Mojave Road — Piute Spring to Mid Hills via Keystone Spring and Rock Springs Lake (Interior Segment)

Between Piute Spring and Mid Hills Campground lies the quietest and most historically loaded section of the Mojave Road — the 19th-century freight route that connected Fort Mojave to Camp Cady across the open Mojave. The Old Government Road parallels much of the track here. You’ll move through Lanfair Valley’s Joshua tree flats, drop into Rock Springs Lake (a shallow seasonal playa), and pick up Keystone Spring before climbing the flanks of the Mid Hills through volcanic cinder and black basalt rubble. The route passes within sight of the Kelso Dunes to the west and the Providence Mountains to the east — neither is close enough to be easy to reach, which suits the mood.

This is moderate to difficult desert 4WD — soft sand in the valley floors, embedded basalt shelf climbs near Mid Hills, and loose decomposed granite on the upper approaches. A bone-stock full-size 4WD with decent ground clearance handles it in dry conditions; aired-down tires (20–25 psi) are standard. Best season is October through April — summer temps at Rock Springs regularly exceed 110°F. No permit required but a free self-issue registration is encouraged at the BLM kiosk. Water is unreliable at all springs; carry all you need. Mid Hills Campground has pit toilets and developed sites — dispersed camping on the valley floor is legal and excellent.