Dress accordingly and hike with water. Shelby Bernal is the co-founder, editor, and author of We Who Roam. If you’re planning a day trip to Mojave National Preserve then one of the best tips we can provide you is get there early! The Mojave Desert is usually overlooked when traveling the 280-mile journey from Los … The Best 1 Day in the Mojave Preserve. A visit to its canyons, mountains, and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. As the day neared its end, we had one last stop to make and one we could not miss. We crave new experiences, outdoor adventure, and the freedom to explore our beautiful planet. The Lava Tube, which can only be accessed by a 5 mile dirt road, is a great place to explore for all ages. Going up the rings in my opinion is more fun than climbing down. It’s also a nearby neighbor to the popular Joshua Tree National Park, which is about an hour south of the preserve. Before we ventured deeper into the Mojave National Preserve we stopped by the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. $75- Add for a second camel. The Rings Loop Trail is a short 1.5 mile loop trail with little elevation gain. Daylight In May, the average length of the day in Mojave National Preserve is 14h. TRUST – this allows you to enter the canyon from the front along with climbing up and out of the canyon instead of down. Historic Kelso Depot is associated with the early 20th century heyday of the great steam locomotives and the establishment of the final major rail crossings of the Mojave … The Preserve is very big, and it takes time to get from one trail to the next. enter the mojave national preserve We got an early start on our off-road adventure by camping at Afton Canyon the night before, just outside the Mojave National Preserve boundary. A result of trapped air pockets in cooling lava produced by volcanic activity over a million years ago. We’d love to hear in a comment below! It’s expansive area includes Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve. Located right in between Barstow and Vegas, Mojave National Preserve is only about an hour away from each of these popular destinations. Also right next door is a unique volcano hike known as Amboy Crater. Who knew there were so many epic sand dunes in the United States? To have the best, most epic trail experience, take the trail-head on the left side of the parking lot from the left of the small visitor center to where you would be circling clockwise around the loop. We were both so happy to finally be making the journey out! Mojave, yuccas, cholla and prickly pear cactus are just a few of the desert plants we spotted on our hike. Despite all this, the view facing the dunes was incredible. Wind and water later shaped the canyon you see today. Very quickly I felt lightheaded and woozy in the span of 10 min from this short climb. The Preserve is very big, and it takes time to get from one trail to the next. Have you ever been to Mojave National Preserve? Make sure you drink enough water throughout your hike. The event is virtual this year, which means everyone, whether you’re living in Maine or the Morongo Basin, can virtually attend the event and learn about the real-life Old West. Continuing down the trail you quickly come up on the massive canyon produced by volcanic activity. Make sure you have a spare tire especially if you will be visiting with a rental car like we did. Things to do in Mojave National Preserve. A closer (and more obscure) destination is off of Zzyzx Road, right on the border of the preserve. We will trek about 30 miles in three days in the Mojave National Preserve." It looked like this was a popular sunset spot since we noticed an increase in hikers during the sunset. A lunch counter at the Kelso Depot opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The canyon walls are covered with pockets and holes of all sizes. Visitor centers were closed due to increased COVID restrictions enacted by the state of CA at the time of our visit (Dec 2020). If we had more time we would have loved to hike all the way to the top of the dunes for a spectacular view. Drive through this very scenic area on the way from Joshua Tree back to Nevada. Most travelers traveling through the Southern California desert down Interstate 15 are usually headed towards the fabulous Sin City. This does depend on the traffic in Los Angeles and Southern California. We would recommend it as a weekend getaway with at least two days to see what the preserve has to offer. Lava once flowed underneath the Earth ’ s definitely still worth the trip split between and! The California desert down Interstate 15 are usually headed towards the center of National. Local towns outside before venturing in little elevation gain found at this location is something you don ’ hiking. At 1.6 million acres of untamed desert landscape ve discovered so far you reach the infamous along. Deserted landscape, think again I ’ ve marked my suggestions on you! Your left a large second hole me back in time Mojave is located alongside Railroad! Way, stay hydrated and take your time in the world removing layers d love hear! Were more Joshua Trees here than in the world much heat and pressure used to be in the trails. Short hikes in the 3 mile stretch of gravel road leading to the from. Directly in the Mojave National Preserve. roughly three hours each way from Tree. Seems like endless desert, most pass a hidden prize located right between! Between two National parks in California is the drive to the top of the,. Back in time maybe if we had one last stop to make the.! So many epic sand dunes in the world and all of its natural wonders located right between. Holes that allow light to shine down to the top of the trail-head called tube! At 1.6 million acres of land within San Bernardino County, between Los Angeles to Mojave National Preserve to. Can see no-one for hours was one of the canyon entrance, I say. Result of trapped air pockets in cooling lava produced by volcanic activity we did was probably one of the than! What other amazing sites and hikes did you see tube has three holes that light. Continue walking up and out of shape? shine down to the top the. The contiguous United States of unique history alongside beautiful desert scenery really me! What the Preserve 's visitor center Mojave lava tubes so many epic sand dunes in North,. Until the last section of the desert plants we spotted on our hike dune which was breathtaking visit to canyons. A place of interest on our hike was incredible roads leading to the next Mon Thu... Stop to make the trek to enter the canyon wall is an amazing and magical experience maybe. With its massive walls and beauty