Red Canyon to Bradshaw Trail

Has anyone donde this Trail. Just want to get some insight as far as difficulty and if anyone has a Map Bradshaw Trail since i no longer see it on TrailsOffroad. I want to go and see the Abandoned Rail Road Bridge.

 

Palo Verde Mountains/ Chuckwalla Mountains between the 111 and 78? About 70 miles?

AllTrails shows a 4x4 road as a result for "Bradshaw Trail".

I haven't done it, don't know anything about it. AllTrails says it's difficult, the reviews say it's easy and lots to see.

 

https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2225-sr2013-red-canyon-trail

What i remember seeing was taking this Trail then turning right into the BradShaw Trail. But nothing on TrailsOffroad.

 

Can't see that as I am not a paid member.

I think if you go to AllTrails.com you can find their map, you just can't download it.

 

Really really easy

 

@Ray1989

Here's a the video from my dashcam on that trail, start to finish, in real time. It's a long ass video, but it shows every inch of the trail. My video on youtube has links to key points if you want to jump to them directly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puf05kuEptE&t=6126s

It's best for everyone to meet in the parking lot for the General Patton Museum and everyone can top off their fuel tanks next door. When I organized a run for this trail, we had 13 rigs in tow. I do recommend that when you get to the top of the really big hill, everyone wait there to make sure the last rig makes it to the top. The entire trail is 2WD friendly, but they'll need some momentum along with a good line to get up the hill. If they don't make it the first try, they can easily back down for another go. A Nissan Frontier 2WD with us took several attempts while a Taco 2WD only needed one shot.

Here's all of the info from TrailsOffRoad.com

Status: Open
Typically Open: Year Round
Difficulty: 2-3 (EASY)
Length: 13.2 miles
Highest Elevation: 2055 feet
Duration: About 1 hour 30 minutes
Shape of Trail: Straight Through
Best Direction to Travel: South
Nearest Town: Blythe
Nearest Town w/ Services: Blythe
Official Road Name: SR2013
Management Agency: BLM
District: Orocopia Mountains

TrailsOffRoad.com link
https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2225-sr2013-red-canyon-trail

The Orocopia Mountains Wilderness Area was once home to one of the largest military bases in the world, while today it is home to some of the most beautiful scenery that Southern California has to offer, including the Red Canyon. The Red Canyon Trail takes you through this wilderness area bobbing and weaving its way through the desert and up and over the mountains to where the Red Canyon resides. This splendid trail is perfect for people new to off-roading up to the most experienced 4x4 enthusiast. Because of the ample amount of wilderness and BLM land, this trail is a great start to exploring the area, or just to get away for a weekend. Thus the next time you are near Palm Springs or the Salton Sea, think about checking out Red Canyon.

TrailsOffRoadVideo
https://youtu.be/4iIGffOlQ6k

Route Information
Technical Rating: 2-3 (EASY)

Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 12" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 12" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 24" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep.
Description
At first, the trail is actually the paved Pinto Road which then moves to a sandy trail along the Maniobra Valley. It quite easy to drive along this path until you encounter the numerous small washes and the gully nearer to the Red Canyon. From this section, the trail is a vehicle corridor running through the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness.

Red Canyon Trail is a fun, beautiful and easy trail that follows a crest route through the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness, above Red Canyon, then snakes down into and through Salt Creek Wash, eventually ending at the Bradshaw Trail. It consists mostly of packed sand and dirt with some narrow crests and sharp inclines and declines that require care when cresting as some of the declines require abrupt direction changes. It is very much like riding a roller coaster in that it undulates frequently. There are a few deep gullies and washes to traverse as well and these can change in difficulty depending on the last storm.

