Mojave Road — Afton Canyon to Piute Valley via Government Holes and Lanfair Road Junction

The Mojave Road is one of America’s oldest overland routes — used by Mojave people for centuries, then by Spanish missionaries, U.S. Army camel corps expeditions in 1857, and wagon trains pushing toward California. The Afton Canyon section alone is worth the drive: a narrow gorge where the Mojave River actually runs on the surface, shaded by cottonwoods, with canyon walls closing in close enough to touch. East of Afton, the road crosses Soda Dry Lake — a vast alkali flat — before hitting Government Holes, a series of hand-dug wells that kept travellers and livestock alive in the 19th century. The Lanfair Road junction marks entry into the broad volcanic valley flanked by the Providence and New York Mountains.

This is a classic desert overland run — not extreme, but not a highway drive either. High-clearance 4WD handles it fine under normal conditions; the Soda Lake crossing can become impassable after rain when the playa turns to quicksand-like mud. Best run October through April — summer temperatures routinely exceed 115°F and there is no shade or rescue on the open desert. Carry 10+ litres of water per person, extra fuel, and a recovery kit. No permit required on BLM land. The Mojave Road Guide book by Dennis Casebier is essential navigation — GPS alone misses the nuance on this one. Cell service is absent across most of the route.