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Dune weather summary: Aden Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 93°, 7 mph. Alkali Lake OHV Area, 95°, 8 mph. Amargosa Big Dune, 95°, 9 mph. Aurora Open OHV Area, 84°, 23 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Bangs Canyon OHV Trails, 88°, 8 mph. Barnwell Mountain Recreational Area, 95°, 6 mph, active alert: Heat Advisory. Blue Creek OHV Area, 91°, 11 mph. Boulders OHV Staging Area, 98°, 3 mph. Buttercup Valley, 101°, 9 mph, heat caution: HIGH HEAT - HYDRATE. Cameo Cliffs/Hook and OHV Ladder Trail System, 82°, 5 mph. Chappie/Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, 70°, 0 mph. Cinder Hills OHV Area, 82°, --. Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area, 86°, 17 mph. Coral Pink Sand Dunes, 61°, 7 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Crescent Sand Dunes, 75°, 21 mph. Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park, 102°, 10 mph, active alert: Heat Advisory. Crossroads OHV Area, 89°, 17 mph. Dove Springs OHV Area, 67°, 1 mph. Dumont Dunes, 81°, 0 mph. Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 84°, 6 mph. El Mirage OHV Area, 68°, 8 mph. Escondido Draw Recreational Area, 91°, 14 mph. Fort Sage Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 71°, 22 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Fossil Creek OHV Trail, 70°, 7 mph. Gemini Bridges, 84°, 0 mph. Glamis / Imperial Sand Dunes, 96°, 12 mph. Glenwood Open OHV Area, 84°, 23 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Gordon's Well, 101°, 9 mph, heat caution: HIGH HEAT - HYDRATE. Grand Valley Open OHV Area, 88°, 8 mph. Greater Sand Dunes SRMA, 79°, 6 mph. Hackberry Lake Off-Highway Vehicle Use Area, 95°, 8 mph. Hayfield Draw OHV Area, 93°, 3 mph. Haystack Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 81°, 11 mph. Head Canyon OHV Recreation Area, 84°, 6 mph. Hog Canyon OHV Trail System, 61°, 7 mph, active alert: Flood Watch. Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area, 91°, 4 mph. Hungry Valley SVRA, 58°, 11 mph. Jawbone Canyon OHV Area, 59°, 1 mph. Johnson Valley OHV Area, 69°, 4 mph. Killpecker Sand Dunes Open Play Area, 79°, 6 mph. Knolls Off-Highway Vehicle Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA), 86°, 15 mph. Little Sahara Recreation Area, 79°, 23 mph. Little Sahara State Park, 99°, 10 mph. McCullough Peaks OHV Area, 79°, 11 mph. Mescalero Sands North Dune Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 81°, 11 mph. Millican Valley OHV Trail System, 59°, 0 mph. Moon Rocks OHV Area, 69°, 11 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Nellis Dunes OHV Area, 82°, 16 mph. North Sand Hills OHV Area, 73°, 7 mph. Northwest OHV Park, 98°, 7 mph, active alert: Heat Advisory. Oceano Dunes / Pismo Beach, 74°, 7 mph, active alert: Beach Hazards Statement. Ocotillo Wells SVRA, 87°, 4 mph. Pipestone OHV Area, 61°, 8 mph, active alert: Red Flag Warning. Poison Spider / Gold Bar, 87°, 6 mph. Rabbit Creek OHV Trail, 70°, 7 mph. Radar Hill OHV Area, 54°, 15 mph. Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 70°, 8 mph. Red Sands Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 90°, 5 mph. Rice Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 64°, 20 mph, active alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Robledo Mountains OHV Trail System, 93°, 7 mph. Rosita Flats OHV Area, 91°, 11 mph. Samoa Dunes, 63°, 2 mph. Sand Flats Recreation Area, 87°, 6 mph. Sand Mountain Open Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 79°, 17 mph. Sand Mountain Pipeline Designated Dispersed Camping Area, 79°, 17 mph. Sand Mountain Recreation Area, 73°, 5 mph, active alert: Red Flag Warning. Seep Springs OHV Area, 88°, 9 mph. Shoshone OHV Trail System, 72°, 5 mph. Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area, 50°, 7 mph. Silver Lake ORV Area, 75°, 10 mph. South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area, 63°, 10 mph. St. Anthony Sand Dunes, 79°, 11 mph. St. Helen Motorsport Area, 75°, 9 mph. Standard Wash OHV Area, 86°, 17 mph. Stoddard Valley OHV Area, 68°, 6 mph. Table Mesa Recreation Area, 99°, 5 mph. Virtue Flat Off-Highway Vehicle Area, 63°, 0 mph. Weiser Dunes, 68°, 0 mph. Whitewash Sand Dunes Open OHV Area and Trail System, 84°, 0 mph. Winnemucca Sand Dunes, 72°, 6 mph.

