Panamint Valley Motorized Trail

Copyright: Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest Field Office Mountain scene

The rugged backcountry of the Panamint Valley provides an exceptional setting for off-highway vehicle exploration and adventure. Located in the deep trough between the towering Panamint Range and the Argus Mountains, the Panamint Valley sits at an elevation of around 1,000 feet above sea level. From the valley floor, the OHV enthusiast can follow 4-wheel drive roads up narrow canyons to some of the region's legendary mines and millsites. The 4-wheel drive routes in Goler and Pleasant Canyons can lead you into destinations within Death Valley National Park.

Part of the lure of venturing into the Panamint Valley are the challenges you may encounter in this remote desert valley. Once you venture off the paved roads out here you are on your own. Your vehicle needs to be a high clearance 4-wheel drive, and equipped with adequate safety and desert survival equipment.

The Panamint Valley is divided into two general motorized vehicle use classes: Limited or Closed to off-highway vehicles.

Limited Use Areas - Existing Routes of Travel: Within most of the valley, motorized vehicle travel is allowed on the existing road and trail network and all cross country travel is prohibited. An existing route is any road or trail that is at least 24 inches in width and shows some previous use. Desert washes and canyon bottoms are also considered to be existing routes even if flash floods have erased all evidence of their previous use.
On BLM managed lands all off-highway vehicles must display a current "Green Sticker" / California OHV registration or be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as a street legal vehicle. Within Death Valley National Park, only street legal vehicles are permitted on the road and trail network. "Green Sticker" registered vehicles are not permitted in the National Park.

Closed Areas: Within the Argus Mountains and the Panamint Range are several areas that have been designated as Wilderness and are closed to all motorized and mechanized vehicle use. The boundaries of these Closed Areas are well signed. These areas include Surprise Canyon Wilderness, Manly Peak Wilderness, Darwin Falls Wilderness, and Argus Range Wilderness.

The surface of the South Panamint Dry Lake is closed to motorized vehicles from the Ballarat Road north to the Indian Ranch Road. The lakebed is often soft and muddy and is closed to protect wetlands in the Warm Sulphur Springs area.

Be aware that the willful violation of any of these motorized use regulations is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and / or a year imprisonment.

There are other regulations pertaining to OHV use within California - refer to the BLM Flyer: Riding your OHV on the Public Lands - What You Should Know - Before You Go.

Primitive dispersed camping is allowed anywhere on the BLM managed Public Lands in the Panamint Valley with the following conditions and exceptions:
1. Camping is permitted for up to 14 days at any one site. After this time period, you must relocate to another site at least 25 miles away.
2. Depending on the time of year and where you are camping, a Campfire Permit may be required. Contact the Ridgecrest Field Office prior to your trip if you plan on having a campfire. Never leave your campfire unattended - you may be held liable for fire suppression costs if your fire gets out of control.
3. Camping is permitted within all units of the BLM administered National Wilderness Preservation System in the Panamint Valley. However, motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment are prohibited.

Summer temperatures in the Panamint Valley often exceed 115 degrees F, and the routes in the mountains are frequently snowbound during the winter months. Flash floods are common in the canyons of the Panamint and Argus ranges between July and November and often occur without warning. If storm clouds are looming over the mountains - it would be wise to stay out of the canyons.

Directions from Panamint Springs, CA: Head east on SR 190.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Open: Year-round .