The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a temporary closure of the off-highway vehicle recreation area in preparation for the upcoming King of the Hammers race. The event operates under a special permit from the BLM, which allows usage for 10 days each year.
According to the King of the Hammers website, this race is a week-long series of single-day off-road races. The event has expanded significantly over time, growing from an initial dozen teams to more than 500 teams competing today. It attracts millions of viewers, with approximately 80,000 spectators attending in person.
The 2024 King of the Hammers event will commence on Jan. 18 with a tech inspection for SRT King of the Motos and a riders meeting. The NTTO Race of Kings concludes the season on Feb. 3, 2024, as per the King of the Hammers schedule page. This page also highlights that there are races designed specifically for youth competitors.
The BLM has declared an area closure encompassing 81,000 acres of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, which will be closed to public access during this period. However, an area covering 46,000 acres will remain open for public use throughout the event. This includes regions such as Ord-Rodman Limited Use Area and Stoddard.
"The safety of everyone involved, from participants, staff and spectators is paramount for an event of this magnitude. We encourage the public to recreate responsibly and cooperate with race officials and law enforcement officers to ensure a safe and enjoyable race," said Shelly Lynch, BLM California Desert District Manager.
BLM has approved closures for these races starting in February 2023 and continuing through February 2027. These closures will occur annually for periods lasting ten days at a time under a five-year Special Recreation Permit according to their notice of temporary annual closures. During these closures, only individuals authorized to participate, watch the races, and act as authorized users for these races are permitted within the closed public lands spaces. The agency has designated a minimum of three staging areas that will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the closure period. Rescue personnel, military personnel, vendors, law enforcement officers, and federal, state, and local officials are exempt from these closure restrictions.
