The Ultimate Off-Road Guide to Ocotillo Wells

If you are looking for the ultimate off-road experience then Ocotillo Wells is the place for you! With more than 85,000 acres of open desert, Ocotillo Wells allows off-road enthusiasts of all skill levels to explore endless twists and turns for an unforgettable riding experience. Ocotillo Wells is wide open, it's free, and it's lots of fun! If you are visiting Ocotillo Wells for the very first time here is the ultimate guide for an awesome time.

About Ocotillo Wells

Ocotillo Wells has become a popular spot for off-roading adventures because it offers various types of terrain like dirt roads and trails, sandy washes, narrow canyons, mud hills, rocky slopes, dunes and more! Whether you are a beginner or an adrenaline junkie Ocotillo Wells has something for everyone. You can ride a dirt bike, ATV, UTV, or dune buggies. It is open to the public 7 days a week and 24 hours a day so you go out and ride whenever you want. The off-road season is usually between the months of October–May so these months are usually the most crowded. What makes Ocotillo Wells different from other off-road recreational areas is that they DO NOT charge a fee to ride or camp there! Camping is permitted throughout Ocotillo Wells for up to 30 days.

How to Get There

Ocotillo Wells is an unincorporated community in San Diego County. It is located in Eastern San Diego and in Western Imperial Counties. The route you take to Ocotillo Wells will depend on where you are coming from.

If you are coming from the San Diego area:

Go East on Interstate 8 (35 Miles)
Take Highway 79 (Exit 40) toward Julian (23.2 Miles)
Turn right onto Highway 78 / Banner Road (31.6 Miles)
Turn left onto Ranger Station Road (0.3 Miles)
Ocotillo Wells SVRA access and ranger station ahead

If you are coming from the Los Angeles area:

Get on US-101 S toward I-5 S/I-10 E.
Merge onto I-10 E via EXIT 1D on the left toward I-10 E/San Bernardino.
Merge onto CA-86 S via EXIT 145 toward El Centro/Brawley.
Turn right onto Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Road/State Highway 78/CA-78. Continue to follow Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Road/CA-78.

Camping

Unlike other off-road recreational areas around, Ocotillo Wells has no designated campsites. Open camping is available throughout the area so you can literally camp out anywhere although people tend to come together and camp out in similar areas. The only areas where camping is not permitted is at Shell Reef, Devils Slide, Blowsand Hill, The Notches, or any 4X4 Training areas. These areas are usually very crowded with off-road vehicles so they want to make sure everyone is safe so they ask to stay away from these areas when choosing your campsite.

Insider Tip: Although you can camp anywhere, popular campsites are Main Street, Holly Road, Quarry Cove, and Hidden Valley recreation areas because they have limited bathrooms available.

Be Prepared

It is very important that you are prepared with everything you will need when visiting Ocotillo Wells because they provide very limited facilities. There is no running water, no trash services provided, and there are no dump stations available for RVs. There are limited bathrooms available within the recreation areas and pay showers are available in the Holmes Camp area and on Ranger Station Road. When planning your trip, make sure you have the following essentials:

Proper Gear for Riding: riding pants, long sleeve shirt, boots, goggles, helmet, gloves, goggles
Repair Tools: Always be prepared with tools in case your vehicle breaks down and you can’t get back to camp right away
First aid Kit: A first aid kit is also important to have at camp in case of an injury
Blankets/Sweaters: The temps can get pretty chilly at night so it is important to be prepared for any rapid weather changes

Insider Tip: There are resorts, hotels, motels, vehicle repair shops and restaurant in the neighboring city of Borrego Springs and Salton Sea as well.

👇 Things to do at Ocotillo Wells

Discovery Center

Your first stop when arriving at Ocotillo Wells should be the Discovery Center. This is a great place to take an in-depth look at what makes Ocotillo Wells such a special place. They have a variety of interactive displays that tell the history of Ocotillo Wells. Here is also where they have the maps of the area so you can plan your trip accordingly. While you are here, enjoy the nature trail, shaded picnic areas, and stop by later for night programs in the amphitheater.

Devil's Slide

One of the most popular mountains in Ocotillo Wells is the Devil’s Slide. This 200 ft ancient mountain was once the site of gold prospecting. There are still several old hidden mine shafts along the mountainside. This granite and sand mountain is popular because it is a great off-road climbing area for all skill levels. You have the gentle sloping sand dunes on the south side of the mountain and the thrilling mixed terrain vertical climbs that get more difficult the higher you go. The Devil’s Slide is a great mountain top to ride

Interesting Fact: People believe this mountain is haunted because people have reported seeing flickering lights near the mines at night.

Blowsand Hill

If you want to ride up and down a sand dune then Blowsand Hill is the place for you. This hill was formed by massive sand storms many years ago. It has the finest, lightest sand grains on the top and the larger, heavier grains collect at the bottom. Throughout the year, sand storms reshape and rebuild the hill making it a popular, fun spot to ride. This hill can get very crowded so make sure you are alert of your surroundings at all times.

Shell Reef

Shell Reef Mountain is composed of rock, sand, dirt, and thousands of tiny seashells, shells are the remains of a sea that covered the desert over 5 million years and ancient aquatic life. At the top of shell reef, there is a five-foot thick layer of fossilized shells that projects at an angle. No vehicles are allowed up there, but you can hike to it and view the fossilized shell reef. There is a Shell Reef Playground next to the reef where you can ride your Off-Road vehicles.

Gas Domes

The Gas Domes is a cool place to stop by and check out when riding. The gas domes are bubbling mud pools created by underground hot springs. There are some fun and thrilling terrain on your way to and from the Gas Domes as well as some pretty great views. Visiting the gas domes is a great ride because it takes you from Desert Ironwoods north to the other side of the Off-Road State Part south. You get to enjoy an awesome ride and check out some pretty cool Gas Domes on the way.

Insider Tip: Make sure to bring plenty of supplies and work out a time schedule that will put you back at camp before dark, especially with family on the ride It is a semi-long ride and the last thing you want is to be stuck out in the open desert at night.

Pumpkin Patch:

Although there are no actual pumpkins here, the pumpkin patch is definitely one of the most popular spots to visit in Ocotillo Wells. This area is filled with weird sand concretions that were made when wind and water continuously eroded the surface soil and revealed these round sandstone concretions. It has become a popular spot to stop by for some photo-ops before continuing on your ride. If you do decide to check out the pumpkin patch, you will pass though some awesome terrain to ride along the way.

Artesian Well:

Artesian Well is also another great place to stop by and check out. IT is an abandoned platform what was originally built in 1919 to drill for oil. However, instead of finding oil, they discovered geothermal water instead. Now this place is a popular landmark that riders like to check out on their way to or from a ride.

Go Out and Ride!
Ocotillo Wells is the perfect spot for a true OHV experience. From sandy washes to technical canyons, to wide open areas, Ocotillo Wells never disappoints. With being open 7 days and week and 24 hours a day, what's not too like? Open camping is available throughout the area and there are several things you can do while on your visit. Make Ocotillo Wells your next family trip and enjoy fun days of riding and camping.

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