Home > California > Dove Springs

Dove Springs

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Trail Map

Other Names

East Kern County, Grass Valley, Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon, Dove Springs OHV, Jawbone-butterbredt Area, Copper Mountain, Last Chance Canyon, El Paso Mountains, Mcivers Cabin Trail, Trail 36e52, Scodie Mountains, Sequoia National Forest, Kern River Valley Ranger District

Last Known Status

Open

Located on over 5,000 acres of public land, this is the novice-friendly sister to nearby Jawbone Canyon. Most of the trails here are rated easy, and the terrain consists of rolling hills with scrub brush, sandy washes and a popular "bowl" area. Since most of the trails are beginner friendly, this is a good place to bring the family for a weekend of camping and riding.

Dove Springs borders the Sequoia National Forest, which features a 4x4 trail that ties into McIvers Cabin, which was built back in 1938 and is one of the major attractions when visiting the area. The cabin also serves as a resting spot for hikers traveling the Pacific Crest Trail. Other surrounding trails offer access to the Burro Schmidt Tunnel and the Jawbone Canyon Store, which has a restaurant and small general store.

There are many staging and camping opportunities at various points along the main access road, but bring a tire repair kit and be sure your vehicle has a spare. Nails and glass are plentiful in the staging areas and turnarounds. (We had two flats in two days!) Bring your own shade and water.

Trail Map... Nearby ATV Trails...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	CA OHMVR stickers required
Dates Open	Year-Round	CA OHMVR red sticker vehicles permitted from 9/1 to 5/31
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	Yes	Residents of any state not listed must purchase a Nonresident OHV Use Permit. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)	CA OHMVR noise limits apply (1985/older limit 101 dB, 1986/newer limit 96 dB)
Whip Flags	Not Required
Maximum Vehicle Width	No Restriction
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Permitted	CA OHMVR stickers required
ATVs	Permitted	CA OHMVR stickers required
UTV & SXS	Permitted	CA OHMVR stickers required
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Permitted
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Permitted	CA OHMVR stickers required
2 Stroke Engines	Certain Times	CA OHMVR restrictions apply
MX Helmet Required	Yes	helmets required by state law
Camping	No Restriction	(camp anywhere)
Campfires	No Restriction
Night Riding	Yes	OHVs must have street legal headlights and taillights.
Trail Blazing	Some Areas
Alcohol	No Restriction
Rule Enforcement	Few/Periodic	Dedicated Rangers/Officers

TERRAIN

Approx Size	5,000 acres (8 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	25
Climate Type	Desert
Elevation	3050 to 6500 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	Little
Hard Pack	Some
Sand	Some
Mud	Little
Dust	Mostly
Rocks	Little
Trees	None
Steep Hills	Some
Water Crossings	None
Small Jumps	Some
Large Jumps	Few
Berms	Some
Sand/Gravel Pits	None
Single Track	Few
Roads	Some
Intersections	Many
Rider Traffic	Many
Shade	None
Ranges/Gunfire	Few
Hazards	Some	(hazards not marked) nails, debris, high ditch dropoffs
Novice	Some
Amateur	Mostly
Expert	Little
Comment	easy trails - good for family day ride

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails

Land	BLM, National Forest
Comment	McIver's Cabin is located in the Sequoia National Forest.

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	5-20 Miles (SW)	Jawbone Canyon Store (866) 346-6274
Diesel	20-30 Miles (SE)	California City/Faststop Gas Station (760) 373-1212
Water	1-5 Miles (SW)	Redrock Canyon Ricardo Campground (661) 942-0662 (open to campers only, water limited to small personal use quantities)
RV Hookup	20-30 Miles (SE)	Sierra Trails RV Park (877) 994-7999
RV Disposal	1-5 Miles (SW)	Redrock Canyon Ricardo Campground (661) 942-0662 ($20 to dump, payable by debit or credit card only)
Campground	1-5 Miles (SW)	Redrock Canyon Ricardo Campground (661) 942-0662
Conv Store	5-20 Miles (SE)	California City/Faststop Gas Station (760) 373-1212

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	(None)
Riding	(None)
Camping	(None)

RATINGS

Pros	free, miles of open trails
Cons	no shade, no services, lots of nails and glass
Our Rating	Very Good
Recommended Stay	1-2 Days Spring/Fall
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

California City, CA

Trail Map

From: California City, CA
1) Take SR-14 North about 22 miles
2) Turn left (west) on SC-94 turnoff (about 100 yards after the BLM sign for Dove Springs)
3) Continue on dirt road. Stage anywhere.* (bowls to the left, plains and eventually canyons to the right).

*Note: There are a lot of nails and glass in the larger staging areas and turnarounds. Choose wisely.

OFFICIAL CONTACTS

Contact Info

BLM - Ridgecrest Field Office
300 S. Richmond Road
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 384-5400
blm_ca_web_ri@blm.gov
www.blm.gov

Contact Info	Jawbone Canyon Store 32629 Highway 14 Cantil, CA 93519-0000 (760) 373-2773 (866) 346-6274 info@jawbonecanyonstore.com www.jawbonecanyonstore.com
Comment	Open daily 8am-6pm

Contact Info

Jawbone Station Visitor Center
P.O. Box 1902
Cantil, CA 93519
(760) 373-1146
webmaster@jawbone.org
www.jawbone.org

Contact Info

Gear Grinders 4WD Club
P.O. Box 32
Ridgecrest, CA 93556
contact@geargrinders4wdclub.org

Contact Info

Fun Time ATV Rentals
63249 Hwy 14
Cantil, CA 93519
(323) 707-3478
mark@funtimeatv.com
funtimeatv.com

Contact Info	High Desert Cycle 8209 California City Blvd # 2 California City, CA 93505 (760) 373-4495
Comment	Parts and repair shop for ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes.