Getting Oriented
El Mirage sits in the high desert above the Cajon Pass, between Adelanto and the El Mirage town site on the lake's south shore. The site is a fenced and gated BLM recreation area; entry is at the contact station at the south end of the lakebed off El Mirage Road. The Bureau of Land Management's Barstow Field Office manages it.
The lakebed is the recreation area's defining feature. Around the lake the BLM manages a buffer of open desert that's part of the Western Mojave Off-Highway Vehicle Management Plan. Vehicles cross the lakebed and ride the surrounding washes; ultralight aircraft use a designated area on the lake's east side.
What to Expect
The lakebed is six miles long and a flat hardpan playa that takes vehicle traffic without degradation when dry. Top-speed runs by the SCTA happen on scheduled events; the rest of the year the lakebed is open to ordinary OHV use. The surrounding desert is dispersed-use OHV ground with a network of unmarked desert routes through creosote flats and sandy washes.
El Mirage is a beginner-friendly destination because the lakebed is flat and visibility is good. It is not a technical destination; trucks looking for hill climbs or rock sections head to Johnson Valley or El Mirage's eastern neighbor, Stoddard Valley.
Vehicle and Permit Rules
- BLM site permit required: $15 day, $30 weekly, $90 annual.
- California Green Sticker or Red Sticker registration is required for OHVs not registered for street use.
- Street-legal vehicles must carry current registration.
- Helmets are required for all motorcycle and ATV operators and passengers.
- Eye protection required for all open-cockpit OHV operators.
- Spark arresters required on all motorized vehicles.
- Wet-lakebed driving is prohibited; the bed closes after rain to protect the surface.
- Ultralight aircraft area on the east side is designated and separately managed.
Site Facilities
- Contact Station. Entry kiosk at the south end of the lakebed, with permits, vault toilets, and limited camping information.
- Day-use parking. Open lakebed parking; staging is informal.
- Camping. Primitive camping is allowed within the recreation area boundary; no developed sites, no water, no hookups. Vault toilets at the contact station.
Where to Camp
Primitive camping is allowed inside the BLM recreation area boundary. No developed sites, no water, no hookups. Camp out of high-traffic lanes and pack out trash. The 14-day BLM dispersed-camping limit applies. Adelanto and Phelan have private RV options 9-15 miles away; Mojave River Forks Regional Park offers developed camping 25 miles south.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Don't drive the lakebed when wet. The hardpan turns to mud and damage closes the area.
- Watch for the SCTA event schedule. Top-speed runs close the lakebed to recreational use during scheduled meets.
- Carry water. There is no water on-site beyond what you bring.
- The lakebed reflects heat brutally in summer. The reliable season is October through April.
- Cell coverage is reliable on the lakebed but drops in surrounding washes.
- Bring a windbreak for camping. The wind blows hard most afternoons.
- The ultralight aircraft area is active; watch for low-flying traffic on the east side.
