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Jun 65 min read

Mojave Desert Overlanding: Exploring Jawbone Canyon State Vehicle Recreation Area

Updated: Dec 9

Off The Beaten Path: I Took The Long Way Home From My Joshua Tree / Berdoo Canyon Off-Road Adventure


Driving the Mojave Road is not the only way to experience the Mojave Desert. I detoured through Jawbone Canyon on my way home from Joshua Tree National Park. Join me on a awesome Overlanding adventure through Jawbone Canyon SVRA. Challenging off-road driving, amazing vistas, Joshua Trees and wildflowers.



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Jawbone Station To The Intersection Of Kelso Valley Road And Piute Mountain Road


Why not make the ride home interesting? I saw a opportunity to get off the tarmac and onto some sand and dirt. This was a great chance to find out why Jawbone Canyon is loved by so many off-roaders.



Mojave Desert Overlanding Route Through A Historic Canyon 


Driving past Jawbone BLM Station on Jawbone Canyon Road you will pass 2 branches of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. It is the engineering marvel that allowed LA to grow by providing water to the City. It was not without a great deal of controversy. That is a subject for others to cover.






A GuideBook And GPS Coordinates Instead Of Wandering The Desert


My typical MO is pointing the Jeep in a general direction and going. For this trip through Jawbone I used a guidebook and GPS coordinates from Trip # 54 from this guide book. My Navigation device is my Garmin GPS Maps 66i. Click on the pictures to find them on Amazon.




Guide book and a GPS Navigation Device is a great way to find trails that match the difficulty level you can handle.


Climbing SC251: Easy Trail With Steep Sandy Sections And Awesome Scenery


I found Forest Service Road SC251 and headed up. This is Mojave Desert Overlanding. Reminiscent of my trip on the Mojave Road. Much of the scenery is very similar. There was not a Salt Flat and a pile of rocks but there was no shortage of Joshua Trees.


Looking out of the Jeep up a steep sandy hill. Forest Service Road SC251 heading West.
SC251 The First Part Of My Trip Through Jawbone

SC251 Intersects With Jawbone Canyon Road

Jawbone Canyon Road winds its way over the hills. Eventually it will pass Kelso Valley Road and keeps going all the way to Piute Mountain Road. Lots of possibilities for adventure. Click here to see the Bad Decision that got my Jeep and Trailer stuck on Piute Mountain Road.

Mountains covered with desert foliage with road passing through. Jawbone Canyon Road, well graded route through Jawbone Canyon.
Looking South East Onto Jawbone Canyon Road
Dirt road with road sign that says SC251 and a single Joshua Tree a short ways down the road. Mountains in the background.
Looking East Onto SC251 In Jawbone Canyon

Jeep Wrangler Ecodiesel and Exventure XV-3 Off-Road Trailer parked next to a Joshua Tree. Location is Jawbone Canyon Road at the intersection of SC251 And Jawbone Canyon Road.
Joshua Trees Are All Over Jawbone - Jeep And Exventure XV-3

Incredible Views All Along Way On SC123/ButterBredt Springs Road

If like me you are headed to Lake Isabella this intersection gives you a choice. Jawbone Canyon Road to Kelso Valley Road or the more scenic route. I chose to follow the guide book and drive through Butterbredt Spring Bird Sanctuary.



Road sign with "SC123", cattle guard, and sign desrcibing Butterbredt Spring Wildlife Refuge in the distance.
Turnoff From Jawbone Canyon Road Onto Butterbredt SC123

Sign at intersection of Butterbredt Spring Wildlife Sanctuary and Jawbone Canyon.
I Was Surprised To See There Was A Wildlife Sanctuary Here

 

Related Content

 

Butterbredt Is A 4WD Trail: Very Deep Sand In Places

Just another amazing drive through the desert. This is a awesome trail. Found myself wishing I was in a quad instead of a Jeep. Just in awe the entire drive. You don't have to go to Joshua Tree National Park to see Joshua Trees. They are all over Jawbone. Rocky mountains, wildflowers and awesome views.


Joshua Trees, desert foliage, Yucca Cactus with rock covered hills in the background.
Joshua Trees And Rocky Mountains- Its The Mojave

Reaching The Highest Point On Butterbredt

I had to stop when I saw this unusual trail marker. There was once a trail here but it is shut down. Hard to figure why a old plow disc was used as a trail marker.


Old farm implement disc with letters welded into it mounted on a steel pole. The letters say road closed.
Someone Went To A Lot Of Trouble To Make This Sign
Looking up hill, road closed sign created from steel farm implement disc, a barb wire fence and Joshua Trees and desert plants.
Why Did This Trail Get Closed Down?
Looking East From Butterbredt Road SC123
View east from high point on Butterbredt Road with Joshua Trees, mountains and desert off in the distance. Sky is blue with clouds.
Awesome View Looking East Into The Mojave

Heading Down Towards Kelso Valley Road


I was not that far from the West End of Butterbredt. The road went basically downhill with views of what I thought was a snow capped Piute Mountain in the far distance. One last stop for a photo looking east and up the trail.


Jeep Wrangler parked on Butterbredt Springs Road with Joshua Trees and desert brush.
Near The End Of Butterbredt

Back On The Tarmac: SC123 (Butterbredt Road) Dumps Me Out Onto Kelso Valley Road

That was a amazing ride through Jawbone. This was just one route. There are many more trails to go back and explore. I considered airing up the tires and making my way to Highway 178 but then I saw Piute Mountain Road. Click here to see the amazing campsite at 6000' and my Piute Mountain Road Adventure.


Jeep and Exventure XV-3 Trailer parked on Kelso Valley Road with hillside behind with Joshua Tree and hillside with rocks.
Jeep And Xventure Got Me Through Jawbone

 
Check Out More Great Overlanding Adventures On Muddy Ruttzz Outdoor Adventure! (Youtube Playlist)



 

Conclusion

I have camped just off Jawbone Canyon Road near the Aqueduct Pipeline many times. This was my first exploration deeper into the park. It is truly amazing. Dirt Bikers and quad folks know all about it. California Overlanders tend to gravitate towards the sexier locations like Anza Borrego, Alabama Hills and Death Valley. I will make a point of spending time in Jawbone instead of driving around it from now on when I take trips to the Mojave.



GIF of White Jeep Wrangler Unlimited towing a Exventure XV-3 Off-Road Trailer
My Overlanding Setup - Jeep Wrangler Ecodiesel And Exventure XV-3 Trailer


 

The Satellite Device I Use Everywhere I Go

A Garmin GPS Maps Satellite communication and navigation device, a map of the Mohave preserve and a compass sitting on a table.
Awesome Piece Of Technology



 

Thanks For Visiting My Blog!


Now head over to Muddy Ruttzz Outdoor Adventure on Youtube and see this video where I build the Titanium Lynskey Mountain Bike you see in the photo.


Lynskey Live Wire titanium bike leaning up against a rustic bench with a rock wall behind the bench
See The Video Where I Build This Titanium Bike


 

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