California Off Road Vehicle State Park Areas

California State Parks has an Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) that overseas the activities and operations of nine state parks with SVRA in their names. The SVRA stands for State Vehicular Recreation Area. If your dune buggy doesn't get you, the acronyms will.

SVRA (areas) are Off Highway Vehicle OHV parks, each with trails, tracks, restrooms, camping, shade areas, water, and usually an OHV parts store. For information on camping at these spots, ohv.parks.ca.gov


Southern California

HEBER DUNES SVRA
Heber Dunes is three miles north of the Mexican border at Highway 7 (Calexico/Mexicali) in Imperial County. It is a 343 acre SVRA popular with ATV riders, dune buggies, utility vehicles and motorcycle riders.

HUNGRY VALLEY SVRA
Hungry Valley at Tejon Pass in northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties, is the second largest unit of California State Park's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. 19,000 acres and over 130 miles of trails for all levels of motorcycle, ATV, dune buggy, and 4x4s provides challenges enough.

OCOTILLO WELLS SVRA
Ocotillo Wells is on the western boundary and part of the northern boundary connecting to the half-million acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is closed to off-road recreation. Enjoy 40,000 acres of desert off-road exploration and recreation. Outside the boundaries, to the south and east, large tracts of BLM land (U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management) are also open to off-highway vehicles. Highlights to this park include:
BLOW SAND HILL - is illuminated by a circle of headlights on many weekend nights.
DEVIL'S SLIDE is a 200 foot-high granite and sand island. Several old hidden mine shafts are said to be haunted.
BARREL SPRINGS - mesquite sand dunes where the springs seep from the ground, especially after a heavy rain.
SHELL REEF -rock or sand, fragments of fossilized oyster shells in a reef is estimated to be 4 million years old!
GAS DOMES- mysterious, volcano-like mud pots of bubbling liquid
PUMPKIN PATCH - is the result of wind and water continuously eroding the surface soil and revealing globular sandstone concretions

Central California - BEACH

OCEANO DUNES SVRA
Formerly Pismo Dunes SVRA, this sand dune complex is geologically unique in that it contains some protected dunes that may close during parts of the year, but it also provides an impressive playground for off-highway enthusiasts from throughout the United States. One of several OHV areas administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Oceano Dunes also offers visitors other recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, surf fishing, camping, and hiking. The staff at Oceano Dunes wishes you an enjoyable and safe stay.

Northern California

CARNEGIE SVRA
Located in the hills of southern Alameda and San Joaquin counties, Carnegie is one of six SVRAs administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. With a diversity of terrain ranging from rolling hills to steep canyons, Carnegie has become a popular destination for off-road enthusiasts of all skill levels.

CLAY PIT SVRA
Clay Pit is located two miles west of the town of Oroville. This 220+ acre SVRA provides a fenced open riding area for motorcycle, ATV, and 4x4 recreationists.

HOLLISTER HILLS SVRA
Hollister Hills offers recreation for motorcyclists, 4x4s, picnickers, and campers in the Gabilan Mountains just an hour's drive from San Jose. Park elevations range from 660 feet to 2,425 feet.

PRAIRIE CITY SVRA
Prairie City is situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and three miles south of U.S. 50. The area offers off-highway vehicle enthusiasts a variety of interesting terrain and trails for motorcycles, ATVs, and 4x4 vehicles.