Mojave National Preserve Fall Retreat

Hike Hosts: Mary & Anna

Rippled sand dunes sing an eerie chorus. Cactus flowers bloom after a spring rain, jewels against buff-colored earth. Salt-bush borders a dry lakebed, and countless Joshua tree limbs reach toward the sky. A bounty for the senses, Mohave is all these and more. Mojave National Preserve was established by the 1994 Desert Protection Act. The 1.6 million acre park encompasses much of the Mojave Desert, as well as transitional elements of the Great Basin and Sonoran Desert. Topographic features include: Pinyon-Juniper woodland, Joshua Tree woodland, Cactus -Yucca scrub, Desert Dunes, Creosote Bush scrub and Desert wash.

The Hikes

Rings Loop Trail & Nature Trail– slot canyon; 1.5 miles, moderate
Difficulty: Level 2 Moderate | Miles: 1.5

Barber Peak Loop Trail – slot canyons, a stone staircase and colorful cliffs
Difficulty: Level 2 Moderate | Miles: 6

Kelso Dunes – hiking up dunes >1500’ from the desert floor
Difficulty: Level 2 Moderate | Miles: 3

Teutonia Peak Trail – hiking thru the world’s largest Joshua Tree forest to Teutonia Peak 5755’
Difficulty: Level 3 Challenging | Miles: 2

Getting There
(click for directions)

Directions:101 South; Exit 231B toward 46 East, Fresno; left onto 46; 5 South; Exit 263 toward Buttonwillow, turn left; left onto Seventh Standard Rd; take 99 South; Exit 24 onto 58 East, continue onto Bakersfield-Tehachapi Hwy, then Barstow-Bakersfield Hwy (still 58); 15 North toward 40 to Las Vegas; Exit 184A to 40 East toward Needles; Exit 107 to Goffs Road; Left onto Goff’s Rd toward Historic Route 66; Left onto 40 West; Exit 100 onto Essex Rd; Right onto Essex Rd toward Mitchell Caverns; Right onto Black Canyon Rd; Campground about 10 miles on right. (PS – watch out for the hares if driving in around sunrise/sunset)

Know Before you go

We will be staying at Black Canyon Group Camping Ground. Amenities: covered picnic tables, fire rings, BBQs, compost toilets and potable water. RV/Campers ok.

Drive Time:  8 Hours – Parking Free, Camping $10 per person – Dogs OK on leash except if legally hunting, both in campground, and on some trails (NOT on Rings Loop or Kelso Dunes).

Optional Activities: Kelso Museum Depot, Zzyxx, Rock Spring Loop Trail & Paiute Canyon Trail. World famous date milkshake at Cima & Nipton Roads post Teutonic Peak.

RSVP

Contact Anna or Mary to be added to the list.

Anna (annakj@yahoo.com 408-806-7675)
Mary (freednfire@yahoo.com 831-431-3491)