Explore the North Mid Hills Trail

From the Hole in the Wall information center, drive north on Black Canyon Road. Table Top is a fairly identifiable mesa to the east. Pick what you think is a suitable approach point and park your car in a dirt pullout. Grab your backpack and make a beeline for the mesa, straight through the desert. There is no trail here, so pick your way through the scrub. Be careful, you'll likely need to tr...

The Rock Spring Loop trail is an easy to follow 1.5-mile hike in the Mojave National Preserve.  The hike starts in the parking lot, where you walk through a gate, past a sign welcoming visitors to "come on up", to the historic Rock House.  The Rock House is about a tenth of a mile up the trail from the parking lot and is the official start to the Rock Spring Loop trail.   The Rock House was bui...

Teutonia Peak is a rocky 5,755-foot mountain on the edge of Cima Dome in the north east section of Mojave National Preserve. The dome is 1,500 feet tall is the most symmetrical dome of its type in the United States. The hike starts with a gradual trail through an impressive forest of Joshua Trees along with other varieties of yuccas as you hike up the edge of the granite Cima Dome. At ju...

When visiting the Lava Tubes, you must have a full tank of gas, radiator coolant, and a couple gallons of water before you enter the Mojave Desert Preserve! The preserve doesn't offer any services other than the occasional place to fill up on water.From The North: From Baker, CA on Interstate 15, drive 20 miles southeast on Kelbaker Rd until you come to Aiken Mine Rd. Turn left/northeast on the...

There is no particular route to the top of Kelso Dunes from the trailhead – the wind is constantly moving the sands (and trail) around. Instead, follow the footsteps in the sand, avoid the vegetation, and aim for the tallest peak. It is pretty hard to get lost as you can see the parking lot from just about any high mound of sand. You will cross many smaller sand dunes before reaching the base o...

You may think a desert is barren and ugly with little to offer the avid outdoorsman. The truth is very far from that. The Mojave, like any other great outdoor location offers great hikes, amazing views, wildlife, and a night sky that is hard to beat anywhere else. The Mojave just like all great deserts is extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night. The sunsets and sunrises are rem...