Mojave National Preserve was created in October, 1994 when Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. Congress acted to protect one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The area ranges from creosote bush dominated flats in low areas to pinyon pine and juniper woodlands in higher elevations. Everywhere there are surprises. Sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, vast vistas and mile-high mountains help define this amazing area within the Mojave Desert. Rose-colored sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests and mile-high mountains are all part of the scene at Mojave National Preserve. Located in the heart of the Mojave Desert, this new park was established in 1994 through the California Desert Protection Act. The Preserve encompasses 1.6 million acres of mountains, jumble rocks, desert washes and dry lakes; outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the opportunity for solitude here not easily found at other southern California parks.
Plant and animal life varies by elevation. Desert tortoises burrow in creosote bush flats, while the black and yellow Scott’s oriole nests in Joshua trees higher up the slopes. Mule deer and bighorn sheep roam among pinyon pine and juniper in the Preserve’s many mountain ranges.
Mojave Desert experiences change with the seasons. Infrequent winter snows sparkle on the mountains. With enough moisture, spring wildflowers carpet the desert with vivid colors. Summers are hot; hikers and campers explore the higher elevations such as Mid-Hills and the New York Mountains. The cooler temperatures of fall mark hunting season. A network of dirt roads offer year round opportunities to explore by 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Nature & Science
Ecology
The Mojave National Preserve’s vast expanse of desert lands include elements of three of the four major North American Deserts: the Mojave, Great Basin and Sonoran. Additionally, changes in elevation and soil type, combined with dozens of seeps and springs, many in sheltered canyons, create a wide range of microhabitats that support a rich diversity of plants and animals. Some species are only found in this area. Notable plant assemblages include one of the largest and most dense Joshua tree forests, cactus gardens and relect plant communities of white fir and chaparral. The Mojave National Preserve’s unique ecology is attributed to its remarkable geology. The desert is a land of old mountain ranges, sand dunes, great mesas and volcanic features such as cinder cones, domes and lava flows; these features contribute to the remarkable beauty of the landscape. The most ancient rocks in the preserve, found in the Clark Mountains, are 2.5 billion years old.
Attractions
Mojave National Preserve is a land of scenic vistas, from Soda Dry Lake in the east to Piute Gorge in the west, Clark Mountain in the north to the Granite Mountains in the south. Everywhere, visitors are surrounded by vast and intriguing views; the following include some of the most spectacular. The general topography may be best described as “basin and range,” and, indeed, from almost anywhere in the preserve one can observe at lease one and in many places several striking mountain ranges. The New York Mountains, located in the extreme northeast corner of the preserve, contain the Castle Peaks, distinct spires of tower-like peaks easily visible from Morning Star Mine Road, Ivanpah Road, Nipton Road, Cima Road and even as far away as Interstate 15. In the southwest corner of the preserve lie the Granite Mountains, a range of white rock rising up out of the surrounding desert. The Granite Mountains are visible from Kelbaker Road and Interstate 40. Clark Mountain, the highest point in the preserve at 7929 feet, may be viewed from Interstate 15 and Excelsior Mine Road. The subtle shadings of Pinto Mountain can be appreciated from Black Canyon Road, a dirt road that, with a little patience, can easily be navigated by passenger cars.
Mountain ranges are not the only picturesque vistas that Mojave National Preserve has to offer. Soda Dry Lake, located on the preserve’s western boundary, is an eerily deserted landscape of white alkaline soils that most plants cannot tolerate. The mirage-like qualities of the dry lake can be viewed from Baker and Interstate 15, but are best experienced from Zzyzx Road and the California Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx. The dry lake, which is over ten miles long and is the largest playa in the east Mojave, may even fill up with water during periods of heavy rainfall.
Another eerie landscape of Mojave National Preserve may be found within the Cinder Cones Natural National Landmark. The 32 cinder cones and black basalt of the many lava flows, visible and accessible from Kelbaker Road, suggest a lunar landscape.
Kelso Dunes and the Devil’s Playground provide yet another surreal vista. The dunes and sand fields, part of one of the most extensive dune fields in the West, bring to mind the shifting sands of the Sahara. Kelso Dunes may be observed from Kelso Depot, Kelbaker Road and the Kelso Dunes Trail access road. In addition, a hike up to the top of the dunes provides access to a panoramic view of the surrounding desert. The dunes are best viewed at sunrise and sunset, when the low angle of the sun’s rays tint the dunes various shades of pink and blue.
Piute Gorge is accessible only via four-wheel-drive roads, but is well worth the trip. This deep gorge contains Piute Spring, which in turn feeds Piute Creek, one of the preserve’s few perennial streams, as well as the ruins of Fort Piute. The lush plant life associated with this permanent source of water is an unexpected surprise in the deep desert.
The Joshua Tree forest of Cima Dome, while not exactly lush, is the world’s tallest and densest. The bizarrely shaped Joshua trees blanket the gentle slopes of Cima Dome and are a sight not to be missed. Cima Dome and its associated “forest” are best viewed from Cima Road and Kelso-Cima Road.
Recreation
The resources available within Mojave National Preserve are enough to keep the most dedicated desert explorer busy for years. Whether you interests are hiking, hunting, camping or just driving and looking at beautiful scenery you will find it here.
Hiking
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.
In The Area
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park has more than 3.3 million acres of spectacular desert scenery, interesting and rare desert wildlife, complex geology, undisturbed wilderness and sites of historical and cultural interest. Bounded on the west by 11,049 foot Telescope Peak and on the east by 5,475 foot Dante’s View, Badwater is the lowest point (-282 feet) in the western hemisphere.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers a wealth of things to do and places to go year-round. Its huge lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife photographers and roadside sightseers. Three of America’s four desert ecosystems the Mojave, the Great Basin and the Sonoran Deserts meet in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area contains a surprising variety of plants and animals, some of which may be found nowhere else in the world.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park’s 794,000 acres span the transition between the Mojave and Colorado deserts of Southern California. Proclaimed a National Monument in 1936 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1984, Joshua Tree was designated a National Park in 1994. The area possesses a rich human history and a pristine natural environment.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia is the second-oldest national park in the United States. It was established in 1890 to protect the Big Trees in Giant Forest, including the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest living thing.
Small portion of what is now Kings Canyon was originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park. In 1940, General Grant was absorbed into the new and larger Kings Canyon National Park, which eventually grew to include the South Fork of the Kings River and 456,552 acres of backcountry wilderness. Managed as one park, together Sequoia and Kings Canyon total over 863,700 acres.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks also contain the Mineral King Valley and Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the U. S. outside of Alaska.
Getting There
The Mojave National Preserve is easily reached via Interstate 15 or Interstate 40 east of Barstow, CA and west of Needles, CA and Las Vegas, NV. There are six freeway exits that provide visitor access.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Mojave National Preserve
222 E. Main Street, Suite 202
Barstow, CA 92311
Phone: 760-255-8800
Fax: 760-255-8809
Weather/Climate
Local temperatures at Mojave National Preserve vary greatly by elevation, which ranges from 880 feet to 7,492 feet. Seasonal weather changes are striking. Summer temperatures average 90 degrees with highs exceeding 105 degrees regularly. It is not unusual to see snow blanketing the higher elevations in the winter. Precipitation also varies greatly across the Preserve; mountain areas average nearly 9 inches per year, while the average near Baker is only 3.37 inches. At least 25 percent of precipitation falls in localized summer monsoon thunderstorms.
