The Ultimate Off-Road Guide to Calico Ghost Town

The town of Calico is a mining town most known for producing millions of dollars in silver and gold in the 1880s. However, once the mines began to run out of silver and gold, people started to relocate and Calico became a ghost town. Now Calico Ghost Town has become a historic mining town where people from all over the world visit and learn about its rich history and the natural beauty of the surrounding desert environment. Since it is located in the Calico Mountains in the Mojave Desert, many off-road enthusiasts enjoy riding its surrounding desert trails. This town is filled with great family-friendly activities, shops, restaurants, camping, and much more. If you want to have some off-road fun and visit this unique town, here is the ultimate Off-Road Guide to Calico Ghost Town.

How to Get There:

Calico Ghost Town is a great place to visit with family and friends because it has a little of everything; off-road activities, museums, shops, restaurants, and a lot of historical activities. If you are planning to visit soon, here is how you will get there.

Directions from Los Angeles, CA: (approx. 2 hrs.)

Get on US-101 S toward Interstate 10 Fwy E/Interstate 5 Fwy S
Follow I-10 E and I-15 N to Daggett-Yermo Rd/Ghost Town Rd in San Bernardino County.
Take exit 191 from I-15 N
Drive to Ghost Town Rd

Directions from Phoenix, AZ: (approx. 6 hrs.)

Get on I-10 W
Follow I-10 W to Vicksburg Rd in La Paz County
Take exit 45 from I-10 W
Get on I-40 W/US-95 N in Needles from AZ-72 W and CA-62 W
Follow I-40 W to A St in Daggett.
Take exit 7 from I-40 W
Follow Daggett-Yermo Rd to Ghost Town Rd

Entry Fee:

If you are planning to visit Calico Ghost Town for the first time, know that there is an admissions fee to enter the town. If you are planning to make it a camping trip, make sure to camp in any of their Calico Ghost Town campgrounds because they waive the admissions fee and you can go in for free. If you are only stopping by, the following admissions fee apply:

Daily Admission:

Adults: $8.00
Kids (ages 4-11): $5
Kids Under 3 years old: Free
Dogs: $1/dog (excludes disabled assistance dogs) Must be on 6' leash at all times

Camping:

If you are planning to spend a couple of days at Calico Ghost Town then camping is a great option because their campgrounds offer clean, convenient, and affordable facilities. Calico offers 265 camping sites with RV accommodations with full and partial hook-ups as well as group tent camping sites. The campgrounds have access to hot showers, restrooms, grills and fire rings, and two dumping stations. If you prefer to stay at a hotel, Barstow and Yermo are the closest towns with hotel accommodations. We have listed the Calico camping prices below

RV Camping Prices:

$30/night – with no hookup
$35/night – with partial hook up
$40/night – with full hook up

Cabin: (4 people)

$65/night

Mini Bunkhouse: (6 people)

$160/night
Two night minimum on weekends

Bunkhouse (12-20 people):

$160/night
Two night minimum on weekends

Insider Tip: If you camp at one of their locations, you will receive free admission into the Calico Ghost Town.

Off-Road Vehicles Permitted:

If you are planning to take your off-road vehicle and check out the Calico Trails, make sure that your vehicle is permitted. All ATV’s, dirt bikes, buggies, and UTV’s are allowed at the Calico trails. Green or Red Stickers are required on all off-highway vehicles. Green stickers are valid year-round and red sticker vehicles are only allowed to ride from October to June. Make sure that you are wearing a helmet at all times when riding because you could get penalized if you don’t.

👇 Things To Do in Calico Ghost Town:

Mule Canyon:

When you are near Calico Ghost Town, make sure you check out Mule Canyon. This trail is one of the most unique places on the planet because you will be driving through an open desert road, canyon wash, mud, hills, and more. This trail will give you access to explore Calico’s old mining areas and some pretty amazing wildlife along the way. Mule Canyon is a fun trail for ATV’s, dirt bikes, and UTV’s alike and it is a perfect trail for all experience levels.

Odessa–Doran Loop:

If you are more of an experienced rider then you should explore the Odessa-Doran Loop. This is one of the most difficult rock crawling off-road trails that goes through Odessa Canyon, climbs into the Calico Mountains, and then descends through Doran Canyon. This trail is a short distance, but it is filled with many rock climbing obstacles, off-camber sections, and steep inclines. The scenery is amazing with so many open mines along the way. This is a must-do trail so make sure to check it out!

Insider Tip: The mines are not stable so please DO NOT explore the mines. You can put yourself and others in danger.

Off-Road to Vegas:

With Las Vegas, NV only about 2 hours away from Calico Ghost Town, many riders look at this as an opportunity to go on a little off-road adventure to Las Vegas. Enjoy the natural desert environment and explore the trails as you make your way to beautiful Las Vegas.

20 Mule Team Off-Road Adventure:

Calico Ghost Town offers the 20 Mule Off-Road Adventure Tour for all of the off-road enthusiasts that visit their town. This tour will put you on the same road as the famous 20 Mule Team Borax Wagon Train as you leave Calico Ghost Town on a 20-mile journey back in time. This educational off-road tour will take you through the famous town of Borate, a stop at Tin Can Alley, a visit to the Bismark and Odessa mining district and finally a rough journey down the famous Phillips Loop. Learn the amazing history that shaped this town while taking part in an exhilarating off-road ride.

Maggie Mine:

Although there are over 500 mines surrounding Calico, the Maggie Mine is the only safe one to enter and experience. This mine was a working silver mine in the 1880s and there is still some silver on the walls till this day. They have mining exhibits and historical displays throughout the mine to show what the miners used to look like back in the day. There is a small admissions fee to enter the mine but you do not want to miss the opportunity to walk through the tunnels and explore the different areas of the mine.

Lucy Lane Museum:

Take a break from off-roading and check out the Lucy Lane Museum. Learn more about the history of Calico Ghost Town with artifacts, photographs, and documents from the town’s origin. This museum is a dedication to Lucy and Robert Lane a couple who lived their entire lives in the town of Calico. The museum used to be Lucy Lane’s former home.

Insider TIp: There is an admissions fee for the museum.

Calico Odessa Railroad:

Take a tour of Calico Ghost Town on a train just like the miners used back in the day. The Calico Odessa Railroad tour takes you on a trip around town to see some historical sites, mining equipment, and hear some historical stories. It is a short ride but the kids enjoy it and you will be able to hear stories from the knowledgeable people who work there.

Railroad Tour Fee:

Adults (11 and over): $4
Children (5-10): $2
Children 4 and under: Free

Gold Panning:

The Calico Ghost Town is most known for producing millions of dollars in gold and silver in the 1880s. When you visit the town, you can also experience panning for gold as the miners did long ago. After you pan for gold in a stream, you will walk away with your very own fool’s gold! It is a fun activity to do with family and friends and everyone will be able to take home a souvenir from their experience.

Ghost Tour:

Calico Ghost Town got its popular name because it is supposedly haunted by the miners who used to live there back in the day. Do the ghost tour and explore the city and maybe some paranormal activity along the way as well. Make sure you the “Haunt” during Halloween time to experience some trick-or-treating, costume contests, pumpkin carving, kids carnival tents, stage shows, haunted attractions and much more.

Conclusion:

There are not many towns like Calico Ghost town in the world anymore. Calico Ghost Town is a great historical mining town that offers a variety of activities that the entire family can enjoy. Spend the morning hitting up the nearby off-road trails and the afternoon learning about the rich history that Calico Ghost Town has. You will enjoy off-roading, delicious food, amazing shops and activities, and much more! Check out Calico Ghost Town today!

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