Starting Point: Intersection of Harrod Road and Camp Rock Road, 3.9 miles north of California 247
Finishing Point: Barstow Road (California 247) at mile marker 63, 15 miles south of I-40.
Total Mileage: 29.7 miles, plus 1.2 mile spur to Yucca Rings
Difficulty: Moderate (3 out of 10)

Special Attractions:

• Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings Preserve Area of Critical Environmental Concern
• Stoddard Valley and Johnson Valley OHV Open Areas
• Rock climbing area at Sawtooth Canyon (New Jacks City)

History:
The Ord Mountains were named for Major General E O C Ord of Civil War fame. The gold mining district was established around 1870, though it was not a big producer at the time. Many mines can be seen across the mountainsides. Names such as Azucar, Gold Brick, Grandview, Ord Belt, Red Hill, and Alarm drew prospectors from near and far. Some mines, including the White Dollar, extracted tungsten during World War II and continued into the 1950s. In more recent times, rock collectors have found black crystals of mottramite near the Gold Banner Mine at Ord Mountain. Some well-formed chrysocolla pseudomorphs and chalcanthite have also been found near the Modesta Claim. The Ord Mountains region, located within the Bristol-Barstow trough, is a diverse area of rocks and minerals. It is bisected by the major Lenwood Fault. Other fault lines also run through the region.

In the summer of 1957, an unusual aircraft incident occurred in the vicinity of this trail. A twin-engine Western Airlines Convair CV-240 was flying high above the Ord Mountains from Las Vegas to Los Angeles when a large explosion occurred in the rear of the plane. Despite great difficulties, the pilot managed to make an emergency landing just a few minutes later at George Air Force Base near Adelanto. The plane landed with all but one passenger still on board. It seems the explosion happened in the restroom at the rear of the plane, where the one missing passenger was thought to be. The following day, a search party found the missing passenger’s body, minus a couple of fingers, high in the Ord Mountains. Criminal investigations revealed the man had purchased two life insurance policies just hours before boarding the plane.

Trail Description:
The Ord Mountain Route Network links the Stoddard Valley and Johnson Valley OHV Areas with a series of marked trails. No cross-country travel is permitted within the area; vehicles must remain on marked trails. However, there is an extensive newtork of marked trails for 4WDs, ATVs, and motorbikes to explore. This route traverses the region from south to north, passing highly scenic areas and interesting features along the way.

The well-used, sand trail leaves Camp Rock Road and runs up the gently sloping, creosote-covered terrain. A number of large and spectacular granite boulders and outcrops are passed as the trail enters the Johnson Valley OHV Area.

The trail passes yucca rings in the Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings Preserve. The rings are a short distance from teh main rout along a spur trail. The rings of Mojave yuccas have diameters of as much as 20 feet and are composed of as many as 130 stalks. They are extremely rare, and the oldest are though to be at least 2,100 years old. The main area of the preserve is fenced, but it is easy to see some fine examples from the fence line. Smaller examples can be found outside the fenced area to the left of the trail.

The trail crosses graded dirt Camp Rock Road before winding its way through the Cinnamon Hills Restoration Area on the eastern edge of the Ord Mountain Route Network. This area of multicolored hills and granite boulders is a great place for photographers wanting some unusual shots of Mojave Desert scenery. Although it is not clearly marked, no camping is allowed within the Cinnamon Hills in order to protect the desert tortoise. Some individual sites are posted with “No Camping” signs, but the entire area at the north end of Tyler Valley is off limits to campers as well. Outside of this area, camping is permitted within 50 feet of the road in previously used areas. There are plenty of pretty sites to choose from.

The trail skirts the edge of Ericksen Dry Lake in Tyler Valley before existing to the north, passing west of Ord Mountain. It intersects with Daggett Wash Trail before swinging west and following a series of small formed trails that leads pas the remains of the Anita Mine (only tailings and blocked in adits remain). The trail joins a graded pipeline road and follows it out to the end on California 247, 15 miles south of Barstow.

Opposite the finishing point of the trail, a graded road goes 1.7 miles to a popular and challenging rock climbing area. This area, shown on maps as Stoddard Ridge, is called Sawtooth Canyon by the Bureau of Land Management. Many rock climbers refer to the area as New Jacks City. This internationally renowned area offers climbs to suit all abilities, including some of the toughest and most technically challenging climbs anywhere. However, it is also a prime nesting habitat for prairie falcons and golden eagles. Rock climbing may be restricted in the future during nesting season. For the sake of the birds, the BLM requests that you not climb in the area between mid-February and June.

