Mojave National Preserve

Transcription

1 Park News & Guie National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Issue 25/ COURTESY NASA/JET PROPULSION LABORATORY--CALTECH Mojave National Preserve Black Canyon campgroun with a sky ae from an astrophoto A Hea Start for Enangere Tortoises? By Phillip Gomez NPS/KNIGHTEN An unpretentious little builing surroune by a security fence just off Ivanpah Roa near the northeast entrance to Mojave National Preserve has an ambitious purpose: to improve the chances of baby esert tortoises to survive to maturity an to prouce vital offspring. The cryptic lives of tortoises spent preominantly in unergroun burrows an the many years that it takes for them to reach sexual maturity an to reprouce have mae it ifficult for conservation biologists to conuct fiel stuies. For this long-term research project, juvenile tortoises are being recruite over a 20-year perio an nurture in this facility until they are capable of joining the Ivanpah Valley s population with a reasonable chance for survival. The iea for this experiment in willife management, entitle Desert Tortoise Juvenile Survivorship at Mojave National Preserve or Hea Start to researchers is similar to the principle unerlying chilren s nursery schooling: giving kis a hea start in life. Welcome to Mojave National Preserve. We are gla you have mae the ecision to spen some of your time exploring an iscovering the treasures of the Mojave Desert. NPS/GOMEZ So, the National Park Service, together with the U.S. Fish an Willife Service, Chevron Corp., Molycorp Inc., an two universities have partnere to create a working facility to try to gain a better unerstaning of tortoise behavior that affects their survival. The Ivanpah Desert Research Facility is staffe by a small team of faculty an Ph.D. caniates from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory of the University of Georgia an from the University of California, Davis. Welcome to Mojave! Two yearling tortoise siblings explore their enclosure. The smaller one follows big brother, who became sick an was taken insie for the winter. In the case of the tortoise, the goal is to gain time for the reptile s shell to evelop an haren to make the young reptiles safe from preators. Ault tortoises with harene shells have few preators, but juveniles are extremely vulnerable for the first four or five years of life. a small percentage make it to aulthoo, Hughson sai. It s all about the preation, says Debra Hughson, the Preserve s chief of science an resource stewarship. The purpose of Hea Start is to allow them to survive. How many tortoises are there in the Preserve? Noboy knows exactly, but only Once numerous in the Mojave, the esert tortoise began experiencing loss of natural habitat from a variety of sources by the late 1980s: exurban sprawl, overgrazing by livestock, poaching, invasive plants, evelopment of highways an irt roas, an expaning use of off-roa recreational vehicles. The egraation an fragmentation of habitat create barriers for the slowmoving tortoise in its search for foo an water an also bring anger from motorists an off-roaers. Eggs of the unborn are sometimes trample. Also, the lives of many are cut short by an upper-respiratory isease, possibly introuce into the esert by sick pet tortoises that were turne loose by their owners. This, couple with the late maturity of the tortoise, which can take 18 to 20 years to reach breeing age, makes for long os in the game of survival in the esert. Tortoise numbers have iminishe by as much as 90 percent in some areas of the Mojave, accoring to Hughson. In August 1989, the California Fish an Game Commission liste the esert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) as a threatene species uner the U.S. Enangere Species Act of The U.S. Fish an Willife Service followe suit with feeral protection in The Preserve was create in 1994 uner the California Desert Protection Act, feeral legislation that was intene to protect remaining California esert wil lans. The act calle for large-scale management of the Mojave bioregion west of the Colorao River in conjunction with Joshua Tree an Death Valley national parks, as well as the Bureau of Lan Management (BLM). continue on page 5 You have chosen a special time to visit us one of the more than 0 sites within the National Park Service because we have begun celebrating 100 years of sharing America s special places an helping Americans to make meaningful connections with nature, history, an culture. The National Park Service was establishe in 1916 to oversee the aministration of these special places. As part of its centennial, the National Park Service is inviting a new generation to iscover the special places that belong to us all. We are encouraging new auiences an people not familiar with the National Park Service an public lans to fin their park. Many people visit Mojave National Preserve the traitional way, in person. We also invite you to explore an iscover the Preserve through our social meia sites, incluing our webpage an Facebook site an via Twitter. Over the next two years, we will be increasing the content that we have on our social meia sites in an effort to reach out to new auiences an to bring more visitors to the Preserve. The national parks are America s best iea, an we want all Americans to help us celebrate these special places. You can help us o this. Share your experience with others by talking with your friens an neighbors about what you saw or i while here an post it to social meia using #FinYourPark or FinYourPark.com Enjoy the peace of the esert environment, fin yourself, an FinYourPark. To J. Suess Superintenent Essential Information 2 Exploring Mojave...3 Camping 6 Hiking 7 Mojave National Preserve Map 8

2 Mojave National Preserve Establishe in 1994, Mojave National Preserve encompasses 1.6 million acres ranging in elevation from 800 near Baker to 7,929 at Clark Mountain. Although most of the park lies in the Mojave Desert, the southeast section graes into the Sonoran Desert, an elements of the Great Basin Desert are foun at higher elevations east of the Granite, Provience, an New York mountains. Superintenent To J. Suess Chief Ranger John A. Piastuck Newspaper Eitor Norma Sosa Mailing Aress 2701 Barstow Roa Barstow, CA National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Web an For , click Contact Us Desert Safety Tips THE MAIN CAUSE OF DEATH IN More people ie in single-car accients ue to speeing than by any other means. Reuce your spee. DO NOT DEPEND ON A GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM GPS maps of remote areas, incluing Mojave National Preserve, are notoriously unreliable. Carry a foling map. CARRY AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER Carry a minimum of a gallon per person per ay in your vehicle even if you are just passing through. You will nee it in an emergency. Carry more if you plan to be active. Flui an electrolyte levels must be balance, so have salty foos or sports rinks hany as well. BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL Hikers, backpackers, an those traveling on irt roas nee to be self-reliant an well-prepare. Plan ahea, carry etaile maps, an let someone know your plans. FLASH FLOODS While riving, be alert for water running in washes an across ips in the roa. When hiking an camping, avoi canyons an washes uring rain storms, an be prepare to move to higher groun. DRESS PROPERLY FOR HIKING Wear loose-fitting clothing an stury shoes that protect your feet from rocks an cactus. Use sunscreen an wear a hat. Carry a light jacket as temperatures rop ramatically when the sun goes own. AVOID HIKING IN EXTREME HEAT Do not hike in the low elevations when temperatures are high; the mountains are cooler in summer. WATCH FOR SIGNS OF TROUBLE ON HOT DAYS If you feel izzy or nauseate, or if you evelop a heaache, get out of the sun immeiately, an rink water or sports rinks. Dampen clothing to lower boy temperature. Be alert for symptoms in others. DANGEROUS ANIMALS Never place your hans or feet where you cannot see first. Rattlesnakes, scorpions, or black wiow spiers might be sheltere there. MINE HAZARDS Never enter a mine. They are unmaintaine an unstable, an you might encounter pockets of ba air or poisonous gas. Stay out, an stay alive! IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Cell phones o not work in many areas. Try moving uphill to get a signal. To call for help, ial 911 or the Feeral Interagency Communications Center at After calling, stay with your car until help comes. Park Heaquarters ph: fax: National Park Service employees care for America s national parks an work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history an to create close-to-home recreational opportunities.... Essential Information Dates an Hours of Operation The preserve is always open. Information centers (see below) maintain regular hours of operation. Fees an Reservations There are no entrance fees. See page 6 for information about campgroun reservations an fees. Information Centers Three information centers provie orientation, information, an trip-planning avice. Park rangers are on uty. Western National Parks Association (WNPA) bookstores offer books, maps, an more. Kelso Depot Visitor Center Locate on Kelbaker Roa, 34 miles southeast of Baker, CA. Open seven ays per week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Close on Christmas. Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center Locate near Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun. Heaquarters Information Center Locate at 2701 Barstow Roa, Barstow, Calif. Open Monay through Friay, 8 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Foo Limite snacks are available in the Western National Parks Association stores at Kelso Depot Visitor Center an Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, but there is no restaurant. Restaurants are locate along I- at Barstow an Baker, Calif. an along I- at Lulow, Fenner, an Neeles, Calif. Water Drinking water is available only at Kelso Depot Visitor Center, Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, Hole-in-the-Wall, Black Canyon an Mi-Hills campgrouns. Gasoline There are no gasoline stations within Mojave National Preserve. Gasoline can be purchase along I at Neeles, Fenner, an Lulow, Calif., along I at Baker, Calif., the Cima Roa exit, an Primm, Nev., an along U.S. at Searchlight an at the Nev.163 junction south of Cal-Nev-Ari, Nev. Loging There are no motels within Mojave National Preserve. Loging may be available in Barstow, Nipton, Lulow, Neeles, Baker, an Twentynine Palms, Calif., an in Primm an Searchlight, Nev. Bicycles Bicycles are allowe in parking areas, on pave roas, an on existing, open irt roas. Bicycles are not allowe in Wilerness Areas or for cross-country travel. Pets Although not allowe insie information centers, pets are welcome elsewhere. They must be leashe an never left unattene. Dogs use uring hunting activities must be uner the owner s control at all times. Pet excrement must be collecte an ispose of in garbage receptacles. Permits Permits are require for all organize events, group events (more than iniviuals or 7 vehicles), an commercial activities such as filming. Fees apply. Proof of insurance an posting of a bon might also be require. Call or visit for more information. Hunting an Firearms Hunting is permitte in accorance with state regulations. All hunting activities require a license; aitional permits an tags might apply. Visit the California Department of Fish & Willife website at for more information. Target shooting or plinking is prohibite. All firearms transporte within the preserve must be unloae, case, an broken own, except uring lawful hunting activities. No shooting is permitte within 1/2 mile of evelope areas, incluing campgrouns, information centers, Kelso Dunes, Fort Piute, Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center, an the Desert Stuies Center at Zzyzx. Collecting an Vanalism Disturbing, efacing, or collecting plants, animals, rocks, historic or archeological objects is prohibite. Leave these resources as you fin them for everyone to enjoy. Metal etectors are not allowe. Private Property Private inholings are foun throughout the preserve. Please respect the rights of our neighbors. It is your responsibility to obtain permission before hunting, hiking, or entering private property. Cattle an Fences Most grazing within Mojave National Preserve occurs on public lan. This lan is open to you to explore, but please on t isturb cattle, fences, or water tanks. Leave gates as you fin them. Watch for cattle on roaways. Firewoo & Campfires Woo is scarce in the esert. Cutting or collecting any woo, incluing owne woo, is prohibite. All firewoo, incluing kinling, must be brought in. Firewoo might be available for purchase at Baker, Fenner, Neeles or Nipton, Calif. Campfires are allowe in campgroun fire rings an other establishe sites. To minimize your impact, use a firepan an pack out the ashes. Please o not leave fires smolering or unattene. 2 Mojave National Preserve

3 NPS/LINDA SLATER Exploring Mojave Avenues to Aventure Mojave National Preserve is vast. At 1.6 million acres, it is the thir-largest unit of the National Park System in the contiguous Unite States. While much of Mojave s wil an historic splenor is available only to those who travel its trails an unmaintaine roas, the primary roas of the preserve offer enless opportunities for exploration (see map on page 8). Kelbaker Roa Cima Roa A 56-mile pave roa stretching from I- at Baker, Calif. in the north to I- east of Lulow, Calif. in the south, Kelbaker Roa wins past ciner cones, lava flows, Kelso Depot, Kelso Dunes, an the Granite Mountains. About 26 miles east of Baker, Calif., the pave Cima Roa connects I- with Cima, Calif., 16 miles to the southeast. Ciner Cones & Lava Flows No signs or services. About 14 miles southeast of Baker, Kelbaker Roa traverses a 25,600-acre area of lava flows an volcanic ciner cones thought to range in age from 10,000 to 7 million years ol. In 1973, the area was esignate as Ciner Cones National Natural Lanmark ue to its scenic beauty an exceptional geological value. Aiken Mine Roa (19 miles southeast of Baker, Calif.) offers an interesting sie trip through the heart of the area an access to a lava tube. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. Kelso Depot Visitor Center Information, exhibits, orientation film, art gallery, bookstore, restrooms, water, picnic area. Open every ay but Christmas. Locate 34 miles southeast of Baker, Kelso Depot began operation in 1924 an serve as train station, restaurant, an employee housing on the Los Angeles an Salt Lake route of the Union Pacific Railroa. Now Mojave National Preserve s principal information center an museum, the Depot offers extensive exhibits that escribe the cultural an natural history of the preserve. Historically furnishe rooms offer a glimpse into Kelso s past. Kelso Dunes Self-guiing trail, pit toilets, no water. About 42 miles southeast of Baker (8 miles south of Kelso Depot), then 3 miles west on a grae irt roa. Nearly 700 feet high an covering a 45-square-mile area, the Kelso Dunes were create over the course of 25,000 years by wins carrying san grains from the rie Soa Lake an Mojave River Sink locate to the northwest. The Provience an Granite mountains serve as barriers that trappe the blowing san. The unes prouce a booming or singing soun when san with the right moisture content slies own the steep slopes. Try it for yourself run own a une slope (but on t trample vegetation!) to initiate the soun. Granite Mountains No signs or services. An imposing jumble of granite marks the south entrance to the preserve, 50 miles southeast of Baker on Kelbaker Roa. Portions of the Granite Mountains lie within the University of California s Desert Research Center; please respect the signs that mark the bounary. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. Clark Mountain No signs or services. The only portion of Mojave National Preserve north of I-, Clark Mountain is also its highest point, at 7,929 feet. A relict white fir grove near the top is one of only three in the Mojave Desert. Check etaile maps or ask a ranger for access information. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. Cima Dome & Joshua Tree Woolan Self-guiing trail, no water. The near-perfect symmetry of Cima Dome rises 1,500 feet above the surrouning esert an is home to the worl s largest concentration of Joshua trees. The top of the ome is locate west of Cima Roa, this unusual geologic feature is best seen from a istance. Try the view looking northwest from Cear Canyon Roa, 2.5 miles east of Kelso Cima Roa. White Cross Worl War I Memorial Locate 12 miles south of I- on Cima Roa, this memorial is owne an operate by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Cear Canyon & Black Canyon Roas Mostly unpave, the 20-mile Cear Canyon Roa connects Kelso Cima Roa in the west with Ivanpah Roa in the east, paralleling (an sometimes joining) the historic Mojave Roa. Black Canyon Roa (unpave north of Hole-inthe-Wall) connects Cear Canyon Roa with Essex Roa, 20 miles to the south. Rock House Loop trail, waysie exhibits, pit toilet, picnic table. 