California City has been a destination for OHV riding since the 1960s. The city’s network includes more than 1,800 miles of combined roads and unpaved trails. The total conveys the scale of the network; when choosing a specific route, the characteristics of each trail are what matter. Beyond California City Blvd., 20 Mule Team Rd., and Randsburg Mojave Rd., there are miles of good unpaved roads. Most of the land within the city is private, so stay on permitted roads and routes. Alongside its motorized focus, birdwatching and seasonal wildflowers offer other aspects of a visit. When choosing the focus of your stay, motorized routes and seasonal nature watching are distinct options.
OHV Routes in California City
CC10 runs for 11 miles along unmaintained city streets. CC5 is a challenging 8.5-mile route through city utility easements. CC10 is longer; however, the mileage alone does not establish a difficulty ranking. You can consider the routes separately by length and their other characteristics: the road conditions on CC10, and the challenge and route through utility easements on CC5.
Borax Bill Park and Camping
Borax Bill Park and Station is located along the historic Twenty Mule Team Parkway. Camping at Borax Bill Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis; restrictions may apply on major holidays. Since availability can change, check current conditions before your trip.
Birdwatching and Wildflowers
The Desert Loop birdwatching route passes through California City’s Central Park. It offers a different focus from the OHV routes: here, the focus is birdwatching, while those routes are for motorized riding. Conditions and route information for birdwatching are seasonal; take this seasonality into account when planning your days.
Wildflowers can be viewed within the city limits. Each spring brings a different display of blooms; precipitation, temperature, and wind influence how they appear. For trip planning, this means thinking of nature watching as seasonal and variable, rather than expecting the same bloom each year.
The Food Navigators Program offers live cooking demonstrations and tastings. Availability may change, so check before your trip whether the program will be offered during your stay. This adds a culinary offering with its own availability conditions to the routes and nature experiences.
More Places in the Broader Kern Destination
The broader Kern destination offers additional places with a variety of themes. Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area is in eastern Kern County, next to State Route 14 on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park is accessible only through guided tours; check tour dates before your trip. Ricardo Campground in Red Rock Canyon State Park has 50 basic campsites, drinking water, pit toilets, fire rings, and tables; amenities may change. Recreation facilities at Lake Isabella are managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Discover more destinations: Lost Hills, Delano, Kernville, Arvin, Shafter, Rosamond, Mckittrick, Ridgecrest
Return to the broader travel overview: Kern.
