Desert solitude in Southern California
Singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from major metropolitan areas.
This was a short trip to the park, only 6 hours from the time I entered the park from the north until sunset. I had never been to the park before and I did not do enough research in advance so I was not too sure what to expect. Was it going to be salt flats, sand dunes or a rocky desert, much like Joshua Tree National Park? All I had on my plans was to come in from the north via Cima Rd and do the Teutonia Peak Trail and then the Rings Loop Trail before heading out the south end of the park. At least that was the plan before I got there. 🙂
Teutonia Peak Trail
I got to this trail head and there was only one other car at the trail head and were just looking around. Not too interested in the 3 mile round trip hike. It’s a there and back trip, 1.5 miles each way, with the first mile being just a very slight incline, they type that you probably would not even notice, then you get to the rock face and start a steady ascent to the peak. The trail is marked in a few places but you should be able to find your way easily enough. I really liked this hike, I was the only person on the trail, and it was so serene and peaceful.
Hole-In-The-Wall
This is where I intended to do my second, much shorter hike, but when I approached the ranger station I saw signs about the sand dunes. During my quick research I had missed that there were actually sand dunes in the park. The ranger gave me directions and I quickly head off to the dunes, passing on the Rings Loop Trail.
Kelso Dunes
I wasn’t sure how much time I would have as the sun was already starting to drop and it was just under a mile to base of the dunes and then the short, but tiring trek up the side of the big sand dune. I only made it about 2/3 of the way before I decided it best to head back. It gets pretty dark in the desert and there were not any lights around the parking lot to even give an idea which way to go.
On a subsequent trip I did make it to the top of dune and it is well worth the effort.
A great trip and I wish I had more time so I will try to visit the park again and plan a little better.
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