Aden Hills Off-Highway… 93° 7 mph Alkali Lake OHV Area 95° 8 mph Amargosa Big Dune 95° 9 mph Aurora Open OHV Area 84° 23 mph Bangs Canyon OHV Trails 88° 8 mph Barnwell Mountain… 95° 6 mph Blue Creek OHV Area 91° 11 mph Boulders OHV Staging Area 98° 3 mph Buttercup Valley 101° 9 mph Cameo Cliffs/Hook and OHV… 82° 5 mph Chappie/Shasta Off-Highway… 70° 0 mph Cinder Hills OHV Area 82° -- Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area 86° 17 mph Coral Pink Sand Dunes 61° 7 mph Crescent Sand Dunes 75° 21 mph Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park 102° 10 mph Crossroads OHV Area 89° 17 mph Dove Springs OHV Area 67° 1 mph Dumont Dunes 81° 0 mph Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area 84° 6 mph El Mirage OHV Area 68° 8 mph Escondido Draw Recreational… 91° 14 mph Fort Sage Off-Highway… 71° 22 mph Fossil Creek OHV Trail 70° 7 mph Gemini Bridges 84° 0 mph Glamis / Imperial Sand Dunes 96° 12 mph Glenwood Open OHV Area 84° 23 mph Gordon's Well 101° 9 mph Grand Valley Open OHV Area 88° 8 mph Greater Sand Dunes SRMA 79° 6 mph Hackberry Lake Off-Highway… 95° 8 mph Hayfield Draw OHV Area 93° 3 mph Haystack Mountain… 81° 11 mph Head Canyon OHV Recreation… 84° 6 mph Hog Canyon OHV Trail System 61° 7 mph Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area 91° 4 mph Hungry Valley SVRA 58° 11 mph Jawbone Canyon OHV Area 59° 1 mph Johnson Valley OHV Area 69° 4 mph Killpecker Sand Dunes Open… 79° 6 mph Knolls Off-Highway Vehicle… 86° 15 mph Little Sahara Recreation Area 79° 23 mph Little Sahara State Park 99° 10 mph McCullough Peaks OHV Area 79° 11 mph Mescalero Sands North Dune… 81° 11 mph Millican Valley OHV Trail… 59° 0 mph Moon Rocks OHV Area 69° 11 mph Nellis Dunes OHV Area 82° 16 mph North Sand Hills OHV Area 73° 7 mph Northwest OHV Park 98° 7 mph Oceano Dunes / Pismo Beach 74° 7 mph Ocotillo Wells SVRA 87° 4 mph Pipestone OHV Area 61° 8 mph Poison Spider / Gold Bar 87° 6 mph Rabbit Creek OHV Trail 70° 7 mph Radar Hill OHV Area 54° 15 mph Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area 70° 8 mph Red Sands Off-Highway… 90° 5 mph Rice Canyon Off-Highway… 64° 20 mph Robledo Mountains OHV Trail… 93° 7 mph Rosita Flats OHV Area 91° 11 mph Samoa Dunes 63° 2 mph Sand Flats Recreation Area 87° 6 mph Sand Mountain Open… 79° 17 mph Sand Mountain Pipeline… 79° 17 mph Sand Mountain Recreation Area 73° 5 mph Seep Springs OHV Area 88° 9 mph Shoshone OHV Trail System 72° 5 mph Shotgun Creek OHV Staging Area 50° 7 mph Silver Lake ORV Area 75° 10 mph South Cow Mountain OHV… 63° 10 mph St. Anthony Sand Dunes 79° 11 mph St. Helen Motorsport Area 75° 9 mph Standard Wash OHV Area 86° 17 mph Stoddard Valley OHV Area 68° 6 mph Table Mesa Recreation Area 99° 5 mph Virtue Flat Off-Highway… 63° 0 mph Weiser Dunes 68° 0 mph Whitewash Sand Dunes Open… 84° 0 mph Winnemucca Sand Dunes 72° 6 mph

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Dove Springs OHV Area

Open-use public land for off-highway vehicle recreation

LocationCA desert region (near Jawbone Canyon)
Entry points2 verified
Size5,000 acres
Conditions67° · 1 mph

Trip check

Before you go

  • 🐢 THIS CLOSURE EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE DESERT TORTOISE. Riding a closed route in critical habitat is a federal violation, not a technicality, and it is the fastest way for riders to lose more ground. Stay inside the open area, stay on what is signed open, and never handle a tortoise — a frightened one voids its bladder and can die of dehydration.
  • Permit status not confirmed. Check with the managing agency.
  • 🥵 EXTREME HEAT — 100 to 120°F in summer. This is not a summer riding area. Carry far more water than you think you need.

