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Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area offers a diverse landscape for off-highway vehicle recreation. The area is characterized by steep rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, and winding sandy washes. Elevations range from 5,000-foot Stoddard Peak, to 2,800 feet at Turtle Valley. Vegetation consists of creosote scrub, some annual grasses and wild flowers and the Joshua tree, symbol of the Mojave Desert.
Most of the area visitors ride motorcycles or ATVs, or tour the area in four-wheel drive vehicles. The easily accessed areas off the Sidewinder Road exit are used extensively for OHV free play. The area is also used extensively for competitive racing events by permit. There are many occasions for hiking, rock scrambling, rock hounding, and plant, bird and wildlife watching. There are desert tortoise, a state and federally listed threatened species, within the riding area. NOTE: There are many deep mine shafts in the riding area! Please avoid these areas and camp away from mine shafts!
