Mojave Road — Piute Creek to Rock Springs via Mid Hills and Hole-in-the-Wall
California's oldest road. Still no pavement.
The Mojave Road is an old one — used by Mojave and Chemehuevi people for centuries, scouted by Jedidiah Smith in 1826, formalized by the Army in the 1860s as a supply route to Fort Mojave. The stretch between Piute Creek and Rock Springs via Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid Hills covers the preserve’s most dramatic interior: the volcanic cinder cones of the Cima Dome field to the north, the jumbled black basalt rings at Hole-in-the-Wall where the road threads through a slot passage, and the open desert basin between Mid Hills campground and Rock Springs water hole — a stop the old Army freight wagons depended on. This is 40 miles of corrugated dirt, sand wash, and light ledge rock, navigable in a single long day or a comfortable overnight with a camp at Mid Hills.
Stock 4WD with high clearance handles this segment in dry conditions — it’s rated Moderate, not a rock-crawler special. The sand washes between Piute Valley and Hole-in-the-Wall can catch low-clearance rigs if they’ve drifted soft after rain. No fuel inside the preserve; top off in Baker or Needles. Water at Rock Springs is not potable — carry all yours. Camping at Mid Hills and Hole-in-the-Wall campgrounds is $15/night, no reservation required. Best season is October through April; summer temps routinely exceed 110°F and the road is genuinely dangerous in that heat. Cell service is nonexistent once you leave US-95.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 40 mi / 64.4 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5600 ft |
| Best season | October–April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Needles, California |
| Land manager | National Park Service — Mojave National Preserve |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | NPS Mojave Road page Mojave National Preserve NPS |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD handles the Mojave Road fine. The rocky sections near Hole-in-the-Wall and the sand dunes at Kelso benefit from airing down to 20-25 psi — bring a compressor.
Is the trail accessible in summer?
Technically open, but summer temps routinely hit 110°F+ in the Mojave lowlands. Overheating, blown tires on hot sand, and zero shade make summer genuinely dangerous. Stick to October through April.
Do you need a permit to drive the Mojave Road?
No permit required to drive the route. Camping within Mojave National Preserve requires a free backcountry camping permit, self-issued at preserve trailheads. There's no entrance fee for the preserve.
What's the hardest section and what does it actually demand?
The ring loops at Hole-in-the-Wall involve a short, steep descent on loose volcanic rock — nothing technical, but it catches flat-footed drivers off guard. Low-range 4WD and a spotter if you've never done it before; it's more intimidating than difficult.
How far is the nearest gas from the trail, and is there water at Rock Springs?
Needles is roughly 40 miles east and is your last reliable fuel stop before heading west into the preserve — fill up there. Rock Springs has a historic tinaja (natural rock cistern) but treat any water you take from it; don't count on it as a primary source.
Trail track
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