El Mirage is an unincorporated community in the western Victor Valley of the Mojave Desert, within San Bernardino County, California. The name is a corruption of the Spanish "El Miraje," meaning "the mirage," a fitting title for a settlement defined by the shimmering dry lakebed on its doorstep. The community lies about 12 miles northwest of Adelanto, at the edge of the El Mirage Dry Lake, and functions as a rural, low-density outpost rather than an incorporated city. The dry lake itself is the region's defining landmark. For more than half a century it has served as a venue for land-speed racing, with the Southern California Timing Association staging organized weekend events on the hard-packed lakebed between May and November. The surrounding public lands are also a well-known destination for off-highway vehicle recreation, drawing enthusiasts from across Southern California to the open desert. Residential life in El Mirage reflects the High Desert's frontier character. Homes are scattered across large desert parcels, many with a self-reliant, off-grid flavor, and the county has encouraged dark-sky-compliant lighting to preserve the area's exceptionally clear night skies. The population is small and spread out, and daily shopping, schools, and services are generally reached in nearby Adelanto or Victorville. El Mirage appeals to those seeking wide-open space, direct access to public desert recreation, and a measure of distance from the congestion of the Los Angeles basin, while remaining within reach of the Victor Valley's commercial centers. Its future has been discussed in San Bernardino County planning documents, including the prospect of improved access through the High Desert Corridor, but its character remains that of a quiet desert community rather than a suburban extension.