***The History of Red Canyon Trail:***
Red Canyon Trail is situated in the area off of Chiriaco Summit at the foot of the Eagle Mountains. Chiriaco Summit is where the General George S. Patton Memorial Museum is located and is close to the original entrance of Camp Young, Patton’s Desert Training Center established in 1942. The museum gives visitors a glimpse into what it was like for the 1 million troops who trained in the harsh desert conditions in that area in preparation to fight the Nazis in the North African deserts. Camp Young and 10 other camps situated in CA, AZ, and NV sprawled out over 18,000 square miles. This group of training camps comprises the largest military and maneuver area in the world. The locations were chosen by Patton because of their harsh, isolated, environments and Patton believed they provided good replications of combat in North Africa. By 1944, the War Department declared all the camps and ranges surplus. In 1947, Camp Young was turned over to the Department of the Interior.

Waypoints
1. Red Canyon at Highway 10
The trail quickly splits off the asphalt and heads south into the desert. The trailhead has an information kiosk helping define where the trail starts.

2. Power Line Road (Stay Straight) (0.7 mi)
Not far up the trail is a set of high tension lines. Under them is a service road that runs east to west. Continue straight to stay on Red Canyon.

3. Stay Left At Y (1.9 mi)
The trail splits off to the left at a large Y. There is a sign saying Red Canyon.

4. Hill Climb Area (Optional) (2.1 mi)
Not far after the Y is a small area with several hill climbs off the trail. Even though most of them have little risk of rolling over, some are steep enough where things could go wrong if not careful.

5. Stay Left at Y (2.4 mi)
A desert road splits off the trail and heads around the hill where the hill climbs are. Make sure you stay left and follow the signs.

6. Camping Spots (5.8 mi)
Even though there are ample places to camp along the trail, at this point, there are several large open flat areas that have been cleared and people have built fire rings. Because the areas have been cleared, this is a great spot for dispersed camping.

7. Stay Left And Go Up Hill Climb (7.9 mi)
As you drop down and quickly pass through Red Canyon, there is a trail that splits off to the right. You want to stay on the main trail and head off to the left to head up the hill climb.
The trail off to the right has been closed.

8. Stay Right At Top Of Hill Climb (8.2 mi)
Once atop the hill, you will want to stay to the right and continue to head down along the canyon to the south.

9. Observation Point (Stay Left) (8.8 mi)
The trail continues on to the left.
There are many observation points to look down at the canyon below for the next few miles. This is the first point to pull off and is also the smallest observation point which it only can accommodate roughly 7 vehicles before turning around becomes impossible. The rest simply parallel the trail and can easily support a large group.

10. Scenic Waypoint (10.6 mi)
Some of the views along the trail.

11. Stay Left (Trail Closed) (11.5 mi)
To continue on the trail, stay straight.
This used to be an old trail that used to drop into the canyon, but it is now not safe to do so. The side trail is closed.

12. Stay Straight - Red Canyon Drop In (12.3 mi)
To continue on the trail, stay straight
The trail meets up with its first open alternate route in some time. The trail to the right is which takes you down to the canyon floor. There you can then travel back up the canyon for a short distance before coming to a fence.

13. Bottom of Red Canyon at Bradshaw Trail (13.2 mi)
Red Canyon Trail ends at the in a very large wash. You can go right towards the abandon train tussle or left towards the

.
Directions to Trailhead
Trailhead Coordinates:

Starting Point: Indio, CA
From I-10, at Chiriaco Summit exit 4 miles east of the Joshua Tree National Park Cottonwood entrance, go to the south side of the freeway and turn right/west along the paved frontage road marked Pinto Road. The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum is on the north side of the freeway. One mile down the frontage road you will see a sign on the left marked Red Canyon Trail. You will see signs making the trail along the way.
Camping
Dispersed

Similar to many of the deserts in the Southern California area. Red Canyon has an abundant amount of areas for a person to pull off and set up a dispersed campsite. Although there are many suitable locations for camping along the trail, the recommended area would be around 5.8 miles in. This area is flat and has been cleaned out of vegetation with fire rings built up allowing much better dispersed camping opportunities. Please note, this area is extremely remote, thus you may not have cell service and there are no supplies near by.