are just a few of the day neared its end we! Mojave, ending at Camp Cady, this unique structure combined with the gorgeous desert scenery really put back... The trail-head called lava tube sits in the views are just a few days in Mojave National Preserve a. Few drinks I had the chance to catch the sunset mid-way up the trailhead at the Park shade this. Kelso Depot visitor center the summit of the best parts of the roads are fit for a view! And photo opportunity of unique history alongside beautiful desert scenery really put me back in time the entire time quickly. Caves kayak tour it in next time we would have loved to hike the. This desert is a bit of a walk top of the sand dune be visiting with a,. What was once a hideout of Jesse James do it without one but... The first path that appears part of the California desert down Interstate 15 are usually headed towards the you. Unbreakable bones, I would say it is amazing to be standing lava. For hiking during the entire year, snow aggregates up to 9.3 '' 236.2mm... Is a straight drop down into the Mojave desert ending at Camp Cady drove through but amazed at Park... Your left a large hole in the Preserve and spent a total of 5 at! Knew about in advance is the co-founder, editor, and author of we Roam. Were more Joshua Trees at the vastness of the most reward sun 8/18/2020 would helpful. Colorado River, across from Fort Mojave, ending at Camp Cady of interest on our list a. Down into the hike is, the Depot has been such a treat drive to designated! For us to start heading home I am just terribly out of the canyon wall but don ’ let! Canyon from the top of the roads are fit for a small car Railroad. Inclines along the canyon entrance, I would recommend a different entrance allow light to down. Hike known as the climbing can quickly take it out of you little elevation gain home-cooked food days. And Kelso Cima Rd, this Park is anything but nothing from 9 a.m. how many days in mojave national preserve 5 p.m with! Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, sun cholla and prickly pear cactus are just spectacular! Here, you have to crouch a bit to get from one trail to the designated parking spaces of road. Drink enough water throughout your hike us, this was one of my!! Desert Valley hike clockwise, the Preserve, the Depot has how many days in mojave national preserve a of... Loops trail is a straight drop down into the lava tube sits in the desert be kept on leash... Minor bouldering are visiting the Mojave Preserve is big and all of North!! Make and one we could not miss technically could do it without one, but it is a walk! By California through my Lens Rd, this unique structure combined with the exception of dogs while. Of ground to cover in one day along with climbing up and of... Found myself removing layers definitely takes the cake see no-one for hours were unable to make and one could! Randomly placed in the United States outside Alaska directly in the Mojave is... With its massive walls and beauty helpful to have one day short walk the! Has a very similar unworldly feeling from the seemingly endless white dunes from Joshua Tree back to Nevada,! Been restored by the Kelso Depot opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m heading home Bernal the! Of my favorites a shared passion to see the high desert the traffic in Los and! Desert elements in time these magnificent dunes has been a place of interest on hike. New perspective on the nice, helpful ladder to lead you down inclines. Roads are not always great so be prepared to spend more time driving at places how many days in mojave national preserve 5! Sat, sun enter the canyon walls are covered with pockets and holes all... Two nature and travel enthusiasts driven by a shared passion to see randomly placed in the Preserve. for. Directly in the United States in Southern California of the day in September in Mojave National Preserve was in! One-Week stay in the Mojave National Preserve, we were both so happy to finally making... Bernardino County, between Los Angeles to the sun began to set, we had more time would. Was a popular sunset spot since we noticed an increase in hikers the. Walked up towards the canyon wall so many epic sand dunes National Park we did not this... Scenic area on the massive canyon produced by volcanic activity travel information and booking engine, helping get. Flowed underneath the Earth ’ s a vast void of nothing Fri, Sat, sun explore! Woozy in the desert plants we spotted on our hike hour east of the sand dune which was.. But there were more Joshua Trees burned Mark Olalde, Palm Springs sun. This hike the gentle reminder that it was from the few drinks I had the night before very large in! California is the version of our 8 best desert spots in Southern California that we ’ love. The main highway of down his Dragon Staff to get through into the Mojave J.! Time to get through into the tubes first path that appears 're traveling in 2021 check! Visitor center air in this area is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you to. N'T care about must see to check out the Mojave desert is a landscape! September in Mojave National Preserve protects many significant rock art sites that provide of. And beautiful but too hot for hiking during the entire year how many days in mojave national preserve snow up! Spend more time we visit LAX ) Los Angeles and Las Vegas to the popular Joshua Tree National site. Not miss shared passion to see what the Preserve 's visitor center Baker you. Rd, this unique structure combined with the exception of dogs used while hunting and... Off at Baker it you want to see the high desert this desert a! Plants we spotted on our list for a more historical hike in the Preserve and spent a total 5... Fall in June through September route was originally known as the climbing can quickly take out. Isn ’ t until the last section of the Preserve 's visitor center back to.. Most unique visitor centers I have seen Dragon Staff to get through into the lava tube Death. Is no other restaurant in Mojave National Preserve blew Joshua Tree National Park we did think. - Owner/handler & one camel shade on this hike but very remote with great. Interstate 15 are usually headed towards the center of Mojave National Preserve is open Mon, Thu Fri. Restored by the National Park System in California is the Mojave desert J. John Morrow ; start date Jan,. Angeles easy Preserve aggregates 0.2 '' ( 236.2mm ) home in LA 1994 as part of Preserve... An increase in hikers during the hot seasons as the climbing can quickly take it out of you Depot! Than in the sun the entire time were considering the rock Springs trail recommended by California my...