We went during a weekday holiday late summer. Hardly anyone around except some photgraphy crew.
Paystation is at the front. If you have questions there will be someone at the drive thru office to answer questions.
We rode on the dry lake and that was cool. This place might get packed in the weekends. There are several vault toilets surrounding the desert lake.
Later we drove on a trail. We did the West Loop Trail and the ride was good. It's highly recommended that you have a high clearance 4wd car or truck. We didn't go on the real offroad/ rock crawling/ up a cliff trail. This trail is easy to slightly moderate is some sections.
At the start of the West Loop Trail there are vailt toilets. Once inside there are none. Make sure to take water. The sun can be hot and careless driving can quickly turn into a big problem.
This place is awesome for everything dirtbikeing. side by side. Camping. Flying your ultra light. RC anything. The place is clean restrooms are ? clean. Paragliding. Raceing.crawling. wind is intense things that has to do with WIND RIDING RACING. ALSO so kiting the owners of this place keep it tidy and very nice they are very nice people always keep your belongings close to you there are crooked people around that will steal from you other than that that's normal life this place will be enjoy and memories
An awesome place to come out here for camping and ride your dirt bikes. But the coolest thing will be coming here to see the races on the dry lake bed.
This place is awesome. I have been here a few times now and I love how it's only 45 minutes away from my house. So if I ever need anything it's not that far for me to go home and get it and come back. When the dry lake bed is open it's pretty fun to see how fast your SXS or quad can go.
I love how all the trails are marked with markers when riding on the trails and they give you a nice detailed map of all the trails when you come in the gate.
We're camping in our RV and towing our Jeep. Carrie at the ranger office is so nice and explained our options on where to camp. I was surprised to learn that they have campsites with picnic tables, fire pits,and grills. There are even bathrooms nearby. The area is quiet at night, although it is midweek.
Beautiful weekend for camping at El Mirage, our 15th year of driving up here... kiddos growing up so fast ??????️? pup is running around ? enjoying his freedom ?. Low 30° last night ? day was great weather
Great open area for new drivers, there are also trails and a few obstacles, no dunes. My daughter and I went on super bowl Saturday and it was fairly empty. This place can get crowded. Overnight camping is allowed, day pass is 10 dollars I think. It is the desert so it can be either really hot or super cold. Be prepared.
I've come to El Mirage a couple of times in the last year for the SCTA runs. The first time my son and I just drove up to a kiosk and paid for the day pass. This last time there were people out stopping vehicles checking if you already had a day pass or if you needed to buy one and they directed you to where you needed to go. At that time we drove up to a side window at the main building to buy our day pass.
A lot of off-roaders like to go out to El Mirage. SCTA also uses the dry lakebed a few times of the year for their Land Speed Racing runs. I think there are also people with land sail cars, gyro copters and ultralight aircraft also use the place.
The SCTA event is located on the far western side of the dry lakebed. That requires driving across the lakebed. There seems to be two generalized routes that you can take as there is no defined route to take. One is driving along the northern end of the lake where there seems to be some kind of defacto road and the other is to just drive straight across the dry lake. Either way it's a very dusty drive. There is a speed limit on the dry lake so that you are not stirring up a giant dust cloud. In the late Spring and Summer months, it can become very very hot out on the lakebed. So make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen and anything that can provide some shade.
I'm not 100% sure, but the building where you come in on to the dry lake might have drinks and snacks there, but they are not always open. There is a convenience store in El Mirage where it's the same situation of when they are open. Otherwise your only other options are Adelanto, to the east, or Lake Los Angeles, to the west, for gas and food.
Some of the trails aren't marked too well, but they sure are fun! There is a lot of terrain to ride for any type of off-roader. The bathrooms are maintained, plenty of camp sites, and the day use fee is only 15 bucks
CAME HERE WITH MY NEIGHBOR. GETTING READY FOR NEXT YEARS BONNIVILE FLATS. SUPER FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, GREAT PLACE TO RIDE AND LET IT RIPPPPPP FULL THROTTLE. RESTROOMS ONSITE BRING A CANOPY NO SHADE ANYWHERE UNLESS YOU CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK. ? 15$ ENTEY FEE AND CAMPERS ⛺️ ARE WELCOME.