5 miles east of Black Canyon Roa on Cear Canyon Roa. The Rock House is emblematic of creative esert builing styles. Nearby Rock Spring, locate along the loop trail, was the site of a military outpost along the Mojave Roa. Mi Hills Campgroun, trailhea, pit toilets, water. Not recommene for RVs. About 2 miles west of Black Canyon Roa at the north en of Wil Horse Canyon Roa, Mi Hills supports pinyon-juniper woolan habitat. The effects of a fire that swept through the area in June 2005 are evient, although several campsites in the popular campgroun still contain shay stans of pinyon pine an juniper. Hole-in-the-Wall Information center, bookstore, campgrouns, picnic area, trailhea, restroom, water, telephone. Just north of the junction of Black Canyon an the south en of Wil Horse Canyon Roas, rhyolite cliffs rile with holes an hollows are the backrop for Hole-in-the-Wall. Piute Spring About 7.4 miles west of U.S. on the unmarke an unpave Mojave Roa, then 3.1 miles west on an extremely rough unmarke irt roa. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. Fort Piute an Piute Spring Trails, waysie exhibits, no services. Willows, cottonwoos, an rushes thrive along a half-mile section of Piute Creek. Fort Piute (still visible) was one in a string of military outposts built along the Mojave Roa. Please on t climb on the founations or remove anything. Scenic Cima Roa connects I- with Cima, Calif., traversing the worl s largest concentration of Joshua trees. Dirt Roa Driving Prepare Your Vehicle Ensure that your vehicle is in goo conition: check tires, oil, an gas gauge. For emergencies, carry tools, tire jack, towrope, extra water, an fluis for your vehicle. Know the Rules of the Roa All vehicles operating within Mojave National Preserve must be street-legal in accorance with California DMV requirements, incluing current registration an tags, lights an turn signals, an vali insurance. California Green Sticker an Re Sticker programs are not recognize within the preserve. Off-pavement travel is allowe only on existing, open irt roas. Do not travel cross-country or create new routes. This rule is strictly enforce; violators will receive citations. Driving in washes is not permitte. Watch for an respect Wilerness Bounary signs; motorize vehicles an bicycles are not allowe in esignate Wilerness Areas. Check Roa Conitions Roa conitions vary wiely. Dirt roas might be rough, sany, or muy, renering them impassable, an the unprepare motorist coul be trappe many miles from help. Watch for cattle, burros, an other willife on roaways. Not all roas are shown on all maps; traces an illegal shortcuts a to the confusion. Carry a goo map, an ask a park ranger for current roa conitions. Zzyzx Roa Six miles southwest of Baker on I-, Zzyzx Roa leas 5 miles south into the preserve along the western shore of Soa Dry Lake. Zzyzx/Soa Springs Self-guiing trail, waysie exhibits, pit toilets, non-potable water, picnic area. Historically known as Soa Springs an later rename Zzyzx (pronounce ZYE-zix), this oasis is home to the California State University Desert Stuies Center. The builings an pon were evelope in the 19s by Curtis Springer, who operate a health resort at the site. Zzyzx is open to the public stroll aroun Lake Tuenae an along the shore of Soa Dry Lake. Please o not isturb participants when classes are in session. Nipton, Ivanpah & Lanfair Roas Eleven miles south of Primm, Nev., Nipton Roa begins at I- an passes through Nipton, Calif., 11 miles east. Ivanpah Roa (only the 10 northernmost miles pave) heas southeast of Nipton Roa, through the Ivanpah an Lanfair valleys, eventually connecting with the pave Lanfair Roa an the Fenner Valley. Together stretching 46 miles, Ivanpah an Lanfair roas connect the northern preserve bounary (borering Nipton Roa) with the southern near Goffs, Calif. Hotel Nipton NPS exhibits; privately operate hotel, store, & campgroun; for information call or at stay@nipton.com. Built in 1910, this charming hotel reflects the railroa, ranching, an mining history of the small community at Nipton. Caruthers Canyon Primitive camping, hiking, no signs or services. About 5.5 miles west of Ivanpah Roa on New York Mountains Roa, then 2.7 miles north on an unsigne roa, Caruthers Canyon is locate in the rugge New York Mountains. Surroune by mountains rising over 7,500 feet, a botanical islan of chaparral plants remains from wetter times of the past. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. San & Mu Driving Tips Be sure to carry plenty of rinking water an emergency supplies. Engage four-wheel rive before entering eep san or mu. Don t gun the engine this will spin the tires, ig you in eeper, an coul bury your vehicle to the frame. Smooth, easy power is better than too much power; use low gearing an just enough throttle to maintain forwar movement. If you etect a loss of traction, turn the steering wheel rapily from sie-to-sie this might help to generate traction. If your vehicle gets stuck, place soli materials (such as floor mats) uner the tires to provie traction. If you re really stuck, it s best to stay with your vehicle. A stationary, strane vehicle is much easier to locate than a person traveling on foot. Avoi strenuous activity uring the heat of the ay; stay in the shae of your vehicle. Lanfair Valley No signs or services. Mojave Desert Outpost, a privately-owne campgroun, is locate here. For information call South of the New York Mountains along Ivanpah an Lanfair roas, this high valley shelters an impressive Joshua tree forest an was an early ranching an homesteaing center. From 1893 until 1923, the Nevaa Southern Railway ran up the valley from Goffs, proviing services to homesteaers an ranchers in the valley an to miners in the mountains beyon. While little evience remains of homesteas that once otte the valley, tracts of private property still exist. Please respect the rights of lanowners. Mojave National Preserve 3

4 COURTESY COURTESY JANE NASA/JET AND MORRIS PROPULSION JONES LABORATORY--CALTECH Members This is a star of the chart Ol Town of the Siewalk summer Astronomers night sky set over up Mojave telescopes National in Black Preserve Canyon Group facing & southeast Equestrian from Campgroun Black Canyon for annual Equestrian Star Party. & Group Left to Campgroun. right: Jane an Morris Jones, To Kunioka, Jim Stears, an Gary Spiers. Look Up for a Woner of Mojave s Clear, Tranquil Summer Evenings By Phillip Gomez On a still, clear night in Mojave National Preserve, there s nothing so tranquil as going outsie well after nightfall, lying in a hammock, an looking up at the istant stars. From my favorite perch, they re frame in the foregroun by the tangle, shaowe limbs of two Joshua trees. A chorus of crickets provies the backgroun music in the surrouning shrubs. Bats zip aroun me chasing insects. An owl yips leisurely with long, silent intervals in the tree branches above before gliing away in a low swoop. Stargazing has become increasingly popular at remote southwestern parks such as Death Valley, Joshua Tree, an Great Basin, an at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument an the Preserve. Mojave hosts perioic star parties, inviting visitors to gaze at the night sky through telescopes. The National Park Service encourages visitor activities like stargazing an active listening for willife souns as funamental resource values for the enjoyment of esert solitue. On a moonless night an with a clear view of summer s nighttime constellations,...anyone can enjoy this park resource: inky night skies full of stars... anyone can enjoy this park resource: inky night skies full of stars the Milky Way above an a natural sounscape below. The clean, sweet-smelling night air of the Mojave wilerness, as well as other areas of the Preserve, becomes a haven for those seeking quiet, relaxing, or contemplative settings. Get a compass along with a goo star chart an fin the constellation Sagittarius. It