King of the Hammers 2026 begins today with “King of the Motos” race series
King of the Hammers 2026 begins today (January 22) and runs through February 7. The internationally recognized off-road rock crawl and race series draws thousands of participants and viewers from all over the United States.
It takes place in the Johnson Valley OHV area north of Joshua Tree and out near Landers.
Approximately 81,000 acres of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area will be closed during the event, while 46,000 acres remain open to the public. The BLM approved a five-year closure for 10 days annually through 2027. During closures, the area is reserved exclusively for registered race participants, spectators, and officials.
The event will begin with the race series “King of the Motos” and will get technical with a weekend of competitive races and crawls.
Expect increased activity on Old Woman Springs Road near the junction at 62 all the way out to the turn-off to the OHV area. There may be more people out at adjacent BLM land such as Soggy Dry Lake and Sunfair Dry Lake in Joshua Tree.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol will be stepping up enforcement in the Johnson Valley in the area over the next few weeks to ensure that the event is celebrated safely.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said, “King of the Hammers is a premier off-road event that calls San Bernardino County home. This event has grown in popularity to the point it has become an economic engine for the Morongo Basin. We in the Sheriff’s department are proud to be partners providing law-enforcement services for this event. I would like to remind all race fans to behave responsibly, fireworks are prohibited, and most importantly have fun and enjoy the sport of off-road racing with your family.”
The Sheriff’s Department also wants to remind attendees that DUI still applies to off-road vehicles. They remind everyone to pack it in and pack it out.