Very cool place. One of the flattest smoothest dry lake beds around. They hold land speed racing events here. Very cool for any vehicle, from 4x4 lifted Jeeps to lowered race cars.
California’s beauty can’t hide its ugly inhabitants. El Mirage was cleaner prior to the entrance fees. There’s trash, broken glass and spent ammunition on the ground. Many folks not wearing helmets, yet there’s a sign at the entrance reminding you that the law requires you or your children to take a “riders education course” if they are to ride. I’m sure that whoever was discharging their firearm had a CA Firearm Safety Certificate too. COVID19 has this place CLOSED because the sum vastness of every desert and ocean combined will not protect you from the “sickness”. Truly a beautiful landscape that you too can view through the fence.
Great place to ride. Gets crowded during holiday weekends.
Holidays-
Watch out for those who have zero respect for other campers/riders, completely ignoring camp site and main road speed limits during the holidays. This has nothing to do with El Mirage, just ignorant riders. If you have little kids be vigilant of these riders near your campsite. I'd try parking away from everyone else if you can during holiday weekends. Typical normal weekends are the best times to go during riding season. Bathrooms may get overwhelmed but they do clean them in the mornings.
The law-
I've seen groups illegally discharge firearms out here before. Rangers and Sheriffs were quick to respond. It didn't go pretty and they do dispatch the ghetto bird. Other than that, they leave you alone. Don't take glass bottles out into the campsite/trails (kept inside cooler or in RV/trailer is ok) or burn pallets because they'll ticket you. They check to make sure you bought a pass at the kiosk.
Weather-
The lake is closed during/after it rains, but the rest of the park is open (the best time to go is during/after it rains in my opinion). I recommend ALWAYS check the weather and plan/pack accordingly. This place is dusty. I'd set your campsite up with the wind in mind if it's going to be windy. Wind typically comes from the NNW (just to the right of where the sun sets). May not seem high, but anything above 15 mph winds/20 mph gusts can get unbearable, especially with the dust. The wind is unrestricted out here since there are no trees/windbreak. When it's hot, I'd recommend dusk to morning camping... Show up and ride at dusk into the night, leave mid morning next day.
Bathrooms/Campsite-
Smell like bleach every morning, really clean and stocked. Campsites are numbered (the higher the number, the less wind/dust you'll deal with) come with benches, fire pits, awnings. They're raked for metal like nails. Mostly gravel and easy to set up your trailer/RV. Watch out when going after holiday weekends... Pallets were probably burned.
Trails-
Hundreds of trails to choose from, unless you're one of those people who will ONLY ride incredibly fast around the campsites and main road, instead of the +24,000 acres available. Jeeps can experience some challenging trails as you enter the park (SSE) and the entire North side. Night riding is great here. There's 2 main trails, East Loop and West Loop, clearly marked and Novice/kid friendly. Both are fun if you're the type to get lost. They're loops, so you'll eventually circle back. Roughly 40 miles in length. 20 miles each. Think of 2 circles that link, forming an 8. Other more challenging trails are scattered throughout the park off the two loops as well. Drive slowly over blind hills, there have been accidents with severe injuries before.
Dry lakebed-
Closed when wet to preserve the dry lake. About 5 miles in length, 2 miles at it's widest point. Straight run, where you can test your top speed, or launch model rockets, etc. Rough, bumpier terrain around the edges, smoothest in the middle. Camping and restrooms available and the edges, although it's the most windiest at the lakebed. They're very protective of the lake, and they'll ticket/eject you from the park if you're caught destroying the surface of the lake (burnouts that create holes, doing doughnuts that create ruts, digging holes for a fire pit, etc).
El mirage was awesome this place I had never heard of this was my very first time its alot of fun, for camping, dirt bikes ect. its dirty but who cares the excitement of the fast cars, bikes, ect make you forget about all the dust flying into your face. Loved it so glad I went for the day and would love to go more often
Grew up riding there ! Entering in the west side before the fences & visitor center. Great place, also thank's to Calloway & the scta LSR cannot wait till 2015 season opener SHOCK WAVE - 1
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