Mojave National Preserve

The Barber Peak Loop Trail is very well marked, crossing a number of four wheel roads and cow paths. The north end of the trail eventually meets up with the Hole in the Wall trail, if you want to extend your hike. The abundance of barrel cacti and succulents on the West side of the loop is one of the best parts of the hike - a stunning reminder of the resilient nature of desert vegetation. Ther...

Hole-in-the-Wall Rings Trail is a heavily trafficked loop trail located near Cima, California.

Barber Peak Loop Trail is a loop trail where you may see wildflowers located near Essex, California.

The North Mid Hills Trail is a great opportunity to see wildlife (coyote, jack rabbits, cattle). The trail ranges from soft and sandy to firm and rocky. This hike circles around the Mid Hills Campground. For information on camping in Mojave National Preserve, click here. Dogs are allowed on the trail but must be kept on leash. This is a great trail for hiking, trail running, and nature trips. 

North Mid Hills Trail is a loop trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Nipton, California.

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...

Rock Spring Loop is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Cima, California.

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...