About a month ago I had a rent a car and drove down to OW. I spent a lot of time looking around but for the life of me couldn't find what the interest is there. I live right nest to Johnson Valley also, (yucca Valley) but just can't seem to find what it is that attracts so many people.

So what is the most fun thing you do at Ocotillo? I ride a KFX 700 V Force and a Honda Rancher 350. I'm being serious, perhaps you can help me create an interest for it too.---Thanks

Happy

There is lots of nice twisty sand washes east of 78. West of 78 there is tons of riding all the way to I8 at Superstition Mt. Also east of 78 you can go all the way to the Salton Sea.Of course it's hard on the rental car.

Is Superstition Mt. part of Ocotillo Wells?

Happy

no its not

OW has lots of hot spots to visit, pumpkin patch, mud pits, the oasis, shelf reef, devils slide.. stop at the ranger station and get a map..

nothing to see at o-wells best keep going to glamis

I'm just starting with the Dez scene so I have a lot to learn. It just seemed sort of dry and dusty and sort of boring at OW and JV. I did camp at JV for 3 days but by the end it seemed I had seen just about every trail in there and was sort of glad to leave. Just spent 2 days at Glamis but the bigger bowls scare the pee out of me, at least until I learn to ride the dunes.

I'm not sure if your comment was sarcasm, but I think your right, at this point the dunes hold more interest for me, but just was wondering what the quad riders found so fun at OW---Thanks

Happy

well, blow me down and call me a pansy..you gotta be kidding boy...arr-arr-arr-arr.......
seriously, what is there to see..well now, how much time you got?
Riding is not always about the ride...its about what the ride brings...for example..you say Johnson Valley....JV is huge..you did not see it all unless you-
hit the dunes-yes, the dunes in Johnson valley.....flew your RC airplane at Soggy dry lake...explored a few mine shafts....stopped at the gardens..visited Mr Tortiose...had a few laughs and maybe a few beers with your buddies..enjoyed the night fire....listened to some good tunes and ate some great food..oh, I could go on....here is a few pics from Johnson Valley this last weekend...
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you see the smiles on their faces...oh yeah...there is a lot to see out there my friend..and ocotillo...well, you let me know when you wanna go..I'll show you places you never seen....

now, I show you that to tell you this....
why do you ride? To ride? To explore this world? To enjoy good times with others? To spend time with you family/friends?
My opinion is most folks go out and hit the same old spots..the weathered down freeway routes so many others do...but if you ever take the time to see something off in the distance and say..."I'm going there"...then find a way to get there..wow..what a neat treat..maybe it is the top of a hill..maybe a rock formation..who knows....
I carry a mounted GPS..and when we go for a ride we spend the better part of 4-9 hours away from camp..we bring food/snacks....extra gas..whatever we need...we check out geocaches...we explore the unbeaten paths..we look for natures secret hideouts...and there are a lot of them out there...we can travel a better part of 35-40 miles away from camp at times.....but all the while we are having a blast doing it...and there is so much to see In both spots you mentioned...you could not explore all of Johnson Valley in a week..this is Californias largest OHV area..with numerous dry lake beds...I've been to 7 of them....Ocotillo has its own space...did you ride to the restraunt? Cruise over to the side which hosts the Tierra Del Sol? (Truck Haven)..visit the sr-22 side? The old stage coach route on the south side of OW? Run the washes to Superstition? Stop at the Salton Sea?
So, as I stated earlier, there is so much to see..it just matters who you go with, how far they venture from camp, and what they like to do...some folks are intimidated by the openness and the fact they can't see their campsite..some folks like to take the established routes..and then there are guys like me..we like to find the "off the beaten paths" routes....
your very lucky to live where you do...your opportunities to get to new places quickly are so close by...
you let me know when you wanna hit it...I too have a KFX700....

I agree 100%. We have gone to OW several times and whenever we go back, we make a point of visiting something we haven't seen before. It is an awesome place to ride with endless possibilites of new things to see. If he won't go with you, we will!!

Just get on a bike and go see for yourself

There's something new around every wash, every hill. Trying to find Peg Leg Pete's gold stash, Geocaching, Canyons that are 40' deep that run for miles, or little twisty ones that are so much fun to run single file. The animal life (tarantulas in October, lizards and birds all the time, snakes now). The serenity of a desert sunrise...

like these?
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Big Had,

Dont forget you owe me a steak. We gotta hook up for a trip soon or the beginning of next season.

OW is still on my list.

I really really really really need to get myself and family out there.

Whats the season? Before it gets too hot for kids?

Yep! Dem's the ones, amongst others...

