King of the Hammers has officially begun on Thursday (January 23) and as the off-roading event ramps up residents can expect heavy traffic, large trailers, and lots of tourists throughout the Morongo Basin.
King of the Hammers is an annual offroading competition held on private land near the Johnson Valley Off Highway Vehicle Area. Its final week typically brings tens of thousands of off-roading professionals, enthusiasts, and fans to the ticketed event for days, overnight, or weeks-long stays.
In addition to tourism dollars, the event brings additional off-roading traffic to desert areas, as enthusiasts gather to recreate outside of official “King of the Hammers” events. Records show that the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has already stepped up enforcement for illegal or unsafe off-roading in the Landers and Johnson Valley area.
If you’re heading to King of the Hammers, Z107.7 urges you to recreate safely and responsibly. And for everybody else in the Morongo Basin, be mindful of trailers carrying large OHVs, especially on Old Woman Springs Road.