Guide

About this area

From cross-country play in the sandy bowl to steep hill climbs, the Dove Springs OHV area offers over 5,000 acres of open-use public land for you to enjoy. The Dove Springs bowl is also a great starting point to begin to explore the hundreds of miles of trail riding opportunities available in this region.

Full agency description

Jawbone Canyon and Dove Springs OHV Areas are open for public use. Visitors are encouraged to practice Leave No Trace principles. From cross-country play in the sandy bowl to steep hill climbs, the Dove Springs OHV area offers over 5,000 acres of open-use public land for you to enjoy. The Dove Springs bowl is also a great starting point to begin to explore the hundreds of miles of trail riding opportunities available in this region. Know Before You Go The desert tortoise, a state and federally listed threatened species, are found within the riding area. Out of State Vehicles: OHV users must comply with all California rules and regulations governing Off-Highway vehicles. Please see below for a partial list of key regulation and visit the California OHV Page for more information. Weather: The area is hot and arid, with summer high temperatures ranging from 100 to 120 degrees F.Winter low temperatures may drop below freezing with highs in the 70's. Typical of the desert, winds are frequent and strong, and humidity is generally low. Off-Highway Vehicle Use The following partial list of regulations and tips should help OHV users and other recreationists appreciate and enjoy the use of these public lands. 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. On the ground, motorized vehicles should yield to non-motorized craft and aircraft. OHVs must be equipped with an approved muffler, brakes, and spark arrester. It is illegal for anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to operate an OHV. It is illegal to bring, dispose of, or possess any glass container, empty or not, within the open area. It is illegal to bring, dispose of, or possess any firewood containing nails, screws or other metal hardware within the open area. NO PALLETS! It is illegal to possess and/or discharge fireworks. Persons on an ATV under 14 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian. All persons, regardless of age, who operate an ATV on Public Lands must wear an approved safety helmet; Carrying passengers is prohibited on ATVs; Remember—Safety First, Every Ride, Every Time!

At a glance

Quick facts

Best season
Autumn through spring — summer runs 100–120°F
Managing agency
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office

Access

Getting there

Rules

Rules

Specific to Dove Springs OHV Area

  • Motorized vehicles yield to non-motorized craft and to aircraft
  • 🔴 EVERY ATV operator, REGARDLESS OF AGE, must wear an approved safety helmet on public lands
  • NO firewood containing nails, screws or other metal hardware. NO PALLETS!
  • 🪖 EVERY ATV RIDER WEARS A HELMET — ANY AGE, NO EXCEPTIONS. BLM wording: "All persons, regardless of age, who operate an ATV on Public Lands must wear an approved safety helmet."
Show all 17 area-specific rules
  • 🚫 NO PASSENGERS ON AN ATV. Carrying a passenger on a quad is prohibited here.
  • 🧒 Anyone under 14 on an ATV must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
  • 🔧 Your machine must have an approved MUFFLER, BRAKES and SPARK ARRESTER.
  • 🍺 It is illegal to operate an OHV under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • 🪵 NO FIREWOOD WITH NAILS OR SCREWS IN IT, and no pallets. Bring clean firewood.
  • 🎆 NO FIREWORKS.
  • 🚻 THE VISITOR CENTER IS CLOSED AND SERVICES ARE LIMITED. Bring your own sanitary supplies including toilet paper and hand sanitiser, and pack out every bit of your trash.
  • OHVs must have an approved muffler, brakes and spark arrester
  • 🔴 Carrying passengers on an ATV is prohibited
  • Riders under 14 on an ATV must be supervised by a parent or guardian
  • Operating an OHV under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal
  • Fireworks may not be possessed or discharged
  • 🔴 COURT-ORDERED ROUTE CLOSURES ACROSS THE WEST MOJAVE — IN FORCE SINCE 24 MARCH 2026, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. A federal court order requires the BLM to close ALL ROUTES in desert tortoise and Lane Mountain milk-vetch CRITICAL HABITAT to off-highway vehicle recreation throughout the West Mojave planning area — roughly 2,200 miles of route. ✅ THE OPEN RIDING AREA ITSELF IS STILL OPEN. What is closed are designated routes through critical habitat, including connectors and trails you may have ridden in previous years. Designated county roads and highways stay open for access, but NOT for public OHV recreational use. ⚠️ IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RIDE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE OPEN AREA BOUNDARY, check the current route map with the field office first — the maps in older guidebooks and apps are out of date.
Standard OHV rules (16)

Common equipment, registration and trail-use rules still apply.

