OFF-ROAD PARK
SPOTLIGHT
•
By Tom Sever in
OFF-HIGHWAY
^VEHICLE AREA
T h e R a s o r O H V is s a n d w i c h e d
between the western e d g e of the
Mojave National Preserve a n d Afton
Canyon. Most people access the area
from 1-15 at the Rasor Road exit
{about halfway between Barstow and
Baker. CA)
Rasor OHV Is an open riding area.
As long as you are inside the OHV
cross-country vehicle, travel is permitted Campmg is allowed anywhere hn
the open area. On long holiday weekends expect to see plenty ol campers
and toy haulers Triere is no shooting
allowed and no glass beverage bottles are allowed (empty or not )
if you stay o n Rasor road until it
e n d s at the border of t h e Mojave
National Preserve, you will reach the
ruins of Rasor Station of the n o w
defunct Tonopah a n d Tidewater
Railroad (T&T). It w a s n a m e d for
1
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70
ORA
Clarence Rasor w h o w a s the chief
engineer. All that is left of the ghost
stationmaster's house, bunkhouse.
toolshed and water tank are the foundations. It is a popular c a m p spot
today with several shade trees.
The O l d Mojave Road cuts through
the middle of the OHV on its way from
the Colorado River to the Coast
Half or more of the OHV is in the
Mojave River Roodplam The dividing
line is Shaw Pass over the Soda
Mountains Shaw Pass was named for
Army Surgeon Or Shaw Accompanied
by a soldier who was carrying the US
mail, he was killed by an Indian arrow
tnrough the neck while traveling this
section of the Mojave road in October
1867 Shaw is buried at Soda Springs,
the location of current day ZZYZX. CA
The heavy sand that blows from the
Mojave Flood plane is a major attrac-
tion tor off road use The area has a
number of small dunes. Somewhat
hidden to the southwest is one major
bow) that c a n provide hours of fun.
The Union Pacific railroad tracks form
the southern border. West along the
tracks toward Afton Canyon, is the old
railroad watering stop of King. There are
no rums left except the gravesite of
Defores Holland. The daughter of a railroad worker, she died as an Infant in
1931. Some distant relatives maintain
the site and decorate it for each holiday
The b e d of the o l d T&T Railroad
forms the Southeastern boundary of
the OHV area a n d the Moiave
National Preserve. Just b e y o n d the
Rasor Station, y o u c a n find the o l d
T&T RR b e d
The remote Rasor OHV might jusl
become your new favorite destination
in the desert. Enjoy exploring' a
F&BUAP.Y2013
I
m
MAP
Surface Management Status DevfT
Access Guide - Soda Mountains
blm cjoWavsVen/infcvWNcMnern_
Map html
GPS
1-15 Si Rasor Road Exit
N35 0B.O92W116 12.739
Rasor Road & Mojave Road junction
N35 06.52OW116O8 621
Rasor Ghost Station
N35 05.438 W116 07 669
Shaw Pass
N35 05 6O6W116 10 699
Dolortti Holland Grave
N3S 02.763 W116 12 742
SOURCES
BLM - Barstow Field Office
760-252-6000
blm. gov/cW* t/en/l Q/bn • i tow;- j >c'. 'i:
ml
Friends of the Mojave Road
lnrfoOmdhca org
mdhca.org/
A lent, line of small duaei ran north and south in the Mojave River wash not tar
from Shaw east
Badlands Off-Road Adventures,
Inc.
310-374-6047
4x4traininig com
roandiMaai at Rasor Railroad Stalloe of the Toaopah aad Ttdawalar Railroad.
Dolores Holland'! grave at the old King railroad watering station with Cave Mountain
In thai
Looking wast on Hit Mojave Road. Shaw pass is ta the V defined or the moamtain range.
One of several old foundations near a wall thai at one lime had a windmill. II Is hard to emriataa why It anas ha the middle of the Mojave River wash. Cava Mo ante In In the baefcgroend is an
the western edge ol Rasor OHV at the entrance of Alton Canyon Basin fioad runs In front of
Cave mountain out to 1-15 (Basin EUt).
The BUM Desert Access map cost $4. The bigredIfcea la the Mojave Road cutting Ihroagh Rasor
OHV. The Thai brow a/red line on the north it 1-15.
A b o u t Badlands Off-Road
A d v e n t u r e s , Inc
Badlands Off-Road Adventures conducts training classes and tours for
off-highway enthusiast of all skit lewels The website is 4*4training.com
Tom Severin has 40 years of off-high
way driving, inducing patrolling as a
former Deputy Wildlife Conservation
Officer and former Sheriffs Deputy.
Sevenn s a certified 4 Wheel Drive
Trainer, a Wilderness First Responder
and Master Tread Lightly! Trainer
Rules & RegalatioM (BLM wok tile)
• Draining of holding tanks, littering and trash dumping Is
prohibited. Pack It In, Pack ft Out!
• All vehicles must have a muffler or spark arrester and have
either a street-legal license or be registered as an ofl-Ngtiway
vehicle.
• Vehicles being operated at night must have head and tall
lights
• Helmets are required on all ATVsl Also, then am no
passengers allowed on ATVs
' Digging up or destroying trees and shrubs or harassing
wildlife or livestock is prohibited.
• The desert tortoise is a federally protected species Please
do not handle or disturb these animals; Look, but don't
Touch!
• It i i illegal to damage or destroy arc Geological sites or
remove artifacts,
• Possession or use of any glass container, empty or not, used for
carrying any liquid for drinking purposes is prohibited (43 CFR 8361.1-6).
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