After months of debating and campaigning by the off-road community, the United States Marine Corps has made multiple updates to its Special Use Airspace proposal for Johnson Valley. It still must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The USMC recently published a Final Environmental Assessment about Johnson Valley. While an SUA will still be established over the area, the military now has to be mindful of civilian use as well.

The Marines will still get use of Johnson Valley for 60 days per year in two 30-day intervals. All ground and airspace activities would be unavailable to the public during these stretches.

When the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area is open to the public (ergo not being used by the Marines), a Restricted Area zone is to be set at 1,500 feet above ground level. This would ensure “ground-based activities like off-roading, camping, hiking, recreational rocketry and drones, etc. can continue on the ground without interruption or interference from military aircraft overhead.”

An alternative SUA was found to be favorable since it would have “minimal adverse impacts to typical recreational activities and to organized events” such as King of the Hammers. Rep. Jay Obernolte, whose district CA-23 includes Johnson Valley, also spoke with Twentynine Palms and the Pentagon before attending this year’s racing in February.

“The King of the Hammers event would continue to operate under existing BLM permits and the DON (Department of the Navy) license through 2027,” reads the EA. “The Marine Corps would coordinate with the event proponents for activities in the Johnson Valley Shared Use Area (e.g., King of the Hammers) to determine altitude requirements for aviation activities to support the permitted events.

“If an event requires airspace access to an altitude higher than the proposed R-2509 ‘floor’ of 1,500 feet AGL, the Marine Corps would coordinate with the event proponents on a case-by-case basis to evaluate options for deconflicting military aviation activities with proposed event schedules and requirements.

“For the existing permitted/licensed King of the Hammers event, emergency operations (i.e., helicopter use to support rescue and air ambulance services, San Bernardino County Search and Rescue, San Bernardino Fire, and MAGTFTC [if emergency is within the Combat Center]) would be facilitated in coordination with MCAGCC Range Control, ensuring prompt access.”

“After the Marine Corps released its draft EA in August 2025, SEMA, ORBA and numerous other off-road stakeholder groups rallied members and the broader motorized-recreation community to push back against the proposed airspace restrictions above Johnson Valley,” a SEMA statement comments. “Advocates expressed concerns regarding how the initial proposal would have impacted medevac, drone footage and other necessary uses of Johnson Valley’s airspace, including during the King of the Hammers event, along with concerns about the EA’s impact on access and safety. This was a win for outdoor recreation, proving that when our community speaks up with a unified voice, we make a meaningful impact.”

Featured image credit: Cpl. Bruin Largent