  • ⭐ RIDE TO THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARD, NOT THE LEGAL MINIMUM. What is written below is what the managing agency requires. A helmet, eye protection, a flag and proper gear are what get you home — wear them whether or not the law where you are riding insists on it.
  • California residents: your OHV must be registered with the California DMV and display a valid Green Sticker or Red Sticker
  • Not a California resident, and your OHV is not registered in your home state? You need a NON-RESIDENT Green Sticker OHV permit
  • NO glass containers — empty or not — anywhere in the open area
  • 🪖 Side-by-side / UTV (factory-built, steering wheel, bucket seats, under 1,000cc, does over 30 mph): helmets on the driver and every passenger, and seat belts or a harness fastened whenever it is moving. That is California law on public land.
  • 🪖 Sand car, sand rail, dune buggy, Jeep, or anything home-built or over 1,000cc: no helmet or seat-belt law applies. Wear them anyway — State Parks recommend it, and so do we.
  • 🪖 Quads and ATVs: helmet on every rider, any age. Dirt bikes: helmet required under 18.
  • ⚠️ Tuned it past 30 mph? A machine built for 30 or under that now goes faster is treated like a side-by-side — helmet and belt rules apply.
  • 👶 A child seat does not replace a helmet. In a side-by-side, a child in a car seat still wears one.
  • Source: California Vehicle Code §500, §38505, §38601–38602 — checked Aug 2026.
  • 🪖 Any helmet the law requires must meet FMVSS 218 and carry a DOT label — CVC 27802.
  • 📖 CHECK THE LAW YOURSELF — these requirements come from California State Parks OHMVR — Laws & Safety. Rules change, and you are responsible for compliance: ohv.parks.ca.gov
  • 🗺️ NO SIGNAL? TAKE AN OFFLINE MAP. BLM publish free GEOREFERENCED PDF maps that show your live GPS position with no cell service, in the Avenza Maps app or similar. Download the map for this area BEFORE you leave tarmac: www.blm.gov
  • 📋 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: your OHV must be registered with the California DMV and display a valid GREEN STICKER or RED STICKER.
  • 📋 OUT-OF-STATE RIDERS: you need a NON-RESIDENT Green Sticker OHV permit.
  • 🍾 NO GLASS CONTAINERS.

Permits

Permits & registration

Permit and registration details

• 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. 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.

State residents
California residents: OHV must display a current Green Sticker or Red Sticker registration from the CA DMV.
Out-of-state riders
Out-of-state riders: a California Nonresident OHV Use Permit is required unless your OHV carries current registration from your home state. $30 ($31.95 online), valid from purchase through December 31 of that year.
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office official page (current closures & alerts)

Permit and registration rules change. Confirm current requirements with the managing agency before you ride — you are responsible for compliance.

Trip support

Fuel, food & local help

Pump gas & diesel

  • 🔴 NOTHING AT THE AREA — fuel up in town firstfuel

    APPLIES TO BOTH APPROACHES · There is no fuel, no store and no drinking water at Dove Springs. The visitor center is closed and services are limited. Arrive full, with your cans filled and all your own water.

  • ⬆️ FROM THE SOUTH — Mojave, CAfuel

    COMING UP SR-14 — about 30 miles south of the turn · The last real town on the southern approach, at the SR-14 / SR-58 junction. Fuel and supplies here.

  • ⬇️ FROM THE NORTH — Ridgecrest / Inyokern, CAfuel

    COMING DOWN SR-14 — the northern resupply · Ridgecrest is the largest town on this side and also where the BLM field office is. Inyokern is closer to SR-14 but much smaller.

Seasonal conditions

The area is hot and arid, with summer high temperatures ranging from 100 to 120 degrees F. Winter low temperatures may drop below freezing with highs in the 70's. Typical of the desert, winds are frequent and strong, and humidity is generally low.

Marketplace

Rigs and vehicles

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