King of Hammers
Progressive King of Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries.If you’re a returning fan year after year, or it’s your first time as a participant (formerly known as spectators) at King of the Hammers, you’re in for a wild ride and memorable experience! Check out the participant FAQ section for lots of great information regardless how many times you’ve attended, view the schedule of events here, and like or follow our social media pages as we build excitement and charge toward the Progressive 2023 King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries! Please Note: All Spectators will receive a spectator area map at the front gate on Boone Rd. Spectating is only allowed in designated spectator areas during active race hours for all races that utilize the spectator viewing areas.
Johnson Valley is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver. It is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Elevations range from 4,600 feet at Hartwell Hills to 2,300 feet at Melville Dry Lake. Vegetation consists of creosote scrub, annual grasses, wild flowers and Joshua Trees. The 188,000 acre OHV area is open during the week long King of the Hammers event to visitors from across the world. We ask that you take our spectator rules into consideration to ensure your trip is a safe and enjoyable vacation.
Access: The riding area can be entered from Highway 247 at Old Woman Springs Road or Camp Rock Road, 55 miles southeast of Barstow. Most visitors access the area off Camp Rock Road by driving north off of Highway 247. Staging for many competitive events is at Anderson Dry Lake, 10 miles north of Highway 247 and east of Camp Rock Road. These are graded dirt roads. King of the Hammers main camp takes place off Boone Road and is the southernmost entrance to the JVOHV area. Off Highway 247 in the town of Johnson Valley. Base camp or “Hammertown” is located on Means Dry lakebed. Because of the number of routes into the park please be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Activities: Most visitors tour the area in four-wheel drive vehicles. The area near Anderson and Soggy, and Means Dry Lakes is used extensively for competitive racing events and OHV free play. There are numerous opportunities for hiking, rock hounding, and wildlife watching. The eastern boundary is shared with the Twenty-nine Palms Marine Air-Ground Combat Center. DO NOT enter this area. Make sure you have the proper supply of drinking water at all times even in winter. The terrain is extremely difficult to navigate.
Rules for recreational visitors to Johnson valley are as follows;
Helmets are required on all ATVs and UTVs! Also, there are no passengers allowed on ATVs.
All vehicles must have a muffler or spark arrester and have either a street-legal license or be registered as an off-highway vehicle.
Vehicles being operated at night must have head and taillights.
The desert tortoise lives here and is a federally protected species. Please do not handle or disturb these animals.
Camping is allowed anywhere within the riding area that does not block travel on a road and is limited to 14 days.
Possession or use of pallets or wood containing nails is prohibited (43 CFR 8365.1-6).
Note: Possession or use of any glass container used to carry any liquid for drinking purposes is prohibited. (43 CFR 8361.1-6)
Do not burn pallets or wood with nails!
Fireworks are not allowed in the JVOHV area.
It is unlawful to dump onto the ground RV waste water tanks.