* Being Updated. Out of Stock Until Summer 2006. *
Each Sidekick Off Road Map features:
- A State Map showing where the trail is located.
-A Vicinity Map (shown online) to guide you to the area where the trail is located.
-A Detailed Topographic Map drawn to scale. The topographical map guides you through the trail or area by showing roads, 4x4 trails, creeks, washes, gates, trail difficulty ratings, camping locations and points of interest that are numbered to correspond with the Trail Guide.
-A Trail Guide describes the trail or trails through the area. Full color photos are used to help show the area.
-The General Information (shown online) section provides background on the area.
-The Statistics Section (Stats) gives all the vital information about the area. For example: costs, nearest hospital, land manager's phone number, camping information, limits, etc..
-The Off Road Tips section includes safety, equipment and driving techniques.
THIS MAP: Stoddard Valley Map. Published 1995
Only 4 miles south of Barstow, California. This OHV designated area is managed by the BLM. Street legal or green stickered vehicles are allowed. Desert terrain, washes and plenty of climbs. Open areas and desert canyons. Easy to Most Difficult trails.
General Information
The Stoddard Valley Off Highway Vehicle Area is open to all vehicles. There are over 50,000 acres of desert mountains (very few trees), valleys and sandy washes to explore. The terrain difficulty varies from easy to impossible.
The OHV area is bounded on the north by Barstow, the west by Interstate 15 and the east by Highway 247. Except for holiday weekends and race events, the area receives low to moderate use. Each year the Firecracker 250 Off Road Race is held in the first part of July, (702) 361-5404, and in May of 1990 the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs held their annual Hi Dessert Round-Up in Stoddard Valley, (760) 332-8890.
The best access from Interstate 15 is Hodge Road or Sidewinder Road. Boulder Road and Stoddard Wells Road exits from Interstate 15 will put you onto private property and several miles outside the OHV area. From Highway 247 the best access is Stoddard Wells Road or the dirt road just north of the Slash X Cafe.
The valleys are honey-combed with trails, while the mountains have trails to challenge even the best rider or four wheeler. The Trail Guide describes many of the areas within the OHV Boundary.
The area outside the OHV Boundary is a Limited Use Area. Presently a Limited Use area restricts travel to Existing roads only. The BLM is redefining Limited Use to be travel on Designated Roads rather than Existing Roads. Once the transition is complete, a new BLM Desert Access Guide will be printed.
The Desert Tortoise lives in the California high desert. The tortoise hibernates through the winter in an underground burrow. After sleeping through the winter, the tortoise becomes active in the Spring. It is illegal to remove a tortoise from the desert. Only move a tortoise when it is in danger of being run over, and only in the same direction it was traveling and no further than necessary. The tortoise can live to be 100 years old but can die early from diseases carried by a domesticated tortoise released into the wild. If you already have a tortoise, you must obtain a permit. For more information call the California Turtle and Tortoise Club in Barstow at (760) 253-2233 or your nearest Fish & Game office.
