Places to Ride ATVs in California

Marked by mountain ranges, steep cliffs, sand dunes and miles of coastline, California's contrasting terrain makes it an excellent place to ride ATVs. Increased demand for the recreational activity led to the creation of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program in 1971. Today the country's third largest state is home to dozens of state and national parks, many of which offer ATV, motorbike and off-highway vehicle tracks and trails.

  1. Alturas Resource Area

    • Located just outside Alturas, the Resource Area offers three trails for the mountain bike and off-road vehicle rider. The versatile Devil's Garden Route provides three miles of gravel and just over two miles of flat dirt roads. This trail boasts views of the Lassen Emigrant Trail and West Rock Creek Canyon. The 9.4-mile Likely Mountain Challenge is divided into broken highway and dirt roads with steep pulls perfect for the advanced rider. The Woodland Jurassic Ride trail offers 8.6 miles of dirt runs, gentle slopes and fairly level ground, making it a good trail for beginners and intermediate riders.

    Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area

    • In the hills of western San Joaquin and eastern Alameda counties, the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area is home to more than 1,500 acres of riding area. Three of the facilities four tracks -- the ATV/MC Track, 70cc Children's Track and 110cc Beginner Track -- are designated for ATV use. Vehicle riders of all skill levels enjoy the variable terrain, which includes rocky washes, steep canyons and gentle, rolling hills.

    Johnson Valley OHV Area

    • Johnson Valley OHV Area is about 25 miles east of Victorville off Highway 247. Marked by dry lake beds, rocky mountains, sandy washes and open valleys, Johnson Valley varies in elevation from 2,300 feet at Melville Dry Lake to 4,600 feet at Hartwell Hills. The areas around Anderson and Soggy Dry Lake are used exclusively for ATV and other off-road vehicle riding. Competitive racing events are also held on the grounds. Additional area activities include hiking, rock climbing and bird and wildlife watching.

    Hollister Hills SVRA

    • The Hollister Hills area provides nearly 88 miles of trails about an hour's drive from San Jose. The facility is divided into two sections: the Upper Ranch and the Lower Ranch. Spanning 800 acres, the 24-mile Upper Ranch trail is open to motor bikes, ATVs and other four-wheel-drive recreational vehicles, and a fenced motocross track is located here as well. As this area is often reserved for special events, guests are asked to call in advance for availability. The Lower Ranch covers 2,400 acres and has about 64 miles of trails and hill climbs.