Route Directions:

0.0 – Trail starts at the intersection of Harrod Road and Camp Rock Road, 3.9 miles north of California 247. Turn northeast on paved Camp Rock Road, following sign to Johnson Valley OHV Area; then immediately turn east onto wide, graded Granite Road and zero trip meter.
GPS Waypoint N34° 30.10′ W116° 52.39′

1.0 miles – track on left and track on right

1.9 miles – bear left and follow under power lines. Two tracks on right. Trail enters Johnson Valley OHV Area at sigh; then track on left. Many tracks on left and right within OHV area. Only major ones are mentioned in directions.
GPS Waypoint N34° 30.08′ W116° 49.34′

4.8 miles – 5-way intersection. Bear first right onto Squaw Bush Road
GPS Waypoint N34° 30.97′ W116° 46.42′

5.0 miles – turn left onto Firethorn Road

5.1 miles – Turn right at 4-way intersection, continuing under power lines
GPS Waypoint N34° 31.01′ W116° 46.18′

6.7 miles – 4-way intersection. Turn left away from power lines and zero trip meter. Straight ahead is the spur to Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings Preserve.
GPS Waypoint N34° 31.46′ W116° 44.52′

Spur to Yucca Rings
0.0 – Proceed northeast on graded road, remaining alongside power lines.

0.6 miles – cross through wash

1.2 miles – Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings Preserve on right
GPS Waypoint N34° 32.02′ W116° 43.43′

Continuation of main trail
0.0 – Continue to the northwest

2.1 miles – Anderson Dry Lake on right

3.0 miles – Bear right and cross through wash on concrete ford.
GPS Waypoint N34° 33.57′ W116° 46.42′

3.4 miles – Turn left onto graded dirt Camp Rock Road at information board for Johnson Valley OHV Area. Leaving OHV area. Zero trip meter.
GPS Waypoint N34° 33.68′ W116° 46.90′

0.0 – continue to the southwest

0.1 miles – Turn sharp right on formed trail marked OM 30, suitable for 4WDs, ATVs, and motorbikes.
GPS Waypoint N34° 33.67′ W116° 46.88′

1.9 miles – Track on right and track on left under power lines is OM 10
GPS Waypoint N34° 35.25′ W116° 47.21′

4.2 miles – Track on right is OM 17
GPS Waypoint N34° 37.13′ W116° 48.12′

4.7 miles – unmarked track on left and track on right.

5.2 miles – Track on left and track on right along gas pipeline. Zero trip meter.
GPS Waypoint N34° 37.45′ W116° 49.01′

0.0 – continue to the west

0.4 miles – unmarked graded road on left.

0.6 miles – two unmarked tracks on right at south end of Tyler Vallery
GPS Waypoint N34° 37.67′ W116° 49.52′

1.1 miles – Marked track on left is continuation of OM 30
GPS Waypoint N34° 38.00′ W116° 50.01′

1.2 miles – Bear right across Tyler Valley onto OM 7
GPS Waypoint N34° 38.06′ W116° 50.07′

1.3 miles – Bear left onto smaller formed trail, marked OM 07 to SV 183; then immediately bear right
GPS Waypoint N34° 38.15′ W116° 50.04′

1.6 miles – T-intersection along pipeline road.
GPS Waypoint N34° 38.30′ W116° 50.20′

2.0 miles – Track on right into private property.

3.7 miles – exiting Tyler Valley

5.0 miles – track on right
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.24′ W116° 50.36′

5.5 miles – Entrance to private property on right

6.3 miles – 4-way intersection with Daggett WAsh Trail (SV 183 and OM 7), which is straight ahead and to the right. Zero trip meter and turn left onto SV 183 along pipeline. OM 7 continues straight ahead.
GPS Waypoint N34° 42.46′ W116° 50.35′

0.0 – continue to the west.

0.2 miles – turn left onto small, formed trail marked OM 3
GPS Waypoint N34° 42.36′ W116° 50.57′

2.6 miles – cross through wash

2.8 miles – enter wash

2.9 miles – exit wash

3.0 miles – Anita Mine on left
GPS Waypoint N34° 40.95′ W116° 52.85′

3.1 miles – unmarked track on left

3.4 miles – unmarked track on right
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.08′ W116° 53.16′

3.8 miles – unmarked track on right

4.4 miles – T-intersection with pipeline road (SV 183). Zero trip meter.
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.59′ W116° 54.11′

0.0 – continue to the southwest

0.1 miles – cross through wash. Many wash crossing for next 3.6 miles

1.1 miles – track on left is OM 2
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.19′ W116° 55.22′

1.5 miles – Cattle guard; then cross through wash. Track on left up wash is OM 2
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.15′ W116° 55.57′

1.7 miles – pass through fence line

2.2 miles – unmarked track on left. Track on right is OM 2
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.12′ W116° 56.37′

3.0 miles – track on left up wash is OM 6
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.14′ W116° 57.25′

3.2 miles – track on left is OM 5
GPS Waypoint N34° 41.09′ W116° 57.41′

3.7 miles – Trail ends at paved Barstow Road (California 247), 15 miles south of I-40, Turn right for Barstow; turn left for Lucerne Valley. Dirt road opposite goes 1.7 miles to the popular rock climbing area of Sawtooth Canyon (New Jacks City).
GPS Waypoint N34° 40.86′ W116° 57.92′

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