Early January Run - Red Rocks Canyon State Park

Red Rocks Canyon State Park is located 25 miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14, near Cantil. Signage indicating the turnoff is clearly visible on Highway 14. Temperatures during the day around 50's going down to 20's at night. Camping is available but other accommodations are close in Mojave about 15 miles down the road.

Red Rocks Canyon State Park

When: January 8 - 10. 2010
Trails from Wells Book

Bonanza Gulch #73 - Moderate
Time: 5 hours
Distance: Entire route covers 27.6 miles. Shorter trail is 15.7 miles

The first half of the route through Bonanza Gulch is easy. Second half crosses remote, mountainous terrain where the trail is narrow and rocky in a few places. Route finding is complex so pay close attention to directions. Suitable for most stock SUV's with high ground clearance and low range gearing. DO NOT go alone.

Opal Canyon #74 – Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 20 miles

One section of Opal Canyon is very narrow, steep and rocky. Part of Last Chance Canyon follows a sandy wash where you’ll need to air down. Trails suitable for stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Remote location: DO NOT go alone.

Rand Mountain #75 - Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Distance: 17.2 mile loop

Lower portion of the trail is easy, but as you climb higher into the mountains, the trail becomes narrow, steep and rocky in places. Suitable for aggressive stock, high clearance four wheel drive SUV’s. Not for wide oversized vehicles. Light brush may touch vehicle. Use caution: many open mine shafts are located throughout the area. Route finding is complex with many crisscrossing roads at the top of the mountain.

All these trails are Moderate. Your vehicle should at least have a 3" Lift, Skid Plates and All Terrain Tyres, Lift Jack and First Aid Kit.



Update 12/28/09
Accommodations - We drove through Mojave today on the way back from Las Vegas and there are quite a few hotels around. They are between 20-30 miles from the trails we are going to be doing. California City is closer and it seems like there are plenty of hotels there as well although we have not seen those.

There was a little snow at 4000 feet coming over 58 but didn't see any that would be a problem.


Update 1/4/10
OK, Here's the plan.
We're going to head down early Friday morning to secure the Sears Cabin which is about 8 or 9 miles in the Bonanza Gultch trail. Looks like a cool place to base camp and according to Spertierra on So Cal it's the best cabin. 6 cots and sleeps more on the floor and it has a wood stove.

Here are the co-ordinates of the Sears Cabin

35.447093, -117.880629

We then could meet up with others mid day, in Mojave or where ever, to do one of the shorter trails that afternoon and everyone could meet up at the cabin that evening and finish Bonanza Gultch on Saturday.

Expressed Interest so far, let us know if and when please.
CowboyCEO
BZ
The gunslinger1999(aka Ryan)
Munkay
Studovich
potatomutato
Sonof40
MOTORDRIVE


So Cal Interest.
Mtnmauler
expatoz
spertierra
FJ-Piper


Update 1/5/10
If for some reason we can't get the Sears Cabin we'll try to find an alternate and post it up.
If anyone wants to show up Saturday AM let's say 10:00 am meet up and 10:30 am departure from Wells Book, #73 Bonanza Gulch Trail, way point 03, 35°25'59.50"N 117°53'23.10"W, this is the intersection of EP 15 and EP 30.

For Friday meet up let's say 12:30 on the west end of Mojave off the freeway right at the edge of town, there's a gas station or a hotel where FJ's will be obvious. Depart at 1:00 pm for a short afternoon run and back to the cabin in the evening.

CB Ch 31
FRS Ch 7/31