In two weeks, the Bronco Nation team will meet Bronco Basecamp attendees at King of the Hammers (KOH) for several days of camping, off-roading, and community fun. KOH –– and Bronco Basecamp –– is held in the Johnson Valley OHV area. For several weeks, the empty desert land becomes a “city,” packed with RVs, tents, and vehicles, as somewhere around 100,000 people show up for off-roading and the races.
The lines to get in and out of KOH are long, and the road is rough, so once you’ve made it into Hammertown, you might find yourself not incredibly eager to head right back out. But the land surrounding the OHV area is beautiful; you may need gas and supplies, and sometimes, you just want a break from the dust and the wind.
When that happens, where can you go? Let’s go over a couple of options –– and if you have some favorite spots, add them in the comments below.
“Civilization”
Inside Bronco Basecamp, you’ll have most of the bases covered: We’re serving catered breakfasts and dinners, bringing in showers, and keeping you entertained with Bronco Off-Roadeo Trail Guide-led runs, campfires, race simulcasts, and special guests. Past our fenced-in oasis are vendors offering food and drink, booths to browse, and tons of modded vehicles to see.
Continue exploring outward; you’ll find dry lake beds, rock formations to crawl, and dunes. Eventually, you’ll reach the main roads. While a few establishments dot the edges of the OHV area, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree are two of the closest towns, about half an hour away. Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs are about 30 minutes past those, and in another direction are San Bernardino and Big Bear, where Bronco Off-Roadeo Trail Guides Melissa and Brian Clark led our first Bronco Nation Sport drive.
Fuel
You’ll need to make a fuel stop if you’re out there for several days without jerry cans. Two-doors, you know your time is coming first. The closest gas station is the Mobile on Old Woman Springs Rd., 11 minutes away (282 Old Woman Springs Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284). Grab water and snacks while you’re at it; we all know trail drives can go long!
Fun
When I go to new places, I want opinions and suggestions from “real” people. We all have Google, and if you’re like me, you’ve found out that those generic best-places-to-visit articles are sometimes wrong (Recently, I tracked back and forth looking for trail parking. It was on the opposite side of the park.) I’m no expert in the area, but I’ve been to a few places in my two years attending KOH. I know they exist, and I can tell you a little about them! I can also share my strategy for finding more.
- Drive around: When I roll into a new town, I like to aimlessly take in what's around. Broncos are so fun to drive, and with a good playlist going, you won’t mind burning some extra gas as you get a feel for the area and find interesting sights.
- Head to a ranger station: If you’re planning on camping or exploring outdoors, make this a first stop. I bounce my trails list off them, ask where they like to camp, and find out what to watch for in the area, including wildlife and weather. I’ve not yet met a ranger who isn’t helpful and willing to let me in on the good spots.
- Find local Bronco owners: on the Bronco Nation forums or in the FB groups, of course! If you’re looking to do off-roading, especially in a new area, it’s a great idea to seek out someone who has run the trails recently and will even go out with you. Make a post and see what comes up!
So back to some places I have been in the JV area that I enjoyed, and you might too:
- The Dez in Joshua Tree – Our crew stops there often for coffee and food, and everything from my matcha latte to Jordan Parker’s quad shot espresso orders have been great. The staff are energetic and nice!
- Castañeda's Mexican Food in Yucca Valley – Is it fancy? Nope. But it’s open 24 hours, and nothing tastes better after you’ve been playing around in the dunes for a full day on quad shot espressos alone. The team will still try to shame me for getting a fish taco (“We’re not by water, Laura”), but I stand by my choice.
- Pioneertown in San Bernardino County – Established in 1946 as a “Living Breathing Movie Set,” this stop is fun for families with kids. We, as adults, hung out there with Bronco Ambassador Chase Gentry after a trail scouting trip, and we liked it so much that we came back with a whole bunch of the community later in the week. There are art studios, general stores, restaurants, lodging, and more, all with a cool old-western look and feel. Go for the shootouts and stay for the trailheads.
- Rattlesnake Canyon in Johnson Valley – Honestly, most of my off-roading in JV has been in the OHV area (it’s 96,000 acres). But last year, Bronco Off-Roadeo Trail Guides scouted this drive for Bronco Basecamp to do, and we all had fun. It’s easy and scenic, a level 4. If you’re going in a small group of several vehicles, you’ll be able to complete it in approximately two hours.
Yesterday, we sent out the agenda and details for Bronco Basecamp attendees, including what to bring. If you’re visiting King of the Hammers on your own, remember to pack sunscreen, lots of water, and plenty of layers … I saw many of us wearing the Bronco Nation down vests over Bronco sweatshirts and under our retired Dri-Duck jackets last year.
There's a Ton More to See and Do
While this list is short, there's a whole desert out there that many of you have explored. Drop your favorite trails, restaurants, and tips in the comments!
And if this is your first time to the area, before you head in, see the Bronco in action in JV's unforgiving terrain plus what your trip up to the famed Bronco Knoll may look like! Excited for fun like this? We are too. We'll be seeing you soon!
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