Mojave National Preserve Backcountry Loop

The Mojave National Preserve Backcountry Loop winds 85 miles through California’s largest national preserve, threading abandoned mining camps, sprawling Joshua tree forests, and volcanic cinder cones that rise like ancient altars from the desert floor. This is high desert solitude at its finest—where you can drive for hours without seeing another soul and camp wherever the ground looks flat enough for your rig. The loop connects historic mining districts with sweeping vistas of the Providence Mountains, offering overlanders a genuine taste of the Mojave’s raw beauty without the crowds that plague more famous desert destinations.

Any stock SUV with decent ground clearance can handle this moderate route, though the 2,200 feet of elevation gain and stretches of deep sand will test your driving skills and your rig’s cooling system. The trail surfaces range from hardpack dirt roads to sandy washes that’ll make you grateful for momentum and proper tire pressure. October through April offers the best conditions—summer temperatures regularly exceed 110°F and will cook both you and your vehicle. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent throughout most of the preserve, so download offline maps and carry emergency communication. Water is scarce; pack everything you need for the full 2-3 day journey from Baker, the nearest resupply point 40 miles away.

The preserve’s backcountry reveals layers of desert history at every turn. You’ll pass through Kelso, a restored railroad depot that once served steam locomotives crossing the Mojave, and encounter remnants of mining operations that date back to the 1800s. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout most of the preserve—find a spot among the Joshua trees or against the base of a cinder cone and you’ll have front-row seats to some of the darkest night skies in Southern California. The Hole-in-the-Wall area offers particularly dramatic camping with its volcanic rock formations and natural amphitheaters carved by wind and time.

This isn’t a trail for Instagram heroes or weekend warriors looking for gnarly rock crawling. The Mojave Preserve Loop rewards overlanders who appreciate space, silence, and the subtle beauty of high desert ecosystems. You’ll return with dust in every crevice of your rig, a deeper understanding of desert ecology, and the satisfaction that comes from navigating genuine backcountry without the safety net of cell towers and convenience stores. It’s honest desert exploration for those who understand that sometimes the best adventures happen at 25 mph with nothing but Joshua trees and jackrabbits for company.