And All Its Surroundings
Story and Photos By: Betsy Fessler
The Mojave Desert always greets us with its native Joshua trees, awesome sunsets, and incredible trails; and one of our favorite ride spots is the Spangler Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area (OHVA). Located in the crux of Trona Road and Highway 178 and managed by the BLM, Spangler Hills is 57,000 acres that includes terrain for every level of rider.
There are many options for camping in the Spangler Hills area, but it is all dry camping. We camped at the Wagon Wheel Off-Highway Vehicle Staging Area. The entrance to Wagon Wheel is located off of Trona Road. It is unique because monstrous boulders and rock formations are scattered throughout the area, creating a distinctive landscape. There are no fees to camp. Vault toilets are on site, and there is plenty of room for groups of large rigs.
Our group arrived and unloaded their UTVs, and then led everyone on a very popular and easy trip to the Trona Pinnacles. Formed millions of years ago when the region was at the bottom of a lake, the Trona Pinnacles consists of over 500 spires that reach up to 140 feet from a flat, desolate desert floor.
As we drove, the pinnacles became more and more visible, growing larger and more prevalent as we got closer. Once we arrived, it was obvious why it is such a popular spot. Their unique shapes are unlike anything you will ever see.
We drove the trails between them, stopping several times to take pictures and explore more closely. Several of us found a trail and hiked one. We immediately noticed interesting patterns in the deposits, something we wouldn’t have noticed if we had not taken the time to look closer.
Eager to continue riding, we left the pinnacles and drove northeast 10 miles to Fish Rocks. Fish Rocks is located in Salt Wells Canyon, which is the epicenter of the large earthquakes that recently rocked the Ridgecrest area. Along the way we had a fun and scenic drive through shorter pinnacle formations and tight canyons. We eventually crossed to the north side of 178. Soon the giant painted fish appeared.
Unbeknown to me, Fish Rocks were originally painted around 1930. It is unclear who painted them, but our group voiced kudos to whoever had the vision. A geocache is located in the rocks. I located it, signed the log, and returned to our group for the ride back to camp.
The next morning, the group decided to ride to Randsburg. One of my favorite day trips, Randsburg is a living ghost town that was originally founded in the late 1800’s when gold was discovered at a nearby mine. With a similar vibe as other mining towns such as Oatman, Arizona or Calico Ghost Town, Randsburg is a popular and off-road friendly destination for lunch, ice cream, and shopping.
Note: If you ride to Randsburg, it is within the Rand Mountain Management Area (RMMA), and a permit is needed to ride there. Permits are available at the Jawbone Station Visitor’s Center every day from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are good indefinitely, and are no charge.
After eating hamburgers and buying T-shirts in Randsburg, none of us were ready to go back to camp. Instead, we rode to the X-15 Memorial on the west side of Trona Road. The X-15 was an experimental high-altitude rocket plane that crashed there in 1967. The memorial was created as an Eagle Scout project.
We left the X-15 memorial and continued a loop, crossing over Garlock Road. We came upon Goler Gulch, which I had never driven through. It is a fun, tight, picturesque canyon that continues for several miles. We then drove through Hobbs Wash before returning to camp.
Throughout my time as an off-roader, I’ve heard many people talk about Husky Monument. It has been on my bucket list for decades, and I can finally check it off my list. It was a long day’s ride, but well worth it.
The Husky Monument originated in 1987 when a rider named Jim Erickson passed away. As a memorial, his friends buried his 390 cc Husqvarna motorcycle in the desert Jim loved. Since then, the monument has grown to memorialize dozens of fallen riders, making it a very unique and special place.
When we arrived at Husky, we noticed the continuous crowd of off-roaders coming and going from all directions. We parked our vehicles and joined in, quietly and respectfully wandering and admiring each memorial. I was touched by how each one was made with love and uniquely created. It was a moving experience for all of us.
We left the Husky Monument with barely enough time to see Inscription Canyon. We briefly stopped to see the many petroglyphs there. On our way back to camp, we detoured onto Cuddeback Dry Lake to have a little fun and take some photos.
Temperatures at Spangler Hills can be extreme. It is hot in the summer. The elevation there averages around 3,000 feet, so it can snow during the winter. The area is also subject to flash flooding during rain storms. The best time to visit is from October until May. No matter when you go, check the weather forecast before you leave and bring plenty of shade and water.
Desert tortoise can be found in the Spangler Hills area. We weren’t lucky enough to see one, but with a stroke of luck you could. If you are lucky enough to spot one of these rare and fascinating animals, admire it from a distance, but do not touch. They are endangered and protected.
To prepare in advance, area maps are available to download for a minimal fee. They can be used with Avenza Maps on your Apple or Android device and can be found at http://ohvmap.com/. A campfire permit is also required while staying in the Spangler Hills area. If you don’t already have one, use the link http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/.
If you’re like us, you’ll also enjoy visiting the Mojave. However, you occasionally need a fresh scene, different challenges, and new trails. Consider Spangler Hills OHVA. With its unique camping landscape and alternative destinations, staying at the OHVA will change your riding radius, giving you opportunities to explore places that would be otherwise out of reach.
