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The “new” King of the Hammers OHV trail was announced as an unnamed race-course feature, not as a newly approved permanent public trail. A January 21, 2018 UTV Guide preview said the UTV race would include a “Completely new trail that has not even been names yet.” No final name, map coordinates or separate public-trail approval appears in the available record. The opposition documented later concerns the race’s environmental effects, temporary closures, military coordination and airspace—not a formally identified trail with its own opposition campaign.
What is the new King of the Hammers trail?
It is an unnamed section of the 2018 King of the Hammers UTV race course in Johnson Valley, California. Jon Crowley’s January 21, 2018 UTV Guide preview described it as a completely new trail, but did not provide a permanent designation, route map or public-trail application.
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What else changed in the 2018 UTV course?
The preview also said Cougar Buttes would appear in the UTV race for the first time. It identified Spooners and Outer Limits—routes previously used by the 4400 class—as sections that would be used by UTVs. Those named areas should not be treated as proof that one of them was the unnamed new trail; the preview listed them separately.
Is the trail permanent or only for the race?
The documented evidence supports a temporary race-course feature, not a permanent OHV trail open under ordinary public-use rules. There is no cited record naming the route, giving it coordinates or confirming a separate BLM approval for year-round public riding.
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King of the Hammers operates through event-specific federal authorizations. The 2022 BLM and Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command environmental assessment considered Hammerking Productions’ proposal to run races on BLM and military land from 2023 through 2027. The associated actions included a BLM Special Recreation Permit, a BLM land-use permit and a Department of the Navy license.
| Question | What the record establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Does the route have a final name? | The 2018 preview called it unnamed. | No later final name is supplied. |
| Is there a published route map? | The cited preview contains no coordinates or map for the feature. | A permanent public-trail alignment is not confirmed. |
| What legal framework applies? | Race permits and temporary land-use authorizations cover the event. | Those permits do not, by themselves, create a permanent public trail. |
Why are people unhappy about the proposed OHV trail?
The strongest documented objections address the effects of the race program and the conditions under which Johnson Valley is used, rather than a named trail. The Desert Tortoise Council questioned whether the environmental analysis adequately addressed cross-country vehicle travel, invasive weeds, fugitive dust and monitoring.
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How do King of the Hammers closures affect ordinary riders?
BLM selected a closed-course alternative in its decision record because restricting the race area to event-authorized people reduced interaction between racers and casual recreationists. The closures are temporary and tied to event safety, not a permanent loss of the entire Johnson Valley OHV area.
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What happened for the 2026 event?
BLM announced a temporary closure from January 29 through February 7, 2026. Its December 17, 2025 notice said approximately 81,000 acres of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area would be closed while approximately 46,000 acres remained open to the public. The five-year closure authorization runs through 2027.
How large is the race footprint?
BLM and MAGTFTC environmental material describes approximately 202 race-course miles in Johnson Valley’s OHV and Shared Use areas, plus approximately 39 miles inside the Combat Center’s exclusive military-use area. The split is one reason the event requires coordination among civilian land managers, the military and race organizers.
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Yes, outside posted closures and other restrictions. Johnson Valley is a BLM-managed Mojave Desert OHV landscape with steep red-rock 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.
During King of the Hammers, riders must follow the current BLM closure notice, barricades and event instructions rather than assume that a familiar route remains available. Areas outside the temporary closure can remain open, but military-use boundaries, event controls and ordinary BLM regulations still apply.
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What changed in the Marine Corps airspace proposal?
The airspace dispute is a later, separate access issue. In 2025, the BlueRibbon Coalition said a proposed Marine Corps Special Use Airspace overlay threatened OHV access and King of the Hammers operations. The concern was not limited to trail riding: new airspace restrictions could affect event logistics, emergency response and how the Shared Use Area is reached and used.
SEMA reported in its 2026 update that the final environmental assessment added a 1,500-foot minimum altitude over the public Shared Use Area, limited airspace use to 60 days per year and committed the military to coordinating with King of the Hammers. SEMA also said Federal Aviation Administration approval was still pending in that update, so the revised safeguards were not the same as a fully completed regulatory process.
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What should riders take from the “new trail” story?
“New trail” describes a 2018 UTV race-course announcement whose final identity and permanent status were never established in the cited material. The practical issues for riders are current closure boundaries, permitted race activity, environmental safeguards and the evolving relationship between public OHV access and military training. Treat the race route as event infrastructure unless BLM later publishes a separate trail designation and operating rules.
FAQ
Is Cougar Buttes the unnamed new trail?
Not according to the 2018 preview. Cougar Buttes was identified as a first-time UTV venue, while the unnamed trail was described as a separate addition, so the source does not establish that the two are the same place.
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Could the race route receive a permanent name later?
It could only be treated as permanent after a separate, publicly documented land-management decision. The records cited here contain no later naming announcement, coordinates or public-trail designation.
Can I assume a race section is open when no cars are visible?
No. A route can remain subject to event controls, military boundaries or posted restrictions even when racing is not visibly underway. Check the latest BLM Johnson Valley notice and on-site signs before entering an area associated with the course.
Are the airspace restrictions in force every day?
The SEMA update described a proposed framework limiting military airspace use to 60 days per year, not a year-round closure of the Shared Use Area. It also noted that FAA approval was still pending, so the final operating status must be verified against current agency notices.
Does opposition to the event mean King of the Hammers has been canceled?
No. The federal environmental decision and permit framework covered racing from 2023 through 2027, subject to the applicable permits, closures and conditions. Objections have focused on impacts and access management rather than a cancellation decision.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cougar Buttes the unnamed new trail?
Not according to the 2018 preview. Cougar Buttes was identified as a first-time UTV venue, while the unnamed trail was described as a separate addition, so the source does not establish that the two are the same place.
Could the race route receive a permanent name later?
It could only be treated as permanent after a separate, publicly documented land-management decision. The records cited here contain no later naming announcement, coordinates or public-trail designation.
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No. A route can remain subject to event controls, military boundaries or posted restrictions even when racing is not visibly underway. Check the latest BLM Johnson Valley notice and on-site signs before entering an area associated with the course.
Are the airspace restrictions in force every day?
The SEMA update described a proposed framework limiting military airspace use to 60 days per year, not a year-round closure of the Shared Use Area. It also noted that FAA approval was still pending, so the final operating status must be verified against current agency notices.
Does opposition to the event mean King of the Hammers has been canceled?
No. The federal environmental decision and permit framework covered racing from 2023 through 2027, subject to the applicable permits, closures and conditions. Objections have focused on impacts and access management rather than a cancellation decision.
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