Overview:
Jawbone Canyon and Dove Springs Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas are located right next to each other and are great for off-roading, exploring, and boondocking. They are easy to get to, offer amazing scenery, have great wildlife, and a huge off-roading community. There is a visitor center at the entrance to Jawbone Canyon, which has restrooms.
Adventure:
If you are looking for some off-roading adventure or a boondocking location, Jawbone Canyon and Dove Springs OHV is the place for you. Jawbone Canyon OHV and Dove Springs OHV are right next to each other, with Red Rock State Park in between them. They are bot easily accessed from State Route 14.
If you plan to operate an off-road vehicle in both these areas, you must for an off-road registered vehicle.
- OHVs owned by California residents must be registered with the California DMV and must display a valid “Green Sticker” or “Red Sticker”.
- If you are NOT a resident of California and your OHV is not registered in your home state, you are required to have a NON-RESIDENT “Green” Sticker OHV permit.
Jawbone Canyon OHV
The Jawbone Canyon OHV provides a wide variety of riding opportunities, including cross country play, trail riding, and advanced technical hill climbing opportunities. Jawbone is also a great starting point to explore the hundreds of miles of trail riding opportunities available in the area outside of the OHV Open Area.
Dove Springs OHV
The Dove Springs OHV area offers over 5,000 acres of sandy bowl, flat terrain, and steep hill to ride. There are hundreds of miles of trails and riding opportunities within the OVH area to explore.
Boondocking
What is best about both of these areas is that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land; you can boondock for up to 14 days.
There is a visitor center located at the beginning of Jawbone Canyon Road that has maps, information, books, displays, restrooms, and shaded areas. Stop by before venturing into the canyon to better understand what to do and see.
- Physical Address: 28111 Jawbone Canyon Rd, Mojave, CA 93501
- Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Everyday
There is also a Jawbone Canyon store located 1/10 mile south of Jawbone Canyon Road. The general store has a restaurant, gas station, and live entertainment on the weekends.
Paid Camping
If you don’t feel like boondocking, outside the OVH area is Red Rock Canyon State Park; Ricardo campground. This is a great campground with camp spots located at the bottom of a red rock cliff.
Visit: Red Rock Canyon State Park
It’s a privilege to have these areas for our enjoyment, so please practice Leave No Trace principles.
Directions:
- Dove Springs OHV: Located off State Route 14, just north of Red Rock Canyon State Park, approximately 30 miles north of the intersection of State Routes 14 and 58 in Mojave. The entrance to Dove Springs OHV area is located on SC 94. traveling from the south, make a left turn from SR 14 onto SC 94. Traveling from the north, make a right turn onto SC 94.
- Jawbone Canyon: Jawbone Open Area is located off State Highway 14, approximately 20 miles north of State Highway14 and 58 in the town of Mojave. A left turn from State Highway 14 onto Jawbone Canyon Rd. when traveling from the south. Traveling from the north is a right turn onto Jawbone Canyon Rd.
References and Links:
- Visit: Red Rock Canyon State Park
- Website: BLM Dove Springs OHV
- Website: BLM Jawbone Canyon OHV
- Fee: Free
Exploring the Adventurous Side of the Antelope Valley
The Antelope Valley is a wild desert oasis with fascinating wildlife, ancient artifacts, landscape, and aerospace history. It is the location where Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier and where the Air Force has its flight test center. For decades, people have been traveling to the Antelope Valley to seek adventure and see if they had the right stuff.
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red Rock Canyon State Park is a great place to stopover on your way to Los Angeles or Mammoth. The park is located at the Sierra Nevada mountains’ southernmost tip and the El Paso Range. The park has beautiful desert cliffs and canyons to explore. Each canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes and vivid colors.
