Moving to CA desert in a few months.. Tips/Trails??

Looks like I'll be moving east of Bakersfield out to the Ridgecrest area for work soon. Never been to the desert before really. All my offroading/ recreational activities have always been in the northwestern mountains... my entire life. Anyone have any cool trail recommendations? Or tips on what to expect out there?

 

Ahh yea I spend some time up there every year. You have spangler hills ohv and open desert around randsberg. Its all desert but there is lots of fun to have.

 

Hey Garrett, I go out to the Ridgecrest / Randsberg area two to 3 times a year. There are trails off of Garlock road. This is south of Ridgecrest. One being Mesquite canyon road. This trail goes up high and is rocky.
Go with someone and be prepared it is out in the middle of no where. On the other side of Garlock is all sand and plenty of trails that lead into little canyons.

 

Ya Im bringing my modded raptor 700 down there, Im definitely excited about that.. But I think Im going to miss the mountains a lot

 

So alot of places to explore it sounds like... how bad are the trails? Something I should use the quad as a guinea pig first?

 

Yea I would take the quad. I don't think your Taco is 4x4. the rosky trail goes up some pretty ruff terain and the sand gets deep so I would take the quad first.. If your Taco is 4x4 you should be fine

 

She's a fully loaded 4x4. Once i get accustomed to the area the taco is going to terrorize the entire area. Its just that I have absolutely zero desert experience, so I have no clue what's in store for me really

 

The Dez is cool stuff. I am sure you will dig it. Also check out Trona there are tons are lot's of trails at the bottom of the grade.

 

Get ready to unload for 2.5in remote ressies in the front... some 2.0 12in shocks n bamf relocation brackets and SOS shackle flips in the rear..... makes desert driving soooo nice.

 

Don't worry about missing the mountains. Ridgecrest is a prime portal to the Eastern Sierras. Piute Mountains, Kelso Valley, Lake Isabella, Sequoia National Forest to name a few spots, plus all of the stuff up the 395 on the way to Mammoth and Tahoe. Locally, for desert driving, you have the El Paso Mountains, Randsburg, Jawbone Canyon OHV Area, Dove Springs OHV Area, Red Rock Canyon State Park, and the new Onyx Ranch / East Kern OHV property.

 

This weekend might be interesting with the possibility of rain/snow. I don't know of many trails near Kernville, but there are some decent restaurants up there. Speaking of restaurants, Ridgecrest has some remarkably good food considering it is in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Tokyo House has sushi just as good if not better than places I've eaten in San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and other coastal towns. Casey's BBQ is absolutely on point and Schooner's is a great little pub.

 

Just got back from down there to check it out. it looks like I have a lot of trails to hit up. You were right, Casey's BBQ was awesome!

 

Its funny, I was going through some old threads today. I came across this post of yours. Im still down in the desert and just got done putting in King resis and JBA uppers in the front, go figure lol. Ive started looking in to the rear and alot of people are recommending what you did several years ago. Can you go into a little more detail of the proper way to do the rear end? Ubolt flipkit with superbumps, ext brake lines, new leaf pack(dakars?) shock relocation, king 2.0 resis, shackle hanger, and crossbar?

 

That setup if what a buddy of mine had at the time that I took a ride in out in the desert.

The rear you are gonna need longer than stock shocks which means some sort of relocating bracket to accommodate the longer shocks,. There are a few companies that make relocating brackets, some go into the bed some don't depending on the shock length.


For me... I'd rather buy a SxS n rip up the desert with more wheel travel stock than any setup a taco can muster up. Or ride the dirt bike haha

 

The Sequoias and the Sierra Nevada range aren't too far east of Bakersfield, maybe a couple hours from what I remember. Tons of trails once you get out that way.

 

You're right again. Here is my other baby I've had for 2 years now

 

YXZ.... yup that would 100% be my choice too (hate the CVT's on the RZR's)! that the DCT or 3 pedal model?

 

It's a 2018 with the paddle shifters