As gridlocked as most local freeways get during peak hours, that gridlock pales in comparison to the perpetual political rigor mortis in Washington D.C.

Two Octobers ago, that gridlock added up to a budget impasse. The Federal Government shut down as the political tribes continued their sparring match over the budget. At first blush, this has nothing to do with off-roading. The reality is that when the Federal Government shuts down, access to Federally-controlled lands gets shut down, too. The government shutdown timing was terrible, as we’d planned an October off-road trip several months in advance.

Our group was a two-rig party. Yours truly was in his ‘04 4Runner with longtime friend Dan Bergin co-driving. Matt Cawley drove in from Tucson, Arizona, in his ‘99 Explorer, joined by his brother Dave who flew in from Utah.

We’d planned our route and our camping spots, but what might have been known as “The Plan” turned into “Plan A.” Plan A was a good one. We’d start the adventure at the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, CA. Appetites whetted for the dirt, we’d then make our way along the Bradshaw Trail all the way to its terminus, and then do some exploring in the nearby Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. The Bradshaw Trail slices through BLM lands, and the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: all Federal lands, and all closed down.

Cancel the trip? Never! We needed a Plan B.  We were in luck, as California has an extensive State Park System. Moreover, there were some great State Park options reasonably close to the Plan A area. By combining routes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, we explored extensively and never had to use the same trail twice.

Was this an epic expedition? Hardly. We spent a day at Off-Road Expo and three days on the trails. There are hundreds of miles’ worth of trails in Anza-Borrego and Ocotillo Wells, so there’s a lot left to go back and experience another time.

If most of your off-roading takes place on Federally-owned lands, we’d suggest taking a look at places owned by other entities such as states and counties. Formulate your own Plan B. As gridlocked as Washington D.C. has become, there’s surely another Federal shutdown in the future.

Be sure to check back for Part II of this journey through state-owned lands in California.