When I got the assignment from No-Hander to write up Rowher Flat OHV, I had mixed feelings about it. After all, this place, L.A.'s dirty little secret, has been my ace in the hole for many years; I wouldn't want to screw that up by publicizing it! Just 45 minutes from my very urban West Los Angeles home (if I catch the traffic right), this is the riding area it seems everybody has either never heard of or got bored with years ago. I don't understand it. I'll sing its praises to my friends, but never to strangers.
What's so cool about just 20 miles of ATV trails? Personally, I think that (government-published) figure is far too low, as there are connected (legal) trails that lead outside of the confines of the "area" proper. There is also a 145-acre "open" area where you can explore off the established trails. Size aside, it's Rowher's variety, scenery and quality of trails that really gets me.
The area is nestled in a series of canyons and straddles a mountain ridge. The vertical gain from Parking Lot 1 to the top of the ridge is approximately 1500 feet. A series of fire roads hugs the tops of the ridges and the bottom of the main canyon (Texas Canyon) in a big Z, and most of the smaller but more difficult trails simply connect the arms of the Z. A nice part of this arrangement is that beginners can get just about anywhere in the park and really do some exploring without ever leaving a wide, flat(tish) surface. The only real limiting factor for anyone would be if they are afraid of heights, but even then there are a number of trails to explore with little elevation gain.
The more advanced trails are a very mixed bunch. They're mostly pretty tight and winding, and two-way, so be very careful of oncoming riders, especially in blind, twisty sections. The big hillclimbs are the exception as they've mostly been widened out by riders looking for an easier way up. It seems like the rating system (green circle, blue square, black diamond) needs another level (or two) for this place, as passable riders can handle many of the diamond trails, while others induce an old hack like me to say, "You've got to be fricking kidding me!" There are a number of water bar jumps on the intermediate and above trails that are a fun way to catch some air.
At the other end of the riding spectrum, a one-way kiddie track is adjacent to the main lot where parents can watch youngsters learn the ropes in a safe environment.
The scenery is awesome by SoCal standards, especially during wildflower season (midspring). There are some interesting rock formations at the western edge of the area, and over the ridge to the north is an epic view of the Bouquet Reservoir. The ridgetop is a great place to watch the sun set over the reservoir; then take an easy half-hour ride down the fire roads to the bottom. There are water crossings in the spring and even a waterfall if you look for it.
Perhaps the coolest part about Rowher Flat is the soil consistency. Unlike just about everywhere else remotely near the city, it's not all whooped-out sand. There are rocky sections, and in general the more clay-based dirt keeps its shape better than desert sand. It does rut out pretty badly if there's a lot of rain, but if you ride a 4x4, that just adds to the challenge. Winter rains usually bring out motorcyclists in droves, but not to Rowher. The higher clay content makes the ground here slippery and dangerous for anything on two wheels, but big ATV tires are just fine.
In fact, it's its suitability to quads that makes this such a great riding area. Its no secret that L.A. has a a motorcycle-centric off-road culture, and the enthusiasts swarm just about every area on the weekends, except this one. The parking lots fill up, but there still are plenty of open trails, especially away from the lots. If you're lucky enough to be able to get away during the week (as we are), you'll likely see only one or two trucks in the parking lot, and you'll probably never see another soul. The rangers are friendly (a plus in our book). The place is continually evolving, with decent trail maintenance and new trails being added slowly. There are vault toilets, which get emptied about once a week, and a loading ramp, so you won't need to bring ramps if you don't want to.