Mojave Road — Rock Springs Lake to Afton Canyon via Soda Dry Lake and Government Holes (West Segment)

The Mojave Road is the oldest non-coastal overland route in California — used by the Mojave people for centuries before Kit Carson and later the U.S. Army formalized it as a supply corridor in the 1860s. The western segment from Rock Springs Lake runs across open volcanic desert and the edge of the Soda Dry Lake playa before hitting Government Holes — hand-dug wells that kept 19th-century travellers alive. From there the road angles toward Afton Canyon, where the Mojave River breaks to the surface and carves a dramatic series of layered basalt walls often called the Grand Canyon of the Mojave. The canyon section includes multiple river crossings of the Mojave River, which can range from tyre-deep to impassable after winter rains.

This segment rates moderate — the sandy stretches between Rock Springs and Soda Lake demand airing down to 18–20 psi and can swallow unprepared rigs up to their axles. A 4×4 with decent ground clearance handles it; lockers help in soft sand. The Mojave River crossings at Afton can be thigh-deep in wet years — check conditions with the BLM Barstow field office before committing. A free BLM permit is not required but a Mojave Road Guide is strongly recommended. Best season October–April; summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C. No water en route — fill at Barstow.