The El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area is located in the Mojave Desert on the western edge of San Bernardino County near the Los Angeles County Line. This OHV attracts a variety of activities.
The areas of interests include El Mirage Dry Lakebed, the Shadow Mountains, El Mirage Basin, and the Twin Hills area. This makes up a 24,000 acre of public and private land. Elevations range from about 2,800 feet at the El Mirage Dry Lake to more that 3,800 feet in the Shadow Mountains.
Most visitors ride motorcycles, ATVs, or tour in four-wheel drive vehicles. There is a road network in place so visitors may camp in most sections of El Mirage. This area is also used extensively for competitive racing events and commercial filming by permit.
El Mirage's unique flat lakebed is a destination for many visitors. There is ultra-light and other aircraft activity that would not usually be found in other riding areas.
There are several opportunities for hiking, rock scrambling, rock hounding, and wildlife watching. El Mirage has desert tortoises, a state and federally-listed threatened species.
Original public domain image from Flickr