...and yet everytime I leave I swear i will never go back. Can someone please tell me what the appeal is? In glamis we have the Drags, the hills and Boardmanville....

But whats the deal with Ocotillo? I took a guy whos never been out to show him around and we got the piss beat out of us by all the whoops. I can understand a few here and there, but everywhere? We went out Shell Reef Expy the flew down Tule Wash to Pole Line and back up Arroyo Seco then we had some lunch and decided to run along the highway East of the runway on those little hills and they are covered with huge rocks and whoops! We couldn't get out of there fast enough.

What is it that makes you people go back time and time again? Where do you prefer to ride out there....cuz IMO, unless your flying down the washes in 5th gear pinned, I just can't figure it out....

I've ridden ocotillo twice, second time i blew my rear shock apart in the whoops... never again.

sand or nothing

I said the same thing when I went there, if I am going to hardpack, go to the upper desert or the Mountains................

Breaking things and eating sh!t seem to be the only stories out of Superstition and Ocotillo.
Sand or nothing here.

It is what is
If you go there knowing what to expect, want a local trip for half the distance it's ok.
My kids like going cause we can tool around on the trails and see stuff.
Some trials are awesome, some are torn up and whooped out.

You have to have your buggy set up for desert.Suspension wise you guy's are running alot stiffer than us.I can take you on some trails at octillo that is like space mountain at disney land.2nd through 4th gear drifting around every corner at night with not much on either side is a rush!! The whoops at Oco can be very rough in the wrong car or the even the right car at the wrong speed.granny slow or the webos to get on top of em.I love Oco and have been going there since I was knee high....

I'll go to either but prefer ocotillo. We enjoy desert riding and the whoops don't really bother us. (we all ride) The whoops are not all over the place. The women don't need CRF250's, they can ride bikes that fit their style and level. I think that the camping is better at Ocotillo but I've only camped the main washes in Glamis. You can go to Ocotillo Wells and not have to worry about getting a camping spot nor will you normally be sitting right on top of another group. I think that the clean up from Ocotillo is easier than Glamis.

Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the dunes and we occasionally go out there and we always have fun.

Thats just it- I am on a quad, and the whoops are a workout from hell. I can barely walk today, I am so sore.

Where are the good places to go out there? PLaces i need to see or check out. I've done the shell mountain thing, and blowsand and blasted 5th gear pinned down some of the washes, but what else is out there thats not on the maps?

I can take you on some rides south of 78 that will blow your mind.

If you want a nice half day ride, head over to the South side of the 78. There is a watch tower by the dunes way out south. You can also try and venture into the old mines on the south side. You have to watch out for some closures out there, but you can get around them. I will agree that some places are very whooped out, but my suspension is set up for the dirt. I also feel a lot safer out in Ocotillo then Glamis as far as letting the kids ride. Not to mention a lot of our kids race motorcycles and are not big on quads, so they like Ocotillo better. As far as myself, I could go either way. Love the hill and the drags at glamis, but also love the desert. Couldn't live without either one.

it's more of a "hey,follow me" type of thing.I can give really good directions on city streets and freeways but I could'nt begin to tell ya where to go without actually being there with you..... Go exploring is the best I can say.Stay away from the trails that run paralell to the 78.They will beat you to death.

blowsand / shell reef / pumpkin patch / ... there is so much more than that out there~ I can get just about anywhere in Ocotillo by taking smooth lines, or by choosing a more challenging way to go...it just depends on who I'm riding with, if it's somebody who gets beat up pretty quick, I'll take them on a smoother route from point A to B
It's kind of odd that there are so many people who don't like ocotillo in this forum!

anyways, at least you are out there... have fun
Click to view attachment

It's a completely different style of riding. The washes are fast, the trails - not so much. The Ocotillo Badlands Southwest of the Blu-Inn offer some of the most amazing technical riding I've seen, going up and down the canyons. It's also more of a "destination ride" place. Sure, you can just cruise, but also the "hey, lets go to Pumpkin Patch, then the Gas Domes, then the Artesian Well" rides are fun.

Plus, IMHO only, I don't have to watch as much for azzhats in 5000hp rails that have no experience or sense. They are still out there, but just not in the same numbers.

I think its more of a quad thing. Most guys Ive talked to that ride quads dont like hardpack\ whoops. For me, I look for all the whoops you were avoiding. Like Occo Boy said, theres nothing like high speed runs through the washes when your cars setup right , especially at night.

