Here is some general information that you will find useful when travelling
in the Mojave Desert. Click here or hit your back button to return to the main Mojave Desert page.
The East Mojave National Scenic Area (Mojave National Preserve) is a unique
1.5 million acre desert region full of scenic, historic, and natural wonders.
The area is managed jointly by the National Park Service (NPS) and Bureau of
Land Management (BLM). The area features pinyon-juniper woodlands, sage-covered
hills, cactus gardens, and colorful volcanic cinder cones and lava beds.
The main points of contact are:
BLM-Needles Field Office, 101 W Spikes Rd, Needles CA 92363
760-326-7000
-and-
Mojave National Preserve, 222 East Main St., Suite 202, Barstow, CA 92311
760-255-8800
There is no entrance fee to the Preserve. The BLM maintains two developed
campgrounds at Hole-In-The-Wall and Mid Hills. These sites are equipped with
pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, trashcans, and drinkable water.
There are no utility hookups, but there is a sanitary dump station at
Hole-in-the-Wall campground. Spaces are available on a first come/first served
basis for a $12 per site per night. Fees for Golden Age/Golden Access Passport
holders are $6 per site per night.
Vegetation in the desert is sparse, so collecting firewood is not permitted;
bring your own firewood. Please do not leave fires smoldering or unattended.
Portable stoves are permitted. For hunters, firearms must be unloaded in the
campgrounds. The water supply is limited, so please use only what you need.
Always carry enough water for yourself, guests, pets and vehicles.
Other developed campsites are available in the Providence Mountains State
Recreation Area. Afton Canyon on I-15 west of the Preserve has a BLM campground.
Commerical campgrounds are available at Nipton and Needles, California, and
Primm, Nevada.
Backpackers and hikers can camp within the Preserve by going at least 0.5 mile
from any day-use area or road and a 0.25 mile from water sources. There is no
official registration system, so let someone know where you are going and when
you plan to return. Backcountry camping is limited to a 14-day stay. Few trail
signs exist, so take a good map and become familiar with the area you are about
to camp in. Do not set up in a drainage or dry wash as flash floods can develop
quickly in the desert.
Roadside camping is permitted in areas that have been traditionally used for
this purpose. Camping tramples vegetation; by picking sites that have been
already been used for camping you help protect the desert from further damage.
Do not camp along paved roads or day-use areas, and stay at least 0.25 mile away
from all water sources. Please respect the rights of private property owners.
Hiking is encouraged on all public lands within Mojave National Preserve. Among
the best hikes is the Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall Trail. This eight-mile trail
(one-way) will take you through beautiful scenery, with numerous spectacular
views of the mountains that surround the area. Among the plant communities you
will walk through are pinyon pine and juniper woodlands, Great Basin sagebrush,
blackbrush scrub and several cactus gardens. The trail has a 1,200-foot elevation
loss from the Mid Hills trailhead to Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center, so if you
like hiking downhill start at Mid Hills. The trail is signed, but it requires a
good eye to stay on course as it enters and leaves washes. Shuttle vehicles can
be parked at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center or Wild Horse Canyon Trailhead.
Another favorite trail is the Teutonia Peak Trail, on Cima Dome. The trail is
about 4 miles round trip, and wanders through a wonderful Joshua tree forest.
The Preserve has about 1,200 miles of road, enough to keep the busiest of desert
explorers going for some time. The quality ranges from paved two-lane roads, to
good maintained dirt roads, to extremely rough 4-wheel drive routes. Contact one
of our Information Centers for questions on specific roads. Remember that a good
dirt road can rapidly deteriorate after a storm.
All plants, animals, rocks, historical objects, buildings, archeological artifacts,
and other natural and cultural objects are protected by law. Please do not disturb
them in any way, leaving them intact for all visitors to enjoy.
Private property inholdings are found throughout the Preserve. Please respect the
property rights of our neighbors. Receive permission before hunting, hiking or
entering private property. Cattle graze on Preserve lands. These lands are open
to public use, but please don’t disturb cattle, fences, or water tanks.
Vehicles, including motorcycles and bicycles, are permitted on roadways only. The
Preserve contains hundreds of miles of established dirt roads, perfect for motorists
and mountain bikes.Please respect all wilderness boundaries markers while driving.
All motorized vehicles must be "street legal" with valid license plates and highway
registration.
Hunting is allowed in Mojave National Preserve. The discharge of weapons is only
allowed while legally hunting. No "plinking" or target shooting is permitted. The
California Department of Fish and Game regulates hunting throughout the state, so
please refer to their current regulation publications. A current California State
hunting license is required. Please be prepared to present your hunting license
and tags to federal or state officials if requested to do so.
Hiking and backpacking are encouraged; no permit is required for groups of fewer
than 15 people. Backcountry camping is limited to a 14-day stay; choose a site at
least one half mile away from any developed area or road and one quarter mile from
any water source. Few trail signs exist, so take a map and become familiar with it
before you hike. Be careful not to set up in a drainage or dry wash. Flash floods
can develop quickly in the desert.
Roadside camping is allowed. Select sites that have been traditionally used for
camping, not along paved roads or day use areas, and stay at least one quarter
mile from all water sources. Please be careful not to damage fragile desert habitat.
Wood is very scarce in the desert; the collecting or cutting of any wood is not
permitted. Campfires are allowed in fire rings in developed campgrounds and other
established sites. Firewood, including kindling, must be brought in. If you are
backpacking or roadside camping, you are encouraged to use a camp stove or build
a pan fire to avoid scarring the open desert.
Native Americans have lived in the area for thousands of years, and evidence from
these civilizations can be found throughout the desert. In 1976 Congress passed
the Archeological Resource Protection Act. This act gives protection to archeological
resources and carries heavy penalties for violators. Help us protect this important
part of our past. The possession of metal detectors is not permitted in Mojave
National Preserve
Pets are allowed but must be leashed, with the exception of using dogs for hunting.
Nearly 50% of Mojave National Preserve is federally designated wilderness. Exploration
on foot or horseback is encouraged to experience the solitude and scenic beauty of
these special places. Cars, bicycles, and other mechanized vehicles are not allowed.
Wheelchairs, however, can be used in wilderness areas.
1. Black Canyon Road
Black Canyon Road is 20 miles long and follows a graded dirt road. Normal passenger cars can travel the route as long as caution is used on the rough or sandy segments.
2. Cedar Canyon Road
Cedar Canyon Road is 25 miles long and follows a graded dirt road. Passenger vehicles can safely travel the route as long as caution is used on the rough or sandy segments.
3. Cima Road
Cima Road is 17 miles long and follows a paved road that is suitable for all types of vehicles.
4. Essex Road
Essex Road is 16 miles long. It follows a paved road suitable for all types of vehicles.
5. Kelbaker Road
All but five miles of this 60-mile route follow a paved road. The byway is suitable for travel by all types of vehicles.
6. Kelso-Cima Road
Kelso-Cima Road is 20 miles long and follows a paved road that is suitable for all types of vehicles.
7. Lanfair-Ivenpah Road
This 55-mile route follows a combination of paved and graded dirt road suitable for all vehicles.
8. Wild Horse Canyon
Wild Horse Canyon is 12 miles long. It follows a dirt road that can safely be driven in a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle.
