City California is located within Death Valley National Park and Inyo County, California. The town arose out of silver discoveries in nearby Chloride Cliff… |
 Clarks Grade 1N54Clarks Grade 1N54 is a steep and scenic descent from the top of Skyline drive and Snow Summit down to Angeles Oaks from Big Bear.… |
 Cleghorn Ridge 2N47Cleghorn located outside of Big Bear, CA Cleghorn Ridge is a 4x4 trail which leads from the I-15 at the Cleghorn exit to Silverlake State… |
 Dish Pan Springs 3N34Also known as the Deep Creek Trail, Dish Pan Springs offers a short but hardcore trail in Big Bear. Dishpan springs trail contains large boulders… |
 Fish Canyon Escape TrailWilliam Lewis Manly (April 6, 1820 – February 5, 1903) The Fish Canyon Escape Trail is a route discovered by William Manly as an escape… |
 Gold Mountain 3N69Gold Mountain Trail Head The Gold Mountain 3N69 Trail can be found in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake. The favored direction… |
 Goler Wash and Mengel PassGoler Wash and Mengel Pass over a route into Butte Valley from Panamint Valley. Although not technically in Death Valley, this trail is consider part… |
 Henry Wade Escape RouteThe Henry Wade Escape Route is an easy 4x4 trail suitable for almost any vehicle and connects highway 127 to Badwater Road. The route is… |
 Holcomb Valley Road 3N14Holcomb Valley Road 3N14 takes you through scenic Holcomb Valley Holcomb Valley Road 3N14, is a main artery in the road system above and behind… |
 Hunter Mountain RoadHunter Mountain Road is a lightly used moderately difficult road which delivers you to one of the most remote and beautiful parts of Death Valley… |
 Jacoby Canyon 3N61Jacoby Canyon 3N61 Trail head Jacoby Canyon 3N61 is a trail which can be found in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake.… |
John Bull Trail 3N10The John Bull Trail 3N10 has the solid reputation as one of the toughest and most challenging trails in the Big Bear mountains of San Bernardino… |
 Kokoweef MineThe Kokoweef Mine and in fact all of the trails and mines located in the Ivanpah / Mountain Pass area represent exactly why I started… |
 Lippincott Mine RoadThe Lippincott Mine Road is a one way road from Death Valley's Racetrack Playa to Saline Valley. It is a steep trail which is not… |
 Lost Burro MineFounded in 1907 when Bert Shively picked up a rock to throw at some stray burros and discovered gold, the Lost burro Mine is a… |
 Masonic CaliforniaOriginally known as Lorena, Masonic California is a ghost town located in the mountains north east of Bridgeport, California. Masonic was founded in 1860 by… |
 Morning Star MineLocated in the Ivanpah Mountains, the Morning Star Mine is a gold / silver mine located near to California / Nevada border near Mountain Pass.… |
 Old Mojave RoadThe Old Mojave Road (Government Road) is an east-west route that enters the Mojave National Preserve off the highway 95 in Nevada, and Afton Canyon… |
 Racetrack ValleyTeaKettle Junction lets you know you are starting to get close to the Racetrack. Racetrack valley is a rough graded road which departs the Ubehebe… |
 Silver Star MineThe Silver Star Mine is a small mine site located off of the Zinc Mountain Road in San Bernardino County, California. |
 Skidoo CaliforniaSkidoo California was famous in the first decade of the 20th century when gold had been found in Inyo County and the town established in… |
Skyline Drive 2N10Skyline Drive 2N10 is the unofficial name for USFS Road 2N10 that begins just west of Big Bear village off Mill Creek road, and heads… |
Snow Slide Trail 2N13Snow Slide Trail (2N13) connects Green Valley Lake to Fawnskin, in San Bernardino, California. The Green Valley Lake trail head is located by the campground… |
Sugarpine Mountain 2N49Sugarpine Mountain trail is moderately difficult and starts at the edge of San Bernardino and finishes in the Silverlake State Park. The trail is designated… |
 Titus CanyonTitus Canyon has it all, rugged mountains, colorful rock formations, a small ghost town, mines, petroglyphs, wildlife, rare plants and spectacular canyon narrows as a… |
 Ubehebe Lead MineThe Ubehebe Lead Mine is located just west of the Racetrack Playa Road off of the Bonnie Claire Road. Discovered in 1906, the mine is… |
 Warm Springs RoadA short side trip from the Saline Valley Road to the Saline Valley Warm Springs in Death Valley National Park, California. The road is used… |
 White Mountain RoadLocathed in Inyo County, the White Mountain Road is a high altitude road that travels north from Highway 168 out of Big Pine and into… |