Wow...I absolutly LOVE Oco. I learned how to ride a two wheeler out there. I love riding in the canyons, anywhere for that matter...There are so many nooks and cranny's out there to explore. I can't get enough of Oco. The technical stuff is my favorite...

Now in the sand I prefer 3 wheels.

i have a quad and all my friends do too and we all love riding ocotillo/plaster city. we dont really go to ocotillo wells.

Well..blow me down..arrr-arr-arr-arr.....
Ocotillo is the bomb..if you ride in the "mom and pop" areas OR the "let's all pack together areas" then I would say..it stinks....me personally, I run the canyons, love 20' high canyon walls on either side of me...smooth washes...minimal bumps...its all about where you camp.
I generally don't like to camp off the 78 anymore....as stated...Ocotillo is VASTLY larger in riding area then the maps given by the rangers....
I ride off the SR-22...into the old Truckhaven area...down to the waterline of the Salton Sea..ride my stuff to the mexican restaurant...ohhh. I could go on...south of the 78 in the dunes...man oh man...the place is an absolute blast.....
I'll be out there this weekend if anyone wants to see the real Ocotillo....PM me and I will give you our location...and I promise...NO WHOOPS!!!!!
The scenery is absolutely beautimus.....I will snap some major pics this weekend to show Ya'll what I am talking about....

i do like glamis alot more but ocotillo is still cool. the things i like about it is the hill climbs (there are some pretty crazy ones) and the ammound of good little jumps around there.

I would like to go cruisin out in Octillo with you sometime.That would be awsome!! Are you going out next weekend also?!?!

Ocotillo Wells is a great place to ride. I only ride in glamis during the summer, hot as hell yes but alot safer for me to ride glamis in the summer rather then now. Dont get me wrong, I would like to ride more glamis then I do but I dont trust the place/people that are out there. The camping in Oco is great, if you camp on the right side of the road you will not be botherd at all, maybe 20-30 campers on the right side, and its close to the caverns/mudhills that are very fun to ride in. On your way there stop at the ranger station and get a map, hit up everything on the map and you will have a blast.... Going out to Ocotillo saturday if anybody want to join, I can show you some pretty cool spots. Otherwise see the rest of you this summer for the night rides in Glamis.

Big Had, I will be going out there saturday morning. You talk of places Ive never herd of. I wanna join.

well alright then....PM me your number..we will hook up for sure..so far its just me and my 11yr old....I'll be on a 650 bombardier and he'll be riding a KFX700...and my friend Tom and his wife in a rhino..plus their dogs....a very small group..but you'll enjoy us..were laid back folks...or should I say..were normal people....
he will be out there this afternoon..
I'll be out there by 7am tomorrow as well...(gotta visit the grandpa tonight-dinner engagement)
coming home Sunday late morning....watcha riding???

ocotillo boy..next weekend..well now..that sounds feasible....let me see if the wifey-poo is planning on joining...you know I am down....just gotta play my cards right....I've only been home 1 weekend in the last month and a half.....been doing Ocotillo almost every weekend....me and my youngest boy been trying to hit as much as possible before it gets too hot....and the other kids are all too busy with college/school/work to join us....been soo nice just loading 2 bikes and a truck instead of the usual stuff....

i'll be there in a few hours... 10 acre property off of Spilt Mountain Road behind the "Slots"...

thats sweet!! I wish I could get my paws on some property out there.......

I would love to join you guys but I'll be camping at the beach this Sun. through next Sun. After that I'm gonna have to get my ride dirty. Can you believe that after 6 months of waiting for my car I have to wait another 2 weeks for an open weekend?

Been going out there for a few years but just discovered the slot area. Very very cool place. Love all the canyons and the washs at high speeds is the shiat!!!
But I can't believe nobody has mentioned the Iron Door!!!??? One of my fav white trash bars. Love that place!

Where is this "slot" area that you speak of I like canyons AND high speed washs............

I would be jammin that biatch up and down the beach.......

Rolling to Oco this morning. Ocotillo Boy, check your PM.

I'll check my map and get back to you!

I feel riding Ocotillos trails and its whoops should be a required course before you get to go to Glamis. The technicality and sheer magnitude of the different kinds of riding there is out there is endless. Maybe there would be a little less deaths and injuries if people had more knowledge and respect for the ride if they thought a giant rock/cactus/dropoff might be behind this next hill. Its not a very forgiving place, but if you know where to ride you can avoid alot the whooped out trails. If you can go WOT over the whoops in Ocotillo, the ones in Glamis will seem like speed bumps after awhile.

I agree, especially off weekends, it can feel you are out there by yourself.

