Johnson Valley battle
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Johnson Valley: A Win for Shared Use and the Future of Off-Road Access
For years, the future of Johnson Valley has been uncertain. As the largest open OHV area in the country—and home to iconic events like King of the Hammers—it sits at the intersection of two powerful interests: America’s need for military readiness and the public’s right to access and enjoy their public lands.
In March 2026, we received an answer.
The Marine Corps officially selected Alternative 2 for the Johnson Valley airspace proposal, issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) after completing its environmental review . For the off-road community, this decision is more than just a technical outcome—it is a clear signal that shared use, when done right, can still work.
From CORVA’s perspective, this represents a hard-fought balance. The Marine Corps made it clear throughout the process that expanded airspace is essential to support modern, large-scale training. Today’s military operations require complex coordination between aircraft, ground forces, and rapidly evolving technologies. Johnson Valley, adjacent to the Twentynine Palms Combat Center, is one of the few places in the country where that kind of integrated training can happen at scale.
But Johnson Valley is also something else entirely. It is where families camp under open desert skies. It is where riders and drivers from across the country come together to experience freedom that is becoming increasingly rare in California. It is where local economies depend on recreation, and where a culture has been built over generations.
The concern was never whether the military should train—it was whether access would be lost in the process.
Alternative 2 answers that question in a way that protects both interests.
The decision maintains the Shared Use Area, meaning Johnson Valley remains open to the public the vast majority of the year. Military closures are still limited to two 30-day periods annually. Earlier fears of expanded or near-continuous restrictions did not materialize. Instead, the new restricted airspace—designated R-2509—will only be activated as needed, capped at 60 days per year, not 365.
Equally important is how that airspace functions. When it is active, a 1,500-foot above-ground-level flight floor will be in place. That technical detail matters. It creates a vertical buffer that allows off-road recreation, camping, and even certain low-level drone activities to continue on the ground while high-speed aviation training occurs above. In practical terms, it means that even when the military is training, Johnson Valley does not simply shut down.
For the off-road community, that distinction is everything.
This approach also preserves the future of major events. The Marine Corps has committed to coordinating with King of the Hammers organizers to ensure compatibility between training schedules and event operations. That commitment reflects an understanding that Johnson Valley is not just open space—it is an economic engine and a global destination.
What stands out most about this outcome is not just the decision itself, but how it was reached. This process spanned years of planning, coordination, and public engagement. It required stakeholders to stay involved, to speak up early, and to remain at the table even when the outcome was uncertain.
That is a lesson CORVA continues to emphasize: access is rarely lost overnight, and it is never protected by staying silent. The most critical decisions happen in environmental reviews, planning documents, and agency coordination long before the public sees the final headline.
In this case, engagement mattered. The result is not perfect—no compromise ever is—but it is functional, durable, and, most importantly, it keeps Johnson Valley open.
There is still work ahead. Final implementation depends on FAA approval and rulemaking, and CORVA will continue to monitor that process closely. Commitments made in planning documents must be upheld in practice, and long-term coordination between recreation and military use will require continued oversight.
But today, the takeaway is clear.
Johnson Valley remains what it has always been—a place where the public can experience true access to public land. A place where responsible recreation and national defense can coexist. A place worth fighting for.
And this time, that fight made a difference.
California Off-Road Vehicle Association
Snosdroptet8268cchhf9t081260hmai215m21h1u218ftcc967it6lm0u0l ·Johnson Valley: A Win for Shared Use and the Future of Off-Road Access
For years, the future of Johnson Valley has been uncertain. As the largest open OHV area in the country—and home to iconic events like King of the Hammers—it sits at the intersection of two powerful interests: America’s need for military readiness and the public’s right to access and enjoy their public lands.
In March 2026, we received an answer.
The Marine Corps officially selected Alternative 2 for the Johnson Valley airspace proposal, issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) after completing its environmental review . For the off-road community, this decision is more than just a technical outcome—it is a clear signal that shared use, when done right, can still work.
From CORVA’s perspective, this represents a hard-fought balance. The Marine Corps made it clear throughout the process that expanded airspace is essential to support modern, large-scale training. Today’s military operations require complex coordination between aircraft, ground forces, and rapidly evolving technologies. Johnson Valley, adjacent to the Twentynine Palms Combat Center, is one of the few places in the country where that kind of integrated training can happen at scale.
But Johnson Valley is also something else entirely. It is where families camp under open desert skies. It is where riders and drivers from across the country come together to experience freedom that is becoming increasingly rare in California. It is where local economies depend on recreation, and where a culture has been built over generations.
The concern was never whether the military should train—it was whether access would be lost in the process.
Alternative 2 answers that question in a way that protects both interests.
The decision maintains the Shared Use Area, meaning Johnson Valley remains open to the public the vast majority of the year. Military closures are still limited to two 30-day periods annually. Earlier fears of expanded or near-continuous restrictions did not materialize. Instead, the new restricted airspace—designated R-2509—will only be activated as needed, capped at 60 days per year, not 365.
Equally important is how that airspace functions. When it is active, a 1,500-foot above-ground-level flight floor will be in place. That technical detail matters. It creates a vertical buffer that allows off-road recreation, camping, and even certain low-level drone activities to continue on the ground while high-speed aviation training occurs above. In practical terms, it means that even when the military is training, Johnson Valley does not simply shut down.
For the off-road community, that distinction is everything.
This approach also preserves the future of major events. The Marine Corps has committed to coordinating with King of the Hammers organizers to ensure compatibility between training schedules and event operations. That commitment reflects an understanding that Johnson Valley is not just open space—it is an economic engine and a global destination.
What stands out most about this outcome is not just the decision itself, but how it was reached. This process spanned years of planning, coordination, and public engagement. It required stakeholders to stay involved, to speak up early, and to remain at the table even when the outcome was uncertain.
That is a lesson CORVA continues to emphasize: access is rarely lost overnight, and it is never protected by staying silent. The most critical decisions happen in environmental reviews, planning documents, and agency coordination long before the public sees the final headline.
In this case, engagement mattered. The result is not perfect—no compromise ever is—but it is functional, durable, and, most importantly, it keeps Johnson Valley open.
There is still work ahead. Final implementation depends on FAA approval and rulemaking, and CORVA will continue to monitor that process closely. Commitments made in planning documents must be upheld in practice, and long-term coordination between recreation and military use will require continued oversight.
But today, the takeaway is clear.
Johnson Valley remains what it has always been—a place where the public can experience true access to public land. A place where responsible recreation and national defense can coexist. A place worth fighting for.
And this time, that fight made a difference.
Last edited:
VINCH
Member
Thank you