s just above the southern horizon an below the ban of stars in the Milky Way. This constellation looks like a tea kettle, its spout steaming up the Sagittarius Star Clou in the heart of the galaxy. Another easily seen an well-known constellation in the southern sky is the large constellation of Scorpio. The stinger tail of this familiar esert figure curls aroun just to the right of Sagittarius, then heas north of the Milky Way s star clous. Sagittarius inclues the beguiling re-gol star Antares, one of the largest-known stars, 700 times the iameter of our sun. Taking in the ark night skies an the natural sounscapes of the esert s biotic communities raws you into what one expert calls the basic happenings of life. As Paul Bogar, author of The En of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light, escribes the research on willife an artificial night lighting, most plants an animals epen on natural patterns of arkness. Light pollution threatens esert bioiversity by forcing suen change on habits an patterns that have evolve to epen on light in the ay an arkness at night. While most of us are asleep inoors, outsie the night worl is wie awake with matings, migrations, pollinations, an feeing in short, the basic happenings that keep worl bioiversity alive. Urban light pollution spilling over into nearby rural areas can spoil sky watchers viewing of the stars, even in the Preserve. The light from Las Vegas may not stay in Vegas, says Bogar. But ignoring the urban glow to the north of the brightest city in the worl, sky watchers at Mojave can turn to its southern sky for a more fabulous entertainment: primitive arkness. The summer season is an excellent time of year for viewing the Milky Way Galaxy, the irregular ban of 200 billion stars stretching across our night sky as a thin, hazy clou. For those with the patience to look an learn, these istant suns prouce a faraway raiance that more than rivals the lights to the north. The light from the galactic core of the Milky Way merges like melte gol to create this glowing ban, says Bob Berman in Secrets of the Night Sky: The Most Amazing Things in the Universe You Can See with the Nake Eye. Focus your binoculars an tens of thousans of stars spring into suen visibility, the gentle raiance behin these newcomers inicating that still more unresolve stars lurk behin them More, still more, who knows how many billions more unresolve suns always lie farther in the istance. Back on earth, Bogar saly reports that eight out of every ten chilren born in the Unite States toay will never know a night ark enough that they can see the Milky Way. Because most of us live in increasingly over-lighte cities, 80% of Americans will never unerstan the meaning of the wellknown British nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star that was publishe in 1806, well before the avent of artificial light. The rhyme How I woner what you are is lost on anyone who has never ha the opportunity of seeing bright, shining stars against the ark night sky. The rhyme suggests mystery, a woner we can only begin to unerstan by experiencing it ourselves. Stars are natural resource woners, best appreciate in ark, ari clean-air lanscapes in Mojave an other remote national parklans in the esert Southwest. Remote Backcountry Habitat Harbors the Rugge Desert Bighorn Sheep By Robert Mills Those who have ha the joy of witnessing a Desert Bighorn Sheep staning on a jagge peak, silhouette against a sun-lit blue sky, woul be quick to agree that they have seen one of the most majestic animals to roam Mojave National Preserve. Shy an inhabiting remote an rugge esert mountain terrain, they travel across valleys from one mountain to the next, avoiing other creatures. It is a fortunate photographer who captures these magnificent creatures on film, as photo opportunities are fleeting. The Bighorn (Ovis Canaensis nelsoni) is surprisingly fast an agile on the rugge terrain, so merely sighting one of these creatures is generally reserve for those willing to venture into this ifficult habitat. While both males an females grow horns, it is only the males that sport the big horns that give the animals their name. A mature set of horns takes about seven years to grow an can measure 30 inches from base to tip. In this harsh environment, the Bighorn survive on ephemeral shrubs an catclaw. It survives because of a complex igestive process that extracts nutrients efficiently. The Bighorn has aapte to the limite esert water supply by extracting moisture from green winter vegetation. During the rier summer months, Bighorns visit watering spots frequently uring the summer an linger a quarter of an hour to an hour, minimizing their exposure to preators. An estimate 600 Bighorn inhabit Mojave National Preserve. They live ten to years in the wil. The females (ewes) weigh 75 to 130 pouns, while the males (rams) weigh 1 to 220 pouns. At age two, ewes generally eliver one lamb, rarely two, in late spring after a sixmonth gestation. The Bighorn has few natural enemies. There are reports of eagles killing a lamb or of multiple eagles taking own a sick ault. Every now an then, a mountain lion manages to catch one, but the bighorn s habitat in some of the esert s most ifficult terrain generally shiels them from natural preation. In the past few years, the Bighorn s biggest threat has come, not from natural preators, but from omesticate animals mainly sheep. There have been Bighorn sheep ie-offs ating back to the 18s. Research base on carefully controlle stuies shows that grazing of omestic sheep in or near Bighorn habitat leas to transfers of iseases that prove fatal for the Bighorn. The most recent report was supplie after an outbreak in a penne Bighorn population at Lava Bes National Monument nearly 30 years ago. The Bighorn ha been penne there since 1971without any reports of isease. But in 1980, nose-to-nose contact was observe between Bighorns an omestic sheep that were grazing on ajacent National Forest Service lan. The Bighorn Sheep began ying of pneumonia two weeks later. All 43 ie within a short time. An experiment to establish a connection between contact with omestic sheep an the Bighorn eaths was conucte. Scientists extracte the bacteria that cause the Bighorn eaths from four healthy omestic sheep, tagge it with fluorescent protein, an then reintrouce it into the four sheep. The Bighorns an omestic animals were penne 33 feet apart for one month, with the Bighorns showing no symptoms of pneumonia. The animals then were allowe to have nose-to-nose contact for two months. Four Bighorn Sheep contracte the marke virus. The infecte animals were then penne together, an all four Bighorns ie within nine ays. The lungs of all four Bighorns showe signs of the pneumonia, an the tagge bacteria was isolate from all four animals. In ten experiments, all 23 Bighorn sheep involve ie of respiratory isease following contact with omestic sheep. In August of 2011, following reports of omestic sheep roaming Desert Bighorn habitat in the Nevaa Snowstorm Mountains, Bighorns began ying of pneumonia in great numbers. This has become all too common in the American West, an, unfortunately, the Bighorns of the Preserve were not spare. In 2012, biologists iscovere about ea Bighorns in the Mojave within or near the Preserve. All showe inications of having ie from the suspect pneumonia. Upon investigation, rangers foun omestic sheep carcasses an omestic sheep pellets in areas of the park. Not all Bighorn ie-offs can be linke to contact with omestic animals. The 19 ie-off was relate to botulism. But investigation usually fins evience that omestic sheep were in the area before a ie-off occurre. On the question of preventive measures, inoculations work for only a short time, an capturing the animals in their rugge habitat woul be extremely ifficult. The only effective course of action to protect the Bighorn is to ensure that there is absolutely no contact between them an omestic animals especially sheep an goats. To this en, signs have been poste at Preserve entrances barring transport or grazing of omestic goats an sheep. It is hope that with this precaution an the ongoing attention of willife biologists, the remaining Bighorns will survive to regenerate the population. 4 Mojave National Preserve