 White Top MountainWhite Top Mountain road is located off of Hunter Mountain Road, in Death Valley National Park, California. A hilly and mountainous road connecting the Hidden… |
Willow Creek Road 3N34Willow Creek road is an easy gentle ride located near Big Bear, California. The easy trail runs from Hooks Creek Road to Highway 173 and… |
California Ghosttowns
Aurora NevadaAurora, Nevada is a ghost town in Mineral County near the California border. Aurora is often mentioned as a footnote to larger better preserved town… |
 Ballarat CaliforniaBallarat, California Located in Inyo County, Ballarat California is a ghost town which supposedly has a few residents living their dream within the town. Ballarat… |
 Bodie and Aurora rivalry continues to this dayTwo towns located in the hills above Mono Lake maintain, the Bodie and Aurora rivalry continues even now, long past their demise. Bodie, CA and… |
Bodie CaliforniaBodie, California is the ghost town by which all others are judged. Located at 8300 in the Bodie Hills above Mono Lake, Bodie is the… |
Cerro Gordo CaliforniaLocated in the Inyo Mountains on the eastern side of Owens Valley, Cerro Gordo California is a currently a ghost town after almost 100 years… |
Chloride City CaliforniaChloride City California is located within Death Valley National Park and Inyo County, California. The town arose out of silver discoveries in nearby Chloride Cliff… |
 Goffs CaliforniaOriginally known as Blake, Goffs, California is a small unincorporated community located off of Route 66 in the Mojave desert near the Piute Mountains. Originally… |
 Greenwater CaliforniaIn 1904, a copper strike near Greenwater Spring and ensuing rush to profit caused the formation of Greenwater in Inyo County, California. Originally known by… |
 Harrisburg CaliforniaHarrisburg California is a ghost town is located at 4987 feet above sea level in Inyo County and currently part of Death Valley National Park.… |
 Leadfield CaliforniaLeadfield California is a ghost town located in Inyo County and Death Valley National Park and found on the Titus Canyon Trail. The town boom… |
Masonic CaliforniaOriginally known as Lorena, Masonic California is a ghost town located in the mountains north east of Bridgeport, California. Masonic was founded in 1860 by… |
 Panamint City CaliforniaPanamint City California - 1875 Panamint City California is a ghost town and silver mine site located in Inyo County. The town site was built… |
 Potholes CaliforniaPotholes is a former gold mining camp and ghost town located in Imperial County, California. |
Skidoo CaliforniaSkidoo California was famous in the first decade of the 20th century when gold had been found in Inyo County and the town established in… |
 Vanderbilt CaliforniaA metal headframe marks a vertical shaft in the mining district outside of Vanderbilt California. Located in the New York Mountains, Vanderbilt California was an… |
California Campgrounds
 Afton Canyon CampgroundThe Afton Canyon Campground offer amazing access and camping for the Old Mojave Road, surroundings areas of the Mojave. The dry, desert campground is found… |
Alabama HillsLocated near Lone Pine, CA the Alabama Hills are an awesome spot to visit and explore in Inyo County. Large boulder formations erupt from the… |
 Camp Phallus – New York MountainsLocated in Caruther's Canyons of the New York Mountains, Camp Phallus is named for a "unique" rock formation visible from the campsite. The campsite offers… |
 Convict Lake CampgroundConvict Lake Campground is a wonderful location to camp in the amazing High Sierra Mountain near Convict Lake in Mono County, California. The campground is… |
 Emigrant CampgroundEmigrant Campground is a tent only campground located next to CA Route 190 near the boundary of Death Valley National Park, California. The campgrounds is… |
Eureka Dunes Dry CampEureka Dunes Campground is near a small localize sand dunes formation with Death Valley National Monument. Eureka Dunes Dry Camp is located next to the… |
 French Camp CampgroundCamping in the High Sierras is not as easy as it once was, however this fact offers one the ability to explore and remove oneself… |
 Hole in the Wall CampgroundHole in the Wall campground is found deep in the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California. The Campground is a popular location for… |
 Homestake Dry CampHomestake Dry Camp - A primative campsite at Racetrack Valley The Homestake Dry camp is a primitive campground located in Racetrack valley inside Death Valley… |