We wouldn't mind joining a ride with you guys sometime. We love Ocotillo. Still haven't seen all the places yet.

I agree. Ocotillo sucks and you should tell all your friends and relatives to never go back. Protest at all cost.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I wouldnt go there for a guys trip, but my wife really enjoys the trail riding and exploring, and me seeing her have a blast makes me happy so we go a couple times a season..

take your kids there they will have a blast

HB Craig, hey whats up? I live in HB and my name is Craig... What side of town are you on?
Craig

If you don't like it, don't go. It will keep the crowds down for those that do. Spread the word.

Its not that I totally hate it and would never go back, because for some reason I keep going back. Even though its the only place I have ever broken a limb (collar bone) it still has its differences with Mother G. Its just that I would like to hit something other than the whoops. Where is this Slot that is being talked about? I went over to the south side on the hill above the restaurant, and saw nothing but trailers(which I never knew were there).

I am more curious to see what everyone likes the most out there. I enjoy blasting the washes in 5th gear pinned and pretending like I am racing in the Baja 1000.

Simple Answer: Quit being a Sally...

Long Answer: Ocotillo was the first desert I ever went to, and the first desert to ride a dirtbike at. Ive been to all the local dunes, all the local hardpack places, mex, barstow, pismo etc... And Ocotillo is a high dose of everything anybody could want for riding. Whoops, jumps, sand (esp super), washes, burger joints, hydroplaning, single track, technical, tight, dropoffs, rocks...etc etc...

I thought the reason riding was fun is because its hard, its not that tough to go to glamis and ride down the dracs then ride on straight san higway and go the hill, when I go to glamis or gordons im bored the first day, hence the reason I havent been to the dunes all season, even though ALL of my buddies went to glamis this past weekend, I will be at ocotillo for 4 days this weekend. Because its the shit...the less of a crowd and the more people that go to glamis the happier I am.

I like to take our buggy or race car out there and have fun, and tune, and test. But if you are really complaining about ocotillo I suggest going to Plaster City in a couple of weeks when they mark the track and do a 40 mile loop...that is tough, then try it a couple more times the day before the race, then race it in you car for 6 laps...That is a biatch...but that is why this sport is so fun, you challenge yourself as much as you want to be challenged

PS I was hit by a buggy in those canyons headon back in the badlands, scary shit.

Word...and pretending to be in the baja 1000 is probably the reason you broke your collar bone.

Another reason Ocotillo is nice, is because generally the people who go there are quite a few IQ points higher on average because of the lack of the party scene. Although blowsand gets busy on holidays, expect to go to ocotillo on an off weekend and meet the nicest most helpful people in the desert...

I have helped and been helped many many times out there, or if broken down, even if im cool, every single person will stop and ask if help is needed, its almost like a small community..

Although it does suck when the jeep slow pokes have their annual regatta out there, those guys are tools. Do a search a few years back and you will find out why. haha

yup, I'll be there too! 5 weekends in a row...
check the radar screening camo netting I got on E-Bay... i finally set it up this past weekend

You taking bikes or quads? I'll be there camping near holmes I imagine, quads, bikes, baja bug, beer, and 1 big trailer and 1 little one, stop by and go for a ride or something.

Goldenwest and Heil

cool, i'll will be on a bike, i'll come by and look for your buggy saturday morning...

Good buddy lives right there, I'm at the end of Edinger. You ride a bike, quad or a buggy???

Your kidding right? You actually have to know how to ride to go to Ocotillo Wells/Plaster city/Superstition. We just got back from Plaster City tonight from a three day trip....wow. I logged over 250 miles on my GPS. Where else can you run over 110 mph through high speed twisting whooped roads, slam up cliff style hill climbs(devils slide-shell reef), run through hugh washes, and plow up dune hills(sand dam-and the funnel). The Salton Sea to the 8 freeway has the best terrain on earth. Every time I go to Glamis....on the off days of course....I'm bored stiff and I'm reminded about natural selection.

yep. spread the word. rockotillo wells sucks. lol..

i like it there. it is definitely two wheel territory. loose the 4 wheeler, and get a bike. it will be much more fun. i bring my quad to make runs to the store, iron door, and blowsand. other than that, i ride my ktm there. the quad, for me is way more fun in the dunes. i like the ktm in the desert better.

plus, i can let my daughter ride in a secluded are we camped in, and she rides her crf-50 with the other kids, and nobody every bothers us. i split my time up between glamis and the desert. thought only 2 glamis trips this year, another one next month. headed to ocotillo this coming weekend..