5 Protect the Desert Tortoise Don t ump or litter. Garbage attracts ravens an other preators that fee on tortoise eggs an hatchlings. Park Roas: A 200-Year Journey Don t release pet tortoises into the wil. They may carry iseases that will sprea to wil tortoises. Contact a ranger to learn about tortoise aoption programs. Check beneath your vehicle before riving away. Tortoises sometimes rest in the shae of a car. Do not take a tortoise. It is illegal to remove tortoises from the wil. If you see a tortoise, stay back. Approaching too closely may cause a tortoise to spray urine in self-efense a potentially fatal loss of flui. Reuce riving spees an watch for tortoises on esert roaways. A Hea Start for Enangere Tortoises? continue from page 1 Also in 1994, the U.S. Fish an Willife Service complete its Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan, another milestone in large-scale ecosystem planning. The plan require the National Park Service an BLM to work together in planning for the recovery of the threatene species. In the summer of 1996, Molycorp Inc. (not the company that currently goes by that name), operate an open-pit mine an chemical-processing facility between Clark Mountain an Interstate near the Preserve. The company incurre feeral, state, an county liabilities after a wastewater pipeline rupture at the site, spilling 350,000 gallons ozf water contaminate with hazarous heavy metals an low-level raioactive waste. The spill represente up to 100 times acceptable levels, accoring to Eric C. Nystrom in his aministrative history of the early years of the Preserve. The cleanup cost the mining company $3.6 million. It also iverte Preserve staff from their regular uties to install four miles of fencing to keep tortoise away from the groun Mojave Temperatures: Average High / Low Granite Mountain Elevation 4,200 feet Zzyzx Elevation 930 feet January 50 F / 36 F 61 F / 34 F February 54 F / 38 F 69 F / F March 59 F / 41 F 74 F / 46 F April 68 F / 48 F 83 F / 53 F May 75 F / 54 F 93 F / 61 F June 85 F / 63 F 103 F / 70 F July 90 F / 67 F 109 F / 77 F August 89 F / 66 F 107 F / 75 F September 83 F / 61 F 100 F / 68 F October 73 F / 52 F 77 F / 55 F November 59 F / 41 F 73 F / 46 F December 50 F / 34 F 62 F / 34 F Average Annual Precipitation 8.5 inches 3.37 inches that was pollute with toxic waste. By the late 1990s, Chevron Corp. ha acquire UNOCAL, Molycorp s owner since 1977, an with that purchase came the liabilities for Molycorp s spill. Chevron an its subsiiary, Chevron Environmental Management Co., now ha to eal with the legacy of the spill. Orinarily, uner the Enangere Species Act, compensation pai to a feeral agency for amages to habitat woul be settle with the purchase an onation of selecte lan parcels. Instea, an iea arose for construction of a seven-acre research facility in the Preserve to help the population recover using preator-proof holing pens for young tortoise. It s basically just what we wante for compensation, says Hughson. Chevron also provie $500,000 for research an operating expenses. The National Park Trust hanles the funs transfer for the National Park Service. The facility is use to conuct experiments to support the recovery work, incluing a stuy that woul help ientify habitat preferences. In these experiments, researchers attach tiny raio transmitters to tortoises that are then release an tracke. Previous stuies iscovere their attraction to the shoulers of Preserve roaways, where runoff after rains provies rinking water an lusher vegetation. Unfortunately, this can lea to ealy impacts with passing automobiles. The new research will arm researchers with aitional information about tortoise behavior that enangers their survival. Researchers hope that the benefits of nurturing an stuying this new generation of tortoise will have a significant impact. The iea is to augment the natural population in the wil, Hughson says. The baby tortoises are protecte from preators in regulate pens, segregate by age. Most have minimal interactions with the researchers to maintain their fear of humans also necessary for their survival. The project is intene to continue inefinitely, aressing new tortoise management issues as they arise. It s not just for the Preserve an other parks aministere by the Park Service, but for tortoises foun on BLM lans an in Fish an Willife reserves, too, she sai. It s for the recovery of the species. Mojave s roas, escenants of trails worn on the esert floor by ancient peoples, are moern pathways through wil, scenic lanscapes. By Davi Moore, Chief of Maintenance On Monay, September 9, 2013, the care an maintenance of the 165 miles of pave roas an 70 miles of irt roas within Mojave National Preserve (Mojave NPres) became the responsibility of the National Park Service following a Feeral Court ecision removing them from the jurisiction of San Bernarino County. This create a big change in maintenance operations which ha formerly been responsible for only a few miles of irt roa. Many of toay s major pave roas in Mojave NPres ha not been improve until the 1970s an 80s. This was one to increase the safety for passenger vehicles to rive through Mojave NPres. But the nee for goo travel routes in the esert ates well before these fairly recent times. Early Europeans, like Father Francisco Garcés, a Spanish Franciscan priest living at Mission San Xavier, near present-ay Tucson, Arizona, recore the existence of a route across the Mojave Desert in the 1770s. His group was guie several times by members of the Mojave Tribe of the Colorao River through the Mojave Desert to the California Central Valley an The San Gabriel Mission. The Mojave an other tribes ha trae pottery, seashells, an other goos with coastal tribes for centuries. In later years, those who trae an explore in the Mojave Desert on these same routes foun it to be a long walk between known springs. Commerce an trae continue to impact the esert as miners in the 1800s searche for an foun gol an silver. They establishe irt roas between their mines an nearby towns to get their ore to markets. In April 1912, the National Ol Trails Roa Association was forme to create a transcontinental trail (roa) system that linke Baltimore an Los Angeles. The Automobile Club of Southern California began posting signs to efine a propose route that came through Southern California, an by 1917 much of the route was in place. This route, a harene irt roa, was very ifficult to rive. This National Trails Highway woul later be known as Route 66. It wasn t until the late 1920s that this roa was wiene an oile. Oiling roas quickly became the preferre metho over watering to control ust as it also harene the surface of irt roas. Another early roa treatment use in California was invente in the 1820s by Scottish engineer John Louon McAam. It was calle macaam. A layer of crushe stones was lai on the riving surface, mixe with existing soil, then coate with a type of asphalt/oilbase biner an compresse to form a har, soli surface. Many of the first pave roas in Mojave NPres were mae this way, not in the 1800s but late 1900 s. On sections of north Kelbaker Roa, small sticks an larger stones can still be seen locke in pavement that was mae using the macaam metho. Macaam paving is effective in light traffic areas an costs less to use than the bituminous concrete (asphalt) pavement that is now wiely use. NPS/PIASTUCK Pavement oes not last forever without some care an attention. Many of the Mojave NPres roas have become rie out an prone to cracking, leaing to the creation of potholes. Some sections of our roas have eteriorate faster than others ue to the impact of rain an freezing temperatures in the winter. The care of our pave an irt roas has been a top priority an a challenge for Mojave NPres. Since 2013, we have hire temporary roa crews, gaine assistance from Death Valley an Joshua Tree National Parks roa crews, an purchase some roa maintenance equipment an materials to help us with this new work loa. At Mojave NPres, a lot can be accomplishe with everyone working together. On April 8, 20, a roa rescue team was forme with volunteers from our visitor protection, aministration, fire crew, maintenance, interpretive, an resource management staffs. Our Superintenent, To Suess, also joine in the work. The rescue team cleane roasies, haule asphalt, controlle traffic, an shovele the heavy black filling material into potholes. Smiles an brightly colore vests use by highway crews were the orer of the ay as we all worke together on that beautiful spring Mojave fire crew, rangers, office workers, managers, an other staff volunteer to fill potholes on Morning Star Mine Roa. morning to improve the roas for visitors. I am typically tie to a esk an a computer uring my work ay, so being outsie an getting that huge sense of instant accomplishment of filling a pothole was welcome. There is hope that special measures like this won t be neee in our future. By the en of June 20, miles of our pave roas receive a new chip seal top coat of a special asphalt emulsion covere by gravel. The roa work inclue patching, thin-pavement overlays, an crack sealing. Crack sealing places specialize materials into or above cracks to prevent the intrusion of water an other materials an reinforces the ajacent pavement. The roas treate inclue the northern three miles of Ivanpah Roa, followe by Morning Star Mine Roa, Kelso Cima Roa, an Zzyzx Roa. In 2016, the majority of the remaining 110 miles of pave roas in Mojave NPres that were not treate this year will be resurface, subject to available feeral funs. All the resurface pave roas will then be place on a multi-year cyclic re-treatment program, again subject to available funing. All that brings a smile to my face. Mojave National Preserve 5