Just a couple weekends ago I was out Jeeping in OW. We went to the Gas Dome, Fonts Point, Wind caves, the rangers had astronomy night, During the day they had a OW habitat display, We went to box canyon, of course blow sand, Some mining cave on the way to Fonts point, ect... It's just about getting out with your family and friends and having a good time. Just like Glamis, it's what you make of it. A person could say the same exact thing about Glamis. All you do is go up, down, and sideways on a bunch of sand hills. Don't get me wrong...I love both places and they both offer totally different experiences. It's just what you make of it.

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I kinda like the place

Maybe you gotta go with the right person.......

Glad this post was started. I was thinking about going this weekend for the first time and now made made up my mind. Me and the wifey will be there, it sure looks like fun. For some of you that go often, I was planning camping of the 22..is this good or bad? I want to make sure I arrive before night cause I have no idea what to expect (leaving Fri about 4pm). I have a 40' moho with a flat bed trailer and do not want to get stuck, I read that camping off the 22 will save about 20-30 min drive time.....Give me your input....Thanks

off sr-22..here is my advice assuming your coming from the 86 ..turn onto sr-22 and go past Holly road-(a dirt road) which has a sign..right before the road goes up a small windy hill you'll see a dirt road to the left and a flat open area with campsites/cabanna's.....park there..hard dirt and wide to turn around in....

Thanks, I'll give it a try......

your about 3-4 miles from the 22..by the way...you are aware of the temps this weekend? Gonna be a hot one out there..

Is that 3-4 miles down the dirt road to camp? or 3-4 miles form the 86? To early for me, not understanding to much. Thanks for the help

About the heat. I know, but we need to get away and this weekend worked out. The wife works at a hospital and does not get many long 3 day weekends.......

3-4 miles down the dirt road

Ya know, I guess it all depends on what you're interested in and what you hope to get out of your trips. I actually agree with you (Harold) to some extent. Even though the desert has been my main riding home since age 5 (I'm 44 now), it's not always the most exciting place. It can be drab and boring and the scenery seems to all run together at times. If I had some mountain riding like Mammoth, Tahoe or Kennedy Meadows the same distance as the desert, I'd probably make (1) token desert trip a year.

If I were you, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to OW if Johnson or Stoddard Valleys are much closer to you. I might go north to the Jawbone area and check it out. If you're willing to take a drive, go try the trails outside Mammoth this Summer. It's free to camp and you can ride for what seems like forever. Plus you're in the forest and the scenery is breathtaking at times.

Gorman would be a nice place to go...but.again, what do you wanna do? I ride Glamis, Johnson Valley, Gorman, Razor Rd., Calico, Lucerne, Big Bear, San Bernadoo mnts., Ocotillo...you name it..I'll go.....My beacon knows no ending...but I usually will stay within 250 miles of my home....so you could do Jawbone....ah heck..so much to see.....

Yep, I've decided I want to camp with you! Next season I'm hitting you up for an OW trip! You mentioned places I have never been. Caves?

next weekend were making a run..probably to Rasor...if your interested, let me know....

Sounds like i need to go on a trip with you. that's what i love to do. i've been to alot of the places you've mentioned in the anza/ocotillo area, but i'm sure there are more that you know about. i love glamis/gordons, but ocotillo will always be my favorite place to ride.

alright..new peeps bring fun treats..I will let you all know when we plan a trip...just as soon as that orange ball in the sky calms down....

This looks like an awesome place to ride and explore.

OW is by far one of the best places to ride in SoCal, its huge, has a hill climb, washes for days, open desert, shell reef (possible one of the best natural jump spots ever see crustys demons of dirt), some soft sand hills, besides breaking both of my wrists there i love that place.

*edit* second only to glamis

Trying to go there next month and know nothing about this place, wish I knew how to get around to enjoy all that!

get a map!

I agree /\/\/\/\/\

OW has street signs all over the place and the map will help you figure out where you are and where you want to go. It's a great tool in this place.

I see that you've received numerous responses. Most of them are very positive on OW and this is from a Glamis website.

As you can tell by my name, I too am a duner. It has been and still is my favorite type of riding. I also frequent Johnson Valley, Dumont, Hungry Valley and Pinnacles.

This year I discovered Ocotillo Wells. I love the place. It's not dune riding but it's still a great way to spend a weekend. I've gone several times this season and most recently stayed at the Blu-in RV Park. Full hook-ups, pool, cafe, clean and friendly. I think it just opened this year. Nothing like a cool dip in the non-heated pool after a late season ride. You can camp for free in the OW area but this was a nice change. It made the wife happy and if mama ain't happy, nobodies happy.

Point is, don't be aftaid to try something different. Doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite things but diversity is the spice of life.

See ya on the trail.

Dunedoggie out!

nice ^^

ah, dunedoggie..the secrets of life...rule # 2..a happy wife=a happy life...