Palen Pass: Desert Training Center Maneuvers Area

USA / California / Blythe /
 Second World War 1939-1945, military, place with historical importance, proving ground
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The site of the largest maneuvers during the life of the DTC/C-AMA, Palen Pass received heavy impacts from the Army.
Fortifications were constructed throughout the pass, as one unit would "defend" the
area from another. These fortifications consisted of gun emplacements, barbed-wire entanglements, bunkers, minefields, and foxholes.
Several maneuvers were held in the area .
In addition, each unit that came to defend Palen Pass erected it's own defenses by building on what had already been constructed by previous units.
Vestiges of maneuvers can also be found in the valley east of the pass, in the
form of bomb craters, cartridge cases, concertina wire, and various refuse.
Palen Pass can be accessed from the Arlington Mine Road, east from California Highway 177. This road is very sandy in places and should be traveled only in a four-wheel
drive vehicle.

Perhaps the largest maneuver to take place was the first mock battle of Palen Pass.
The battle was partly conducted for the benefit of visiting dignitaries, including several state governors.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   33°55'2"N   115°3'48"W

Comments

  • More information about the Desert Training Center is available here: http://dtcskytrail.com
  • Be cautious - the Sierra Club has made it illegal to travel off road here
This article was last modified 9 years ago