Juniper Flats 3380

With its trailhead at the edge of the Mojave River in Apple Valley, JF3380 heads east, rising 1,800 feet on a ledge road carved into the San Bernardino Mountain foothills and reaching the Juniper-covered flats of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Juniper Flats Subregion. As the trail climbs, impressive 180-degree views are revealed to the west of the meandering Mojave River bed and the distant San Gabrial Mountains. Once reaching the top of the foothills, the sweep of the evergreen Junipers is revealed and offers shady pullouts to relax and have lunch.

The trail is an easy drive, following a maintained road that requires only a 2-wheel drive high clearance vehicle, but exploring the many intersecting trails will require a 4x4. The western portion of the trail may be intimidating as it is on a shelf road with steep drop-offs. A few sections of the trail have water-worn ditches running its length that are easily bypassed to the side. The Juniper Flats Subregion is a Limited Use Area requiring vehicles to stay on marked trails.

Dispersed camping can be enjoyed on BLM land when following the BLM Camping Regulations. The beginning of the trail offers two sizeable flat staging areas, one low and one farther up the hill, near the BLM kiosk for Juniper Flats. Once over the hills, the flats offer several suitable dispersed campsites amongst the shading Junipers. Open fires may be prohibited, and it is the responsibility of campers to know the Fire Restrictions and Regulations.