Journey into the heart of Southern California’s desert along the Bradshaw Trail National Back Country Byway which once served to carry minors and early settlers across the desert. The Bradshaw Trail offers an exciting backcountry driving experience transversing through sandy and remote desert, historic sites such as Native American ceramic sites and previous military sites can be found across the entire route. Open year-round, the Bradshaw Trail is perfect it is for wildlife viewing, offroad driving, scenic views of the arid landscape, or exploring significant cultural sites.
Byway Details
The byway is located in Southern California running between Blythe and Mecca California. The 70-mile route highlighting the Central Riverside Country gives visitors scenic views of the surrounding deserts, diverse flora and fauna, and opportunities to learn more about the people who navigated this rugged terrain across history.
Bradshaw Trail Back Country Byway exists within Chuckwalla National Monument which preserves 740,000 acres of land, preserving some of California’s most scenic, biodiverse, historical, and treasured landscapes. Bradshaw Trail Back Country Byway is on the boundary of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, an active bombing range, so travelers should take great care to remain on designated roadways.
Attractions & Features
- Historic Native American educational sites such as ceramic digs.
- Sandy offroading trails for appropriate vehicles with 4-wheel drive
- Picnic and camping areas overlooking the mountains and deserts.
- Opportunities to observe wildlife including wild burro, bighorn sheep, migratory birds, and several desert reptiles.
Byway Designation
The Bradshaw Trail Back Country Byway was designated as a Type III byway in 1992. This designation recognizes the route's scenic, cultural, historic, recreational, educational, scientific, and wildlife values. Categorized as a Type III byway this trail requires 4-wheel drive or other vehicles of that sort due to sandy stretches, seasonal closures of rough areas, and the remote locations the trail traverses. The Bradshaw Trail National Backcountry Byway is administered by BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office with the assistance of state and local partners.
Camp Observer