 Lake George CampgroundLake George Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area, above Lake Mary in the High Sierra in Mono County, California. Lake… |
 Lake Mary CampgroundLake Mary Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area of the High Sierra in Mono County, California. Lake Mary is the… |
 Lone Pine CampgroundLone Pine Campground is a wonderful campground in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Inyo County, California. The campground is located… |
Mahogany Flat CampgroundMahogany Flat Campground lies at 8,200 feet in the Panamint Mountain Range in Death Valley National Parl. The campground provides access to hiking and backpacking,… |
 Mesquite Springs CampgroundMesquite Springs Campground located near Scotty's Castle in Death Valley Mesquite Springs is a campground in Death Valley National Park, Located just a few short… |
 Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National PreserveLocated in deep in the heart of the Mojave National Preserve there is an abundance of campsites to suit everyone. The Mid Hills campground was… |
 Stovepipe WellsStovepipe Wells Campgound is located in Stovepipe wells just off the 190 highway in Death Valley National Park. Located about 25 miles away from Furnace… |
 Sunset CampgroundSunset Campground is another large, flat parking lot campground primary for RV camping located near Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park, California. The Campground… |
Texas Springs CampgroundTexas Springs Campground is another large campground, primarilyy for RV and trailer camping within Death Valley National Park. The campground a mile of the Furnace… |
Thorndike CampgroundThorndike campground is located at 7,400 feet in the Panamint Mountains in Death Valley National Park. The campground is accessible to high clearance vehicles only… |
Tuttle Creek CampgroundTuttle Creek Campground is a small campground located on the eastern Sierras near Lone Pine, in Inyo County, California. The campground is located just below… |
 Twin Lakes CampgroundTwin Lakes Campground is a beautiful campground located in the Mammoth Lakes area of the High Sierra in Mono County, California. The campground offers views… |
 Whitney Portal CampgroundWhitney Portal Campground is the campground in the foothills of the High Sierra, and serves as the gateway for many hikers up Mount Whitney in… |
Wildrose CampgroundWildrose Campground is located at 4100 feet above sea level in the Paramint Mountains within Death Valley National Park. This semi-primative campground is located off… |
Important: if you want to have a campfire in California, you need a Campfire permit. http://permit.preventwildfiresca.org/
California Birds
 Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)A member of the cuckoo family, the long legged Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is an icon of the desert southwest in part to the artistic… |
California Mammals
 Black Tailed Jackrabbit ( Lepus californicus )Black Tailed Jackrabbit enjoying the shade of a Joshua Tree. The Black Tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) commonly known as the American Desert Hare makes its… |
 Coyote (Canis latrans)Coyote (Canis latrans) A symbol of the American Southwest, the howl of the humble Coyote (Canis latrans) is synonymous with wild places. A member of… |
 Mustang (Equus ferus caballus)A lone mustang is the symbol of wild, power and freedom Left behind by Spanish explorers and settlers, the Mustang ( Equus ferus caballus )… |
 Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana )Commonly known as an antelope, the Pronghorn is an even toed or hoofed mammal found in the plains of the western United States of America. |
California Reptiles
 Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos), also known as the "horny toad", is a common North American reptile and found throughout… |
 Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)One of the more unique and quite frankly cool animals found in the Mojave Desert is the Desert Tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ). My family… |
 Speckled Rattlesnake ( Crotalus mitchellii )The Speckled Rattlesnake is fairly common pit viper found in southern California, southern Nevada, western Arizona and south-western Utah and down the Pacific coast into… |
 Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis )The Western Fence Lizard ( Sceloporus occidentalis ) is perhaps one of the most common lizards in the desert southwest and is also known as… |