6 Camping & Backcountry Travel Friens an family enjoy the spectacular setting of Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun. 2. Travel an Camp on Durable Surfaces Reuse existing campsites (require for roasie camping see below). Do not make camp in a ry wash flash floos evelop quickly in the esert. Camping is limite to a maximum of 14 consecutive ays per visit/stay an 30 total ays per year. Campsites must be more than 200 yars from any water source. Camping is not permitte: within 1/4 mile of any pave roa; within 1/2 mile of Fort Piute or Kelso Depot; within 1 mile north (i.e., the crest of the unes) or 1/4 mile south of the Kelso Dunes access roa. (Exceptions may apply for roasie camping see below.) NPS COLLECT 4. Leave What You Fin Disturbing, efacing, or collecting plants, animals, rocks, an historic or archeological objects is prohibite. As part of our national heritage, these resources shoul be left as they are foun for all to enjoy. Metal etectors are not allowe. ION 3. Dispose of Waste Properly Store all foo an garbage in a manner that will prevent access by willife. Carry plastic bags an pack out all trash. Bury human waste in catholes 6-8 inches eep, at least 200 feet from water, camp, an trails. Pack out all toilet paper an hygiene proucts. Pet excrement must be collecte an ispose of in garbage receptacles. 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts Campfires are allowe in establishe fire rings only, or with use of a portable firepan (be sure to pack out ashes). Do not leave fires smolering or unattene. Cutting or collecting any woo, incluing owne woo, is prohibite. All firewoo must be brought into the preserve. 6. Respect Willife 6 Mojave National Preserve STINE SC NPS/CHRI This copyrighte information has been reprinte with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outoor Ethics. For more information or materials, please visit or call HLEGEL 7. Be Consierate of Other Visitors Black Canyon Equestrian & Group Campgroun Facilities: corrals, pit toilets, trash receptacles, potable water, fire ring, grill, picnic shelter with tables. Fees: $25 per group per night. Reservations: require; call or Locate across the roa from Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center. Ieal for both large groups an for riers - bring your own horse! Permits require for large groups (see p.2 for permit information). TION NPS COLLEC N 1. Plan Ahea an Prepare There is no permit or registration system for backcountry camping at Mojave National Preserve; be sure to notify others of your travel itinerary. Few establishe trails exist; carry a goo map an familiarize yourself with esert travel an survival skills before beginning your trip. Mi Hills Campgroun Facilities: pit toilets, trash receptacles, potable water, fire rings, picnic tables; no ump station or utility hookups. Fees: $12 per site per night, $6 for America the Beautiful Senior/Access Pass holers. Reservations: not accepte; campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Hackberry Fire swept through the Mi Hills area in June 2005, burning much of the vegetation. About half of the 26 campsites were left unharme, however they remain surroune by pinyon pine an juniper trees. At 5,600 feet in elevation, Mi Hills is much cooler than the esert floor below. The access roa is unpave an is not recommene for motorhomes or trailers. CTIO Leave No Trace principles are roote in scientific stuies an common sense. The message is frame uner seven Leave No Trace Principles presente below with accompanying regulations an guielines specific to Mojave National Preserve: Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun Facilities: pit toilets, trash receptacles, potable water, fire rings, picnic tables, ump station; no utility hookups. Fees: $12 per site per night, $6 for America the Beautiful Senior/Access Pass holers. Reservations: not accepte; campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. At 4,0 feet in elevation, Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun is surroune by sculpture volcanic rock walls an makes a great basecamp for hikers (see p.7) an for exploring nearby Mitchell Caverns in the Provience Mountains State Recreation Area. Thirtyfive campsites accommoate RVs an tents; two walk-in sites are also available. OLLE Backcountry travel an camping backpacking, roasie camping, an horsepacking require careful planning in orer to ensure a safe an rewaring experience. Visitors shoul ahere to National Park Service regulations an are further encourage to follow Leave No Trace guielines to minimize their impact on the fragile esert environment. Aitional regulations apply for roasie camping (see below) an horsepacking (talk with a park ranger or visit us online for more information: Campgrouns NPS C Backcountry Guielines & Regulations Nearby Camping Areas Afton Canyon 25 miles southwest of Baker on I-, has a BLM campgroun with tables an fire rings for $6 per night. Commercial camping is also available at Baker, Barstow, Neeles, an Nipton, Calif. Insie Mojave National Preserve, Mojave Desert Outpost is a private campgroun on Lanfair Roa. For information call or check Roasie Camping Roasie vehicle camping is permitte in areas that have been traitionally use for this purpose. By reusing existing sites, you help protect the esert from further amage. Sites with existing rock campfire rings shoul be consiere isturbe an suitable for roasie camping. Many roasie camp ing sites cannot accommoate multiple vehicles; please on t enlarge them. Do not camp along pave roas or in ay-use areas, an stay at least 200 yars from all water sources. The National Park Service encourages roasie campers to use the following, selecte sites: Near Kelbaker Roa: Rainy Day Mine Site.2 miles southeast of Baker on Kelbaker Roa, then 0.3 miles northeast on the unsigne an very sany roa to the Rainy Day Mine. Four-wheel rive recommene; no RVs. Granite Pass 6.1 miles north of I- on Kelbaker Roa, just north of Granite Pass, then west on one of several access roas. Campsites are locate just north of the granite spires. High clearance vehicle recommene; no RVs. Kelso Dunes Mine 4 miles west of Kelbaker Roa on the unpave Kelso Dunes Roa. One campsite is locate south of the roa, 1/4 mile past the marke trailhea. Several others are available 3/4 mile beyon, near a clump of trees. Except at these sites, roasie camping is prohibite along Kelso Dunes Roa (incluing at the trailhea). Near Cima Roa: Sunrise Rock 12 miles south of I- on the east sie of Cima Roa. Campsites are behin the White Cross Worl War I Memorial. Trailhea for Teutonia Peak Trail is nearby on the opposite sie of Cima Roa. Near Black Canyon Roa: Black Canyon Roa (East) 4 miles south of Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center on the east sie of Black Canyon Roa, above a wash an near a hill with views of the Provience Mountains. Another site is locate about 4 miles further south, near rock piles. Near Ivanpah an Cear Canyon Roas: Caruthers Canyon 5.5 miles west of Ivanpah Roa on New York Mountains Roa, then 1.5 to 2.7 miles north to campsites. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene; no RVs.

