jawbone visitor center

When you are doing any sort of off road, exploring, mining, etc. in the area, be sure to stop in for books, maps and brochures. Thy have a lot of good information about the area.

Whatever your interest, if you are in this part of the Mojave Desert, the Jawbone Visitor Center is a must stop. Be prepared to spend at least an hour or more just at the visitor center. Besides the best bookstore I've seen for off-roading and exploring the desert, there are indoor and outdoor exhibits of interest to newcomer and "desert rat" alike -of all ages. While there, buy a map and explore the OHV recreation area. There are trails for all types of vehicles... even passenger cars! If you have a 4X4, this is a great place to safely learn what it (and you as the driver) can and cannot do. This is a place I could easily spend days at. Only thing is, you'll need to bring your own supplies... even toilet paper is a good idea as the pit toilets have been known to run out. Final point about the bookstore... they do ship! While the "Interagency Visitor Center" just south of Lone Pine off U.S. 395 on the road to Keeler is also impressive, it's mostly in size. Where Jawbone excels is in quality and diversity. Note: Rental cars are usually not allowed off-road and the rental companies at LAX, LAS, etc, usually put GPS trackers to monitor the whereabouts of their cars. Rental 4X4's usually do not have the cooling systems, transfer cases, tires with steel in the sidewalls, etc., that are a must for safe off-roading. Vehicles using the trails must either be tagged for road use or have a Calofirnia "Green Sticker".