Restrooms are closed due to covid. Other than that great place to go camping or spend the day riding ohv.
Always a good time. Land speed records and quad riding with family.
Awesome place. Plenty of space to park and theres dirt bike trails. $15 for day use. Any vehicle can enter and do burnouts on the dirt, some hard dirt and some soft. Restrooms and OHV. We went in a Dodger Charger R/T.
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.
Fun place has some nice trails and the dry lake bed is even funner, 15 dollar entry but kind of worth it
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. Id 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-Ive seen groups illegally discharge firearms out here before. Rangers and Sheriffs were quick to respond. It didnt go pretty and they do dispatch the ghetto bird. Other than that, they leave you alone. Dont take glass bottles out into the campsite/trails (kept inside cooler or in RV/trailer is ok) or burn pallets because theyll 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. Id set your campsite up with the wind in mind if its 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 its hot, Id 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 youll deal with) come with benches, fire pits, awnings. Theyre 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 youre 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. Theres 2 main trails, East Loop and West Loop, clearly marked and Novice/kid friendly. Both are fun if youre the type to get lost. Theyre loops, so youll 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 its 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 its the most windiest at the lakebed. Theyre very protective of the lake, and theyll ticket/eject you from the park if youre caught destroying the surface of the lake (burnouts that create holes, doing doughnuts that create ruts, digging holes for a fire pit, etc).
We looked at the site online and there was a statement that the lakebed area was closed, but the other riding areas were open. So my husband and son drive 2 hours to get there only to find the entire area, not just the lakebed, closed. No riding allowed.Someone needs to update the site. That was a lot of preparation and driving for nothing.
Love this place. Please take all your trash with you!
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
Great place to visit when its not crowded.
We enjoyed the day nobody bothers you and the restrooms wer clean and stocked a real nice getaway
No cops!People dont bother you.Fun times with friends and family
Been going for years still finding new trails .
Really dusty if there hasnt been any rain. Its great with a motorhome, closed when its muddy. Great place to wander around, you will get burned on a sunny day. The wind chill takes away a lot of the heat.
Great for camping, and local riding. Pretty cheap at 15 per day (use to be free) lots of rocks on the hills good jeep trails for a quick
Aside from the imbecile doing donuts in the parking area. People riding without helmets while their kids are sitting on the fuel tank. It was perfect.
We launched small model rockets on the lake bed. Great place for launch and easy recovery. Vehicle traffic was not allowed on the lake bed today so that worked out well. After rockets, we did some jeeping. That was also a lot of fun. Restrooms were clean pit toilets with toilet paper. Visitor center is kind of bare but the staff is very friendly and helpful.
Been here a few times many years ago and remember it being very windy. Came back 2018 and its still just as windy. The trails are fun, but its hard to chill at camp without having everything blow all over the place. Wont be back, ocotillo wells is 100 times better.
Great place to launch model rockets.
If you think kiteboarding, this spot will create one of the most amazing experiences you ever had, if you interested in this one-of-a-kind experience, you need to go there: El Mirage Dry Lake
I didnt actually get on to the dry lake bed. So my experiences are limited to the outskirts and surrounding areas of it but the trails and berms are nice but Rocky and full of stickers thorns I do not recommend taking your dogs to the surrounding areas but all around a good trip and fun.
El Mirage Dry Lakebed has been the site of numerous movie scenes, commercials and documentaries. Land speed tests and assorted races take place throughout the year. Groups, such as Boy Scout troops, test their model rockets in launches; while families explore the area. Others, either individually, or in groups, ride around in or on every conceivable vehicle with wheels.The sunrises and sunsets are often fantastically awesome! The afternoon winds arent usually too bad but prepare for them just in case. Nights are so quiet and the sky is so clear and dark that the stars crowd the sky. Great place to recreate!
Great place to ride for the whole family. I liked being able to go FULL throttle across the lake bed - The weekdays are the BEST as there are fewer people. Perfect for beginning/young riders. So much fun!
I recommend this place
Super fun to camp out. Have a bonfire, ride your atvs, bond with family- close getaway! It can get HOT or WINDY, check the weather before you head out.
For riding areas El Mirage is not my favorite but its very close to home. Theres a $15 fee per day that you pay at a kiosk when you enter the the El Mirage area if you want to stay longer than that its $30 for 7 days or $90 for the season. Theres a couple good Loop Trails for utvs and motorcycles and a Salt Flat for high-speed runs.
The personnel were very helpful.
As much fun as you make it. It always seems to be windy but if you come expecting it you will have for. Beautiful sunrise and sunsets.
Excellent place to hang out with friends that have dirt toy or rc planes or drones . camping Is pretty good for dry camping . you need plenty of water in the summer time .Have fun and be safe .
Grandson participated with the Jr Ranger program. Thanks to staff making that happen!Great time and well maintained will return again!
Amazing place. Staffs are very friendly
Awesome offroading place
Great place to ride. Highly recommend for drag races/trail ridding !
Best place to camp and ride in SoCal.
You pay to get in but no nails!
This place is closed as of 5-01-2020.
Great place to have fun at, everyones really friendly and easy to make friends with when out on the lake bed.
Went there many yrs ago love it now ya have to pay and its all boarded off boundaries....dont like that prob wont go back ....what a shame was better yrs. Ago
Hot but no one here during the week
Great place to go out and ride for the weekend not too far from san Bernardino
Fun times for offroading. Facilities are kept up nicely.
Good time!!
Its amazing I love it theres a bunch if dirt and I love it
Is a huge place to ride in your motorcycle love this place is a nee experience and love to camp first time there camping it was a great experience
I love this place
Excellent place for Landsailing and having a great time! Get away from the busy world and enjoy the playa!
Nice place
Dry lake fun to ride atv at full speed
Good place to ride some trails
It was awesome!
Way too Expensive and half of it is fence up just to come here when it was free was alot better
Great place to play or camp with your off-road vehicles.
Great place to ride and spend time w friends and family
Freaking roads that lured to nowhere. Parking is expensive and it closed for a week after it rains
I learned to drive stick shift here when I was a teenager. Great place for Racing!
Very small area to actually ride,lots of rocks, a experience rider can ride the whole area in under 2 hours
Great place to have fun when BLM law enforcement doesnt spoil it.
$15 for a day pass $30 for a week pass. Decent riding.
Its closed today because of the rain.
Always a fun time on the lakebed
Always a fun time
Love it here. Great for beginners
Land speed racing hosted by SCTA
Windy, dusty and no technical trails.
Clean up was a blasr
Great place to use the ATVs with the family.
No other place that we love to ride
Very fun and family frendly
This is where Linkin Park shot the video for What Ive Done.
Like it.
Great place to go off-roading
Nice place to kite buggy
It sucked horrible
Its dry and its hot
Nice trails, quiet, clean
Great
Cool plAce
Excellent dirt riding
Most favorite place to go of roading
Amazing!!!
Good place to camp
Fun place to spend a weekend playing in the desert.
Get the annual pass for $90.00 before they raise the price!