7 Hiking Sweeping vistas an opportunities for solitue are a part of every hike in Mojave. Options range from short loop trails to all ay cross-country hikes. Although there are few establishe hiking trails in Mojave National Preserve, abanone irt roas, washes, an rige lines offer an abunance of cross-country hiking opportunities. Numbers on map show general locations of trails an routes liste below. Nipto n Roa All trails an routes liste below are shown on the National Geographic Trails Illustrate topographic map for Mojave National Preserve. This an other maps are available for purchase at all information centers (see page 2 for locations an other info.). SEARCHLIGHT Roa ar pa Star M oa M Kelbaker Iv an ine m Ci 2 or h CA NEV LI AD FO A RN 12 IA Ro a g n ni 10 CIMA 11 Roa (4 x 4) Mi Hills a GOFFS xr se lso Ke Es Kelbaker Roa 7 Provience Mountains State Rec Area Hole-in-the-Wall Ro KELSO 13 8 Roa air nf La Cim ar oa a Roa Ro 163 Cear Canyon Black C anyon Mojave 1 ZZYZX NIPTON BAKER Repairs are unerway at Mitchell Caverns PRIMM CTION FENNER oa 9 NPS COLLE Develope Trails 1) Lake Tuenae Nature Trail Trailhea: Zzyzx parking area, 5 miles south of I- on Zzyzx Roa. Enjoy an easy, self-guie, 1/4-mile stroll aroun Lake Tuenae. Waysie exhibits along the trail reveal the rich cultural an natural history of this oasis on the preserve s western bounary. 6) Barber Peak Loop Trail Trailhea: Hole-in-the-Wall Picnic Area, beyon Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center. The preserve s newest trail, this 6-mile loop encircles Barber Peak just west of Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun, passes the Opalite Cliffs, an returns to Hole-in-the-Wall via Banshee Canyon. 2) Teutonia Peak Trail Trailhea: 12 miles south of I-, or 5 miles north of Cima, Calif. on Cima Roa. Explore the worl s ensest Joshua tree forest en route to a rocky peak with expansive views of Cima Dome an beyon. 3 miles roun-trip. 7) Kelso Dunes Start: 3 miles west of Kelbaker Roa on the well-grae, but unpave Kelso Dunes Roa. Hikers at sunrise an sunset are treate to both cooler temperatures an the rose-colore glow of the unes. The roughly 3-mile roun-trip hike might take several hours as you slog through the san, then slie own the slopes. 3) Hole-in-the-Wall Nature Trail Trailhea: Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center an Campgroun, 20 miles north of I- on Essex an Black Canyon roas. Learn to ientify esert plants on this easy, 1/2mile roun-trip hike. Trailheas at Hole-in-theWall Information Center an Campgroun. 4) Rings Loop Trail Trailhea: Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center parking area, 20 miles north of I- on Essex an Black Canyon roas. Discover how Hole-in-the-Wall got its name as you ascen narrow Banshee Canyon with the help of metal rings mounte in the rock. The 1 mile roun-trip hike connects to the Mi Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall Trail ab Barber Peak Loop Trail (see below). 5) Mi Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall Trail Trailheas: Across the roa from the entrance to Mi Hills Campgroun, an about 2 miles west of Black Canyon Roa on the south en of Wil Horse Canyon Roa. Hike 8 miles, one-way, through a maze of washes ecorate with barrel an cholla cacti, then through the Hackberry Fire burne area. Total elevation gain from south to north is 1,200 feet. Watch carefully for trail route markers. 8) Rock Spring Loop Trail The 1 mile loop trail starts at the Rock House an leas to a well-known watering hole an site of an 1860s military outpost. Trail starts at Rock House, 5 miles east of Black Canyon Roa on Cear Canyon Roa. 10) Keystone Canyon Start: 18 miles south of Nipton Roa on Ivanpah Roa, then 2.5 miles west on an unmarke irt roa. Bear left at the first fork, right at the secon, then continue to a parking area. Four-wheel rive recommene. Hike the eteriorating roa into Keystone Canyon, ascening the New York Mountains. Continue cross-country to the top of the rige for spectacular views. Hike is 3 miles one way. 11) Caruthers Canyon Start: Primitive campsites in Caruthers Canyon, 5.5 miles west of Ivanpah Roa on New York Mountains Roa, then 2.7 miles north on unsigne roa. Four-wheel rive recommene. Hike on an abanone roa through a rocky basin. Mine shafts an abanone structures are on private property. Do not enter or climb on them as they are unstable an angerous. Warning: the routes escribe below are not establishe trails; trailheas might be unientifiable or nonexistent. Check a etaile map or guiebook available at all information centers an consult a park ranger for route information. 12) Castle Peaks Corrior Start: 4.9 miles east of Ivanpah Roa on signe Hart Mine Roa; left at fork, then 0.9 miles, left at fork, then 3.4 miles, crossing an earthen berm; left at fork, then 1 mile more to where roa ens. Four-wheel rive recommene. For excellent views of the Castle Peak spires, walk 4 miles one way up the close roa to the rigetop an beyon into a small canyon. 9) Quail Basin Start: 12.5 miles north of I- on Kelbaker Roa, then 1 mile east on an unmarke irt roa. Park at junction with close irt roa heaing south. High clearance an fourwheel rive recommene. Follow the route to the south to a roa that loops aroun a small valley. After walking the loop, return via the same route. The 6.5-mile roun-trip route leas past jumble rocks into a small valley of Mojave yucca an juniper surroune by granite outcroppings. 