Red Rock Canyon State Park: Trail Run Scouting

UPDATE:

Date and time has been decided for this run. To avoid competing with the Superstition Trail Run, I'm going to lock down the date for this trail run as Sunday, December 18th. We will meet at 9:30AM at the Dove Springs OHV turn off from Highway 14.
Directions to the meeting spot here.

Here is the list so far:

1) Maticuno
2) Ridingontrd
3) tacomacrazy
4) db (probably not, but still a maybe)
5) Phlip4x4Sport
6)
7)
8)
9)
10) friend with a Jeep

For pics and info on the run, read below.

In my job, I get to drive around in amazingly scenic areas that most people would never know existed. I would like to share some of these places with you. In my research to potentially host a trail day, I thought of a location that would allow even a stock, e-locker PreRunner to get out and enjoy some trails while also keeping the guys with heavily modded 4X4's happy. The route that I picked is one of the areas I'm responsible for and get to drive at least twice a week. I had never taken my Tacoma on this route so I went out after work today with my camera and documented some of the trip.

This is in Red Rock Canyon State Park, located about 20 miles north of the town of Mojave along Highway 14. If people might be interested in making this a trail day, I can discuss specifics later.

























The trip would start from a pre-determined meeting spot, and reach the turn around point at Burro Schmidt Tunnel. If anyone is interested, we can discuss it further. The problems I have are scheduling. The busy season is starting which means I have to work weekends. If you want to do a Monday run that is fine, but I think it would leave a lot of you out. To make it a Sunday run, it would have to happen in mid to late December when I can get the time off.

 

So...is this too far of a drive for most people? If that's the case I can scout out something a little closer to the San Bernardino National Forest.

 

Damn if i lived in Cali, and had the time, I would go, just to take my mountain bike and haul ass down that tunnel. hahaha

Edit: is that blood on the ceiling...?

 

From the last guy who tried to ride his bike through the tunnel.

I think it's paint or fake blood. Real blood would be a much darker brown after all that time.

 

The picture above reminds me of a particular place in Death Valley.

Looks like a very neat place. Thanks for posting. I think I'll swing by and check it out next time I run up the 395.

I'd be a ranger too if my wife would let us move to the desert... Although I may retire there some day. Anza-Borrego Desert SP is my all time favorite place to go camp and explore.

Do you get to roam between the State Parks, or do you get assigned to one for a certain period of time?

 

I am assigned to one, but due to short staffing levels I get pulled to all different locations. I range from this park over to Providence Mountains/Mitchell Caverns, down to Silverwood Lake and occasionally provide additional coverage at Hungry Valley SVRA.

 

So this is in your jurisdiction ? Niiice! Would love to hit it when it cools down some... great pics !!

 

Always wanted to do a run here, I would be up for it but it would need to be a weekend

 

That's one vote for a weekend, which pushes a possible date back into December at the earliest. It can be absolutely frigid from late December into mid February, which I feel is perfect weather for a trail run.

 

I'm in for a run on a weekend,

this place is fun, I have camped there a few times, and it does get damn cold in the winter time.

 

I went up there last summer when i lived in cal city. Im down to go as long as im off.

 

I spent some time exploring Red Rock earlier this year.

I even went to Schmidt Tunnel too.

I ended up attempting to exit using this route. I made it back to the road, but suffered some minor damage, my exhaust got bent, and some damage to the rear fenders. The trail was very narrow and ran along side a dry creek bed with large boulders. I would love to try it again with sliders.

I am only available on weekends.

 

That was a good one though.

 

Depending on the date,Dec.works for me.
One pit stop...4.5hrs.drive.

 

Red ROck is part of Jawbone correct???

 

Great pics!!! I've been out to that area many times, and always love it. Would love to tag along on a run sometime in the near future when it cools down!

 

That Last Chance Canyon route is where I was going to suggest the guys with the more heavily modified rigs exit after Burro Schmidt, while the rest of us head out EP15 back to Highway 14.

Red Rock and Jawbone are in the same portion of the Mojave Desert along with Dove Springs, but they are not one and the same. Jawbone/Dove Springs are OHV open areas managed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Red Rock Canyon is a State Park managed by the State of California. OHV travel is permitted, but must remain on designated roads.

 

I'm going to throw out a tentative date of Sunday, December 18th. Meet at the turn off towards Dove Springs OHV area at 0930, hit the trail by 1000.

This will of course be very tentative and subject to change based on weather, popularity, or other unforeseen circumstances. If that date doesn't work we'll have to push it back until January (not the weekend of the 1st).

Thoughts?

 

I'm interested in this. I'll check w/work on the date.