Federal Court Orders OHV Route Closures in Mojave Desert

Published: February 4, 2026

In January 2026, a federal court judge ruled against the BLM and ordered the closure of as much as 2,200 miles of OHV routes in designated Desert Tortoise Critical Habitat in the Mojave Desert until a new route designation plan is undertaken and completed. Route closures could start as soon as late March 2026, and the BLM does have the option to appeal this decision. Although the court has spoken, and loudly, what’s next is in the BLM’s hands.

In the greater Jawbone region OHV routes to be closed are in the Rand Mountains, Red Mountain area, Cuddeback Lake, and Kramer Hills.

In the Barstow region, OHV routes to be closed are north of Harper Valley and Hinkley, north of I-15 to the Cronese Lakes, and in the Ord, Newberry and Rodman Mountains.

Here in the greater Jawbone Canyon region, OHV routes are shared not only by OHV recreationists, but also by rockhounds, chukar hunters, flower watchers, birders, landscape painters, campers, and nearby residents. We’re concerned about the loss of access to these public lands.

We’re also very concerned for our friends in Randsburg. OHV tourism drives Randsburg’s economy, but it could soon be an island in a sea of OHV route closures. We urge the OHV community to visit Randsburg NOW and return the support the local businesses have shown us for many years. We also call on Kern County and our state and federal elected officials to engage with the BLM on implementing the court order without devastating rural economies.

– Download court order

– Download Map