Once you arrive in Johnson Valley, California it's easy to see why the area is so beloved by off-roaders everywhere — simply start driving in any direction and you'll find great trails for all levels of skills and all types of off-road vehicles. Come on the trail with Johnson Valley experts in both a mildly built Jeep Gladiator and 2 UTVs and learn how to navigate this mecca of off-roading, even if you're a beginner.
What's important out here is knowing you and your vehicle's ability and recognizing when to find a new route, because there isn't a trophy for breaking down on the trail. Keep in mind that this is where the King of the Hammers race is located, and it's known for being the toughest one-day off-road race in the world, but the race course and hard-core rock crawling trails are just a fraction of what you can 'wheel out here—with so much land to cover there are many beginner-friendly trails to explore.
Mel Wade, a veteran KOH racer and off-road expert guides us through a couple of choice trails through the valley in his overland-equipped Jeep Gladiator, followed by his daughter, Harley, and friend, Chris Begley, who are both driving lightly modified Can-Ams.
If you've 'wheeled in Johnson Valley or have attended King of the Hammers we'd love to hear about your experience or any advice you'd give to newcomers — feel free to drop a comment or share your thoughts!
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00:00 Introduction
01:01 Mel Wade's Jeep Gladiator
01:32 Chris Begley's Cam-Am
01:54 Harley Wade's Can-Am
02:44 Scouting Out The Steep Stuff
03:57 King Of The Hammers
05:08 Johnson Valley's Terrain
06:02 Jeeps or UTVs/SXS
07:08 Why The Valley Is Special
08:07 Choosing Lines in Jeep vs UTV
10:49 Keeping Johnson Valley Open
11:54 Outro
Today we're rolling on:
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Nitto Trail Grappler SxS: https://www.nittotire.com/sxs/trail-grappler-sxs/
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