Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area

Hungry Valley SVRA is the third largest unit of California State Park's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Located in the Tejon Pass north of Los Angeles and along the Interstate 5 corridor, Hungry Valley offers 19,000 acres and more than 130 miles of scenic trails for motorcycle, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), dune buggies, and 4x4 recreation. All levels of OHV operator skills will be challenged by the wide variety of terrain and trails at Hungry Valley SVRA.

Elevations at Hungry Valley range from 3,000 to nearly 6,000 feet. Occasional snowfalls occur during the winter. Summers are most often hot, dry and dusty. The most pleasant times of the year for OHV fun are during the Spring and Fall months when the temperatures are mild and occasional rain showers make for good traction and reduced dust. Nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing in the Spring and Fall, as well as during the Winter.

The wide variety of trails at Hungry Valley provides excitement for both beginner and experienced off-roaders. For experienced OHVers challenging trails can be found in the hills and sand washes of the back-country section of the SVRA. Beginners can enjoy the scenery and relative ease of the trails in the Native Grasslands Management Area. Trails in the adjoining Los Padres National Forest are recommended for experienced riders only.

Additional Information

Good For

Families

Activities

Four Wheeling

Wildflower Updates

For Current Wildflower Updates:

Southern California Wildflower Hotline - 818.768.3533, a service of the Theodore Payne Foundation.
Kern County Wildflower Hotline - 800.500.KERN (5376), providing the latest bloom information for the southern San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Mountains.

Travel

In Gorman, 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 55 miles south of Bakersfield.

Traveling North on Interstate 5, exit at Smokey Bear Road. At the bottom of the off ramp take a left at the stop sign traveling under the freeway. At the next stop sign, make a left on Pyramid Lake Road and an immediate right onto Hungry Valley Road which is dirt. You will see a brown sign for Hungry Valley SVRA.

Traveling South on Interstate 5, take the Gorman Exit. Turn right at the bottom of the off ramp, then another right onto Peace Valley Road. The entrance to the park is one mile north on Peace Valley Road.

Hours

24 hours a day

7 days a week

Where to get help

The State Park Rangers who patrol Hungry Valley SVRA are peace officers, who are trained Emergency Medical Responders. Entrance station employees and park maintenance personnel can also summon medical help. If no State Park personnel are available, dial 911 from any telephone. Pay phones are located at many business locations in Gorman. Cellular telephone coverage is intermittent throughout most of the SVRA. There are no emergency medical facilities in Gorman. The nearest hospital to Hungry Valley SVRA is Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, located approximately 30 miles to the south in Valencia. To drive to the hospital, take Interstate Highway 5 south to the McBean Parkway exit and turn left (east) on McBean Parkway. Henry Mayo Hospital is located approximately one mile from I-5 on the left-hand side at 23845 McBean Parkway.

Recreational Land Management

Providing long-term, sustained OHV recreation opportunity is a top priority in SVRA Management. Provisions in California law require actions to stabilize soils and to provide for healthy wildlife populations in OHV recreation areas. Projects are ongoing to stabilize soil areas by reshaping slopes, reseeding and replanting bare areas. Vegetation creates wildlife habitat while plant roots help stabilize the soil. Project areas are temporarily closed to OHV use through the use of barriers, such as fences, hay bales, brush piles and signing. Where possible, well-designed OHV trails are provided through project areas. Other project areas may be closed for a number of years before being opened again for OHV use. Your understanding and support in staying out of areas closed for restoration helps ensure OHV recreation opportunities for years to come.

Facilities - Activities

A four-wheel drive obstacle course and a one-mile long practice track for motorcycles 100cc or larger are open to the public.

There is also a practice mini-track for beginning riders on ATVs and motorcycles up to 90cc. The track is located at the Smith Forks campground. The Quail Canyon Special Use Area is open to the public and has three tracks to accommodate most ages and rider abilities. There is a large motocross track, a vintage track, and a Pee Wee track. Please click on: More Information about Hungry Valley SVRA to view details and hours of operation for the Quail Canyon Special Use Area.

All off-road vehicles used in the park must be equipped with a spark arrestor and must have either a current highway registration or current off-highway vehicle green or red sticker. Red sticker riding season is October 1 - April 30. All operators must wear appropriate safety equipment. Even though the park is primarily an OHV park, hikers and mountain bikers can access areas of the park unavailable to OHV operators. Freeman Canyon and Overlook offer spectacular views of Hungry Valley.

The terrain ranges from 2,600 feet to over 8,000 feet on adjoining Los Padres National Forest. To the west of the area is a 60-acre hike-in natural preserve that protects stands of valley oak and native grasses. In the spring, the area has wildflower viewing Ranger led tours.

Visitors to the park should bring water, sunscreen, hats, and dress accordingly. Hikers should be aware that the park has ticks and chaparral, so shorts should not be worn.