Mojave National Preserve

Mojave National Preserve is an area of stark, quiet desert landscapes in the southeastern desert of California. Protected as a United States national preserve, it is part of the National Park System.

Landscape
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. The 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.

Flora and fauna
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 reelect plant communities of white fir and chaparral.

Signs of animal life are subtle and easily overlooked. Birds and lizards are seen most frequently, but time of day, weather, and season all play a role in determining which animals are active. A large percentage of desert animals are nocturnal: being active at night rather than during daylight hours allows them to avoid high daytime temperatures and predators. Typical nocturnal animals include most desert rodents, bats, owls, mountain lion, skunks, and foxes. Other animals are crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk, and include coyotes, bighorn sheep and jackrabbits. Diurnal animals, those active during the day, are the most dynamic in that their activity periods will change based on temperature and season.

Climate
The weather is generally most comfortable in the spring and fall. Temperatures vary greatly by elevation. At low elevations, daytime highs are in the 70s (°F) in March; lows are in the 40s. Highs over typically begin in May and can last into October. In the mountains, daytime highs are in the 70s in May; lows are in the 50s. Winters can bring freezing temperatures and occasional snows, with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s.

Annual precipitation ranges from at lower elevations to nearly 10 inches in the mountains. Most rain falls between November and April; summer thunderstorms may bring sudden, heavy rainfall. The driest months are May and June. Winds are a prominent feature of Mojave Desert weather. Strong winds occur in fall, late winter, and early spring months.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
The preserve is easily reached via I-15 or I-40 east of Barstow, and west of Needles and Las Vegas. There are six freeway exits that provide visitor access.

By train and bus
Baker, the northwest entrance to the preserve, is served by Amtrak's bus service, providing connections to Amtrak trains.

By plane
The nearest airport is north in:
 * Las Vegas at Harry Reid International Airport, from the eastern boundary of the preserve.

A little further away to the southwest is:
 * Palm Springs at Palm Springs International Airport &mdash; 125-175 mi from the western boundaries of the preserve.
 * Ontario at Ontario International Airport &mdash; 140-160 mi from the western boundaries of the preserve.

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees to the preserve, but some of the preserve's campgrounds do charge a usage fee for overnight camping.

Get around
Road conditions vary from paved, two-lane highways to rugged 4-wheel drive roads. Access is possible on foot, by bike, by horse, or by car.

Biking

 * Mountain biking &mdash; Seasoned mountain bikers will enjoy the challenges of some of the preserve's backcountry roads. Bicycle Camping in and around Mojave National Preserve provides a travelogue of a sample bicycle trip in the area.

Four-wheel driving

 * Four-wheel-driving &mdash; The multi-day drive along the historic Mojave Road is a favorite of serious four-wheel-drive enthusiasts (off-road riding not permitted however).

Hiking

 * Kelso Dunes Trail, (refer to See section above).
 * Kelso Dunes Trail, (refer to See section above).

Buy
The Kelso Depot Visitor Center and Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center have bookshops specializing in books related to desert topics.

Eat
There are no restaurants in Mojave National Preserve. Restaurants are available in Baker, California. El Oasis Cafe at Nipton, on the northern edge of the preserve, provides home-cooked food six days a week.

Lodging
There is no commercial lodging inside the preserve. Motels are available at Primm, Nevada and a small, antique bed-and-breakfast is available at Nipton on the preserve's northern edge.

Camping
Car camping is available both in developed campgrounds or along roads in sites that have traditionally been used for that purpose. Do not camp along paved roads, and never camp within 200 yards of water sources.

If a fire-ring is already there, camping is permitted. It appears that the rangers have built fire-rings in many obvious camping sites. Do not build a new fire-ring. Firewood collecting is not allowed in the preserve, nor is firewood available for sale.



Backcountry
The preserve also offers undeveloped or dispersed camping and backcountry camping opportunities.

Much of the preserve is federally designated wilderness, where mechanized travel by car or bicycle is prohibited. Only travel by horse or foot is allowed in these areas. A network of backcountry roads, often suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles or, sometimes, well-equipped mountain bikes, provides access to many of these areas.

Campsites are often found sporadically along backcountry roads in the preserve. If a fire-ring is already present, camping is permitted.

Stay safe
Carry lots of water. There is very little water available in the preserve. Bottled water can be purchased at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, along I-15 in Baker and at the gas station and store at I-15/Cima Road, at the general store in Nipton, at the Cima store (which isn't always open), and at the gas station in Fenner near the junction of I-40 and old Route 66 on the south side of the preserve.

Public drinking water is available at the Mid Hills and Hole in the Wall campgrounds, at Mitchell Caverns campground (Providence Mountains State Recreation Area), and from water fountains at Kelso Depot visitor center washrooms (open 24 hours a day) or inside Kelso Depot during open hours.

In the backcountry, water is often available from the cistern at Marl Springs along the old Mojave Road (needs to be filtered or treated). Numerous small springs with varying (and sometimes non-existent) quantities of water exist throughout the preserve for folks with water filters, such as Butcher Knife Spring. Research prior to travel relying on such springs is required. For example, a tiny stream of filterable water was available during one camper's visit at Indian Springs off Kelbaker Road a day after Christmas 2007.

Cellular phone service is "sporatic and unreliable; generally, it is better within view of the two highways", per the NPS, so don't count on being able to use it in an emergency. You may be able to call 911 from some locations, but there is no guarantee. However, in an emergency always try 911: even if you have no service it may connect with another carrier.

If using maps on your phone, download maps before you go. Take a paper map with you, and know how to read it.

Go next

 * Baker &mdash; A tiny town on the park's northwestern border, Baker is the only significant town on I-15 in the remote desert stretch between Barstow and the Nevada border. It offers food, fuel and lodging, is home to the world's tallest thermometer, and is the starting point for those journeying north to Death Valley National Park.
 * Las Vegas, north &mdash; 60 miles from the park's eastern border, Sin City is America's playground.
 * Amboy and Route 66, south &mdash; The Mother Road routes through the California desert through a the ghost town of Amboy.
 * Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park, south of Amboy &mdash; This large national park south of the town is home to two desert ecosystems and is a favorite for campers, hikers, and rock-climbers.