Quad Riding in Boy Heaven...

The boys and I got to go camping with some really great friends, family, and the local Desert Search and Rescue team for the Memorial Day weekend. It was a total blast! We had 3 big camping trailers, great food, awesome company, and tons of quads at our site. We went to a little place called Dove Springs. It is located north of Mojave, just north of Red Rock State Park, about where the Mojave Desert reaches the Sierra Nevada's. It has 5,000 acres of trails to explore I am told. (OK, So maybe it is not soooo little.) Personally we came out the back of Naralia in California City until we connected with the 14 and turned Right for 7 miles, the sign is on the left hand side for Dove Springs. It really is not hard to navigate. If I can find it without assistance anyone can. The main road has many ruts running across it and its edges are sandy, but my PT Cruiser had no problem with it so someone with a truck should not even blink an eye. The road is easily wide enough for two-way traffic. Taking it slow on the road is a very good idea because many riders use this road to access camps and other places of interest. (Which I learned that when they "wave" they are actually showing you a number on their hand which tells you how many people are following behind them in their group) Dove Springs has lots of Joshua trees, sandy ground, hills, and several breath taking lookout places. This area caters to hill climbers, jumpers, and explorers of all ages and levels of experience. The left side all the way down in the bowl has “The Wall,” which is the crazy testosterone filled competition hill. It is fun to watch people play on the hill, but even with experience there were three separate medivac accidents this weekend alone there... not a place for sissies... or me for that matter. There are several lines running up to the top of the wall, including some angled paths at its northwest end. Prior to the bowl all the way down the main road are some longer lower climbs with harder ground, for people like me who are not really into being air lifted to hospitals. There is however, plenty of vegetation to make for great scenery everywhere in the park. This riding area is very large. You can see the dark El Paso Mountains to the northeast, Red Rock Canyon State Park to the east and southeast, the California City buttes to the south, the San Gabriel Mountains on the southern horizon, and the Sierra Nevada's to the west. Walking in the mornings or at sunset really offers some truly picturesque views. Campsites are primitive to say the least, as there are no established campsites and absolutely no running water anywhere to be had. Camping is open in any open turnout, with respect to vegetation of course. The entire area is open to day use or overnight use. There are two latrine bathrooms in the bowl with (again) no running water, and limited toilet paper. (So hike in your own) Fortunately, we had several toy haulers with full bathrooms for the women and the little kids who were not old enough to ride the quads to the latrines. But if that is not an option for you you might want to set up camp in the bowl, there is plenty of spots for it. There are no fees; no reservations accepted (first come-first served). The biggest thing to remember is having your "Green Sticker" OHV registration is mandatory for ALL vehicles which are not "street legal".Vehicles must have legal headlights and taillights if they are used at night. And trust me they were checking. The boys had a blast. Watching Colton get squirmy on the quads made me both happy, and uneasy all at the same time. I have always said this is boy mecca out here, but you should see some of these girls... I would not mess with them for sure! We had one woman in our group who broke her leg, but still walked on it, showered, visited and 18 hrs later went to Pinecrest Hospital to get X-Rays before finding out yep, she snaped it... a clean break. All I can say is they grow them tough out here, and this is no place for a princess...but man, did I have fun! The shuttle even came in when we were out there, and for a millisecond I felt bad I was not at a staging area watching my baby come in, or sitting down at Domingo's stalking the astronauts. :) I guess they lucked out this time. The space princess was playing Tom Boy, and soaking up watching her boys having the time of their lives... out in the dunes. Going on trial rides into Last Chance Canyon with the real men, and women of this great desert, getting dirty, and playing hard. I had the time of my life. Here is to good friends, and good times. I hope to be invited back sometime because that was just way too much fun.