Johnson Valley OHV Area

Johnson Valley is the largest OHV area in the country at roughly 96,000 acres, in San Bernardino County. Famous as the home of King of the Hammers, it is rock-crawling and desert-racing country — hard pack, rock gardens, and big open desert. Not a sand-dune spot, but core off-road territory.

Location Near Landers / Yucca Valley, CA (San Bernardino County) (opens in new tab)

Coordinates

Size~96,000 acres

Weather

Season Conditions

High desert — milder than the low-desert dunes.

Jun-Sep 95-105F

Hot but rideable early/late in the day.

Oct-May 55-80F days

Prime season. King of the Hammers runs in winter.

Area info, weather, and conditions are informational only and may be inaccurate or out of date. Verify weather, closures, permits, and hazards before and during any trip. See Terms.

Permits

Passes & Requirements

Required
Season: Open year-round
Weekly Fee: Free
Season Pass: No permit required
Green Sticker: California OHV Green Sticker required for registered OHVs

Free to ride. Portions close during military shared-use periods — check before you go.

Gas

Fuel and supplies in Landers, Yucca Valley, and Lucerne Valley.

Food

Food notes are coming soon.

Vendor Row

Big vendor and team presence during King of the Hammers week. Quiet the rest of the year.

Rules

Ride Notes

Green sticker or street registration required
Check military shared-use closure schedule
Helmets required under 18
Pack out all trash