 Zebra Tailed Lizard ( Callisaurus draconoides )The Zebra-Tailed Lizard is a medium sized lizard which features a long black and white striped tail and commonly found in California, Arizona and Nevada.… |
California Wild Flowers
 Arizona Thistle ( Cirsium arizonicum )Arizona Thistle ( Cirsium arizonicum ) is a member of the sunflower family and common across the south west. The thistle has a two year… |
 California Poppy ( Eschscholzia californica )The California Poppy the state flower of California. As the name implies, the California Poppy is that state flower of California. However, this little flower… |
 California Wild Rose (Rosa californica)California Wild Rose (Rosa californica) found around Convict Lake, California The California Wild Rose (Rosa californica) is a native species of Rose, which is found… |
 Chicalote (Argemone munita)Chicalote (Argemone munita) A species of prickly poppy, Chicalote (Argemone munita) is also known as the flatbud prickly poppy. A native of California, the Chicalote… |
 Common Fiddleneck ( Amsinckia intermedia )The Common Fiddleneck ( Amsinckia intermedia ) is a wildflower common across the United States and a member of the forget-me-not-family. Also known as the… |
 Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata)Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata) Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata), also known as Coyote Gourd, is a flowering plant common in the desert southwest and known to… |
 Davy Gilia (Gilia latiflora)A Davey Gilia stalk poking up between the California Poppies in the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. Davy Gilia (Gilia latiflora) also known as Hollyleaf gilia… |
 Desert Marigolds (Baileya multiradiata)Desert Marigolds photographed near the Old Mojave Road. Desert Marigolds (Baileya multiradiata) are an abundant and well distributed flower across the desert south west. The… |
 Desert Primrose (Oenothera deltoides)Desert Primrose photographed in Anza Burego, CA The Desert Primrose ( Oenothera deltoides ) is a small bush-like flowering planet with delicate white flowers. The primrose ranges… |
 Fremont’s Phacelia (Phacelia fremontii)Fremont's Phacelia (Phacelia fremontii) is a small delicate looking flowering plant commonly commonly found in the southwestern United States including Nevada, Arizona and California. The… |
 Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua)Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) The Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a perennial herb and orange wildflower which is commonly found in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona. This… |
 Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)The Giant Red Indian Paintbrush or Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) is a wildflower and perennial which is quite common in the western United States, including… |
 Mojave-aster ( Xylorhiza tortifolia )Mojave-aster ( Xylorhiza tortifolia ) A member of the sunflower family, the Mojave-aster ( Xylorhiza tortifolia ) boasts a delicate lavender flower in the harsh… |
 Notch-leaved phacelia ( phacelia crenulata )Notch-leaved phacelia ( phacelia crenulata ) is a lovely little purple wild flower which grows across the desert southwest from California to Texas. The plant… |
 Owl’s Clover (Castilleja exserta)Owls Clover (Castilleja exserta) is a small flowering plant which can grow about 1 foot tall. The Owl's Clover is a native plant to… |
 Palmers Penstemon ( penstemon palmeri )In the spring on 2020 I was photographing along the Morning Star Mine Road, we happened upon Palmers Penstemon ( penstemon palmeri ). This species… |
 Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus)Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus) Silvery Lupine (Lupinus argenteus) is a fairly common vibrant purple wild flower and is common in much of Western North America… |
 Snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea)Snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) in Big Bear, California The Snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) is a rather rare and unique member of the plant community. The… |
 Spreading Phlox ( Phlox diffusa )Spreading Phlox ( Phlox diffusa ) is a perennial shrub with small needle like leaves. This is a small white flowering plant prefers alpine, sub-alpine… |
 Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatium)A member of the mustard family, the Western Wallflower ( Erysimum capitatium ) is a brightly colored yellow flower which is quite common across the… |