Doran Canyon

Difficulty: Difficult-Extreme
Length: 2.2 Miles
Category: Altitude, Desert, Ghost Town, Iconic, Mine, Mud, Overland, Rock, Sand
Highest Elevation: 3,200 ‘
Duration: about 3 hours
Shape of Trail: Connector
Best Direction to Go: North
Nearest Town:
Barstow
Nearest Town w/ Service:
Barstow
BLM Barstow Field Office & San Bernardino National Forest

Doran Canyon of the Odessa / Doran Loop has more of a desert feel. When traveling this area, you will notice that the mostly desert landscape is very different than its counterpart Odessa Canyon. Doran does have one big difference when it comes to the trail drive, “Doran Gate Keeper”. Doran’s Gate Keeper is an insanely difficult obstacle with rocks larger than your vehicle. The holes between the rocks are so large that it is common for people to put their vehicle on its side between the rocks. It’s a spectacle to watch as the rocks look like they are swallowing the vehicle whole. There is a bypass around this obstacle for the 99.9% that won’t try the Gate Keeper, but the rest of the trail isn’t much easier. With several large waterfalls and many off-camber tight areas.