Mojave
National Preserve
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With more than 1.6 million acres of desert, there is a lot to learn about in this lovely and isolated corner of California. You will find general information by scrolling down this page, or use the buttons on the left to find just what you are looking for. If you want to come play in the desert, click on recreation. Learn more about the endangered desert tortoise by looking under Desert Animals, or look under management issues to discover how this new unit of the National Park Service is being run. If you need additional information please call one of our Information Centers. |
View our Draft General Management Plan
| Fall and Spring provide the most pleasant temperatures, and are the busiest seasons. Winters can be cold and Summers are usually hot, and tend to be the slowest periods. | ||
| Mojave National Preserve is located in Southeastern California. It encompasses 1.6 million acres of the area known as the "Lonesome Triangle", between Interstate 15 and 40. The Preserve begins about 60 miles west of Barstow and borders the Nevada state line in the east. | ||
| Mojave National Preserve Headquarters 222 E. Main St., Suite 202 Barstow, CA 92311 Mojave National Preserve Baker Information Center 72157 Baker Blvd./ P.O. Box 241 Baker, CA 92309 MOJA_Baker_Interp@nps.gov Mojave National Preserve Needles Information Center 707 W. Broadway Needles, CA 92363 MOJA Needles Interp@nps.gov |
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| Headquarters: (760) 255-8801 Baker Information Center: (760) 733-4040 Needles Information Center (760) 326-6322 Hole-in-the-Wall Ranger Station (760) 928-2572 |
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| The Preserve is open year-round 24 hours a day. | ||
| The Mojave is a hot desert. Days with temperatures in excess of 100 degrees typically begin in May and can last into October, and within the Mojave National Preserve temperatures reach 120 degrees. Winters, however, can bring freezing temperatures. The most pleasant temperatures are in Spring and Fall. | ||
| The Preserve is easily reached via I-15 or 1-40 east of Barstow, CA, and west of Needles, CA and Las Vegas, NV. There are six freeway exits that provide visitor access. | ||
| The nearest airports are in Ontario, CA (140 miles from the western boundary Preserve) and Las Vegas, NV (60 miles from the eastern boundary of the Preserve). Most visitors arrive in private vehicles. | ||
| There is no entrance fee. Camping in the developed campgrounds at Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid-Hills is $10 per site per night fee.($5 for Golden Age or Golden Access Passport Holders). Group campground reservations are made by calling (760)-733-4040. Group site fees are $20 per night per site. | ||
| There are Information Centers, including exhibits, at Baker and Needles. A ranger station at Hole-in-the-Wall Ranger Station is open seasonally as staffing allows. The Preserve is managed out of our central office in Barstow. | ||
| There are two maintained hiking trails in the Preserve. The Hole-in-the-Wall to Mid Hills trail is seven miles and connects the two campgrounds in the Preserve. A shorter (2 miles one way) route winds up the Joshua tree forest on Cima Dome to Teutonia Peak. Cross country hiking is allowed. | ||
| Routes ranging from paved 2 lane highways to rugged 4-wheel tracks are abundant. Especially popular is the historic Mojave Road. | ||
| The Preserve offers interpretive programs in the fall, winter, and spring. Contact the Baker or Needles Information Centers for schedules. Special request programs are available to groups by calling the Baker Information Center. | ||
| The Preserve maintains two campgrounds, Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid-Hills. Sites at these campgrounds are available on a first come - first served basis. Primitive roadside camping is permitted in areas that have been traditionally used for this purpose. There is a small campground at the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area. There are no overnight motel accommodations are available in the Preserve. Surrounding towns do have some lodging options. | ||
| Small stores with limited foodstuffs are located in Cima and Nipton. Plan to obtain supplies before arriving at the Preserve. Groceries and supplies can be obtained in larger surrounding towns including Needles, Baker, Barstow, and Las Vegas. | ||
| Sightseeing, hiking, camping, hunting, 4WD travel. | ||
| Individual reservations are accepted only for group campsites. Campgrounds are all on a first-come, first-served basis. No backcountry permits are needed. Hunting is allowed; California state hunting regulations apply. | ||
| A basic visit to Mojave National Preserve includes a scenic drive of at least one hour. Additionally, hiking, camping, hunting, and four-wheel drive travel are popular activities in the Preserve. Fall, winter, and spring are the most popular months to visit. The spring wildflower bloom in early March brings many visitors. | ||
| Please watch for desert tortoise when traveling on roads in the Preserve, particularly when it is raining. Travel only on roads in street legal vehicles. Wilderness areas are open to access by non-mechanized means, i.e. on foot or by pack animal. Please respect the rights of private property within the Preserve. | ||
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| Last Updated: 13-Nov-98 Please direct suggestions or comments on this web page to: james woolsey@nps.gov |