Odessa Canyon (45.22 miles away)
Barstow, California
El Mirage 2780
Scout Route
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EL Mirage 2780 (EM2780) follows the desert basin floor and over rolling hills, eventually reaching the western foothills of the Shadow Mountains. The highest hills provide panoramic views of the northeastern desert anchored by the twin Red Buttes in the foreground and Harper Dry Lake, visible as a white patch in the distance. Connecting with Princess Pat Mine Road, EM2780 is a gateway into the network of rugged trails once used by the many mines located in the Shadow Mountains.
The El Mirage Subregion is a Limited Use Area requiring vehicles to stay on designated trails. The trails are marked with well-spaced signs to recognize if you are on the trail.
A two-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance and a beginning offroader will do fine on this particular trail, but venturing further into the Shadow Mountains trail network requires an experienced driver in a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle with a low gear range and all-terrain light truck tires.
Many tortoises are in the area, and a vigilant eye is needed to avoid them as they slowly cross the trail.
There are many suitable locations for dispersed camping on this route, but few previously used sites with rock campfire rings exist.