13) Piute Creek Start: 9.5 miles east of the junction of Lanfair Valley an Cear Canyon roas on a irt utility roa, then 0.5 miles north. High clearance an four-wheel rive recommene. Hike 6.5 miles roun-trip through colorful Piute Gorge an explore the ruins of Fort Piute, built an manne in the 1860s to protect mail an travelers on the Mojave Roa. A perennial stream near the fort, rare in the Mojave, supports riparian plants an animals. Return to your vehicle via an unuse trace of the Mojave Roa. Recommene Routes Provience Mountains State Recreation Area, home to Mitchell Caverns, is a California State Park locate within the bounaries of Mojave National Preserve. State park officials shut own operations there in January Employee retirements coincie with the evelopment of serious problems with the water system, an state officials ecie to close the park until the system coul be repaire. Meanwhile, shortfalls in the California state buget le lawmakers in Sacramento to ask that state agencies ientify possible buget cuts. In May 2011, California State Parks release a closure list, an Provience Mountains was among the 70 parks inclue. While other parks targete for the closure were able to remain open with support from non-profit organizations, California State Parks officials ecie not to invest in repairs to Provience Mountains State Recreation Area s infrastructure uring a time of shrinking bugets, so the park remaine close. Mitchell Caverns was initially evelope as a privately operate tourist attraction by Jack an Ia Mitchell in the early 1930s. Jack Mitchell ie in 14, an his family turne the property over to the state. Provience Mountains State Recreation Area was ae to the California State Park system in 16. Over the years, California State Parks has mae many improvements to the caverns, incluing the evelopment of a safe pathway through the caverns, a tunnel connecting the two principal caves, an installation of a lighting system. However, the remote location of the caverns an the lack of a connection to the electrical gri have contribute to the ifficulties in the operation an maintenance of the caverns. The state buget has stabilize over the past year, an work has begun to repair an renovate housing, the visitor center, an electrical an water systems. With new investment in this unique an remote holing of the California State Park system, officials hope to reopen Mitchell Caverns for tours in Mojave National Preserve 7

8 S Kelbaker Roa A N G E CARUTHERS CANYON 21mi 34km 18mi 29km Mileages National Trails Highway National Mojave National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Mojave National Preserve 127 SILVER LAKE (ry) SODA LAKE (ry) 28mi 45km Kelso Depot Visitor Center NATIONAL PRESERVE NATIONAL BURLINGTON NORTHERN Kelbaker Roa SANTA FE RAILWAY Trails Highway Goffs R Mountain Springs R Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center IVANPAH LAKE (ry) Roas may be impassable in inclement weather 164 PRESERVE Roa not maintaine 164 Roa Essex 4mi 6km Kelso Dunes Trailhea Goffs R 7mi 1km 163 UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD Black Canyon Roa Lanfair Roa Kelso Cima Roa Wil Horse Canyon Roa Hole-in-the-Wall Nature Trail Rings Loop Trail Telephone Directory Emergency 911 Feeral Interagency Communications Center San Bernarino County Sheriff - Baker San Bernarino County Sheriff - Neeles Mojave National Preserve Barstow Heaquarters Office Kelso Depot Visitor Center The Kelso (lunch room) Hole-in-the-Wall Fire Center Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center Nearby Parklans Anza Borrego Desert State Park Bureau of Lan Mgmt. - Barstow Fiel Office Bureau of Lan Mgmt. - Neeles Fiel Office Calico Ghost Town Death Valley National Park Joshua Tree National Park Lake Mea National Recreation Area Provience Mountains State Recreation Area Website Directory National Park Service Mojave National Preserve Death Valley National Park Joshua Tree National Park Lake Mea National Recreation Area Provience Mountains State Recreation Area Western National Parks Association (bookstore) CSU Desert Stuies Center (Zzyzx) Bureau of Lan Management Sweeney Granite Mtns. Desert Research Ctr. DesertUSA wilflower reports Desert Tortoise ata an information Desert Discovery Center Wilerness information California Desert Leave No Trace US Feeral government jobs or Rasor Roa ROAD Cear Canyon Roa ROAD Zzyzx Roa ROAD ROAD Ivanpah R Aiken Mine R ROAD NEVADA CALIFORNIA Kelbaker R Hart Mine Roa Teutonia Peak Trail 11mi 1 14mi 22km 22mi 35km Mi Hills Campgroun 10mi 16km Hole-in-the-Wall Campgroun Morning Star Mine Roa Ivanpah Roa Cima Roa Nipton Roa 10mi 16km Black Canyon Group an Equestrian Campgroun 10mi 16km 1 24km 2mi 3km Rock Spring Loop Trail 7mi 11km 10mi 16km Piute Canyon Loop Trail 19mi 30km 1 24km 3mi 5km 7mi 11km GOLD VALLEY 1 26km 1 24km Baker to Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Park 113mi 182km Baker to Barstow 69mi 111km Lulow Lulow to Barstow 49mi 79km 923ft Baker 281m 2 42km 3mi 5km 3mi 5km UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD 3mi 5km GRANITE MOUNTAINS NATURAL RESERVE MIDDLE HILLS To Amboy 18mi 29km 12mi 19km 14mi 23km MITCHELL CAVERNS NATURAL PRESERVE CLOSED Vulcan Mine Cima PROVIDENCE MOUNTAINS STATE RECREATION AREA Mary Beal Nature Trail 1 24km Excelsior Mine Roa NEVADA CALIFORNIA Primm to Las Vegas mi 64km Primm Government Holes Hole-inthe-Wall Fire Center 7mi 11km Nipton Essex C L I P P E R N T A I N S M O U N Airstrip Zzyzx Desert Stuies Center Halloran Springs Lava tube GRANITE MOUNTAINS Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center Yates Well 2mi 3km T A I N D M O U O L D D A North 2096ft Fenner 638m OX Ranch 11mi 1 P R O V I D E N C Goffs Schoolhouse 8mi 13km P I U T E B L I ND HILLS F E N N E R H I L L S M O U N T A I N KELSO DUNE S S E Goffs 2587ft 788m Fort Piute Ruins Searchlight to Las Vegas 44mi 71km Searchlight 14mi 23km Historic Route 66 passe through this area along various alignments. Airstrip Airstrip Searchlight to Cottonwoo Cove, Lake Mea National Recreation Area 14mi 22km Cal Nev Ari Palm Garens To Laughlin 20mi 32km 18mi 29km Fenner to Neeles 3 56km N D G R O U S P L A Y M O U N Y A L L E V A L L E Y Pinyon-Juniper Woolan Joshua Tree Woolan Big Sagebrush Scrub Blackbrush Scrub Lava Fiels Cactus-Yucca Scrub Desert Dunes Creosote Bush Scrub Desert Wash Alkali Playa Unpave 2-wheel-rive roa Unpave 4-wheel-rive roa Mojave Roa 4-wheel-rive roa Hiking trail Authorize park bounary Distance inicator Campgroun Foo service Gas station Loging Store Picnic area Telephone 10 Kilometers Miles N N E R V D E V I L T A I N S F E M O U N T A I N S T E JACKASS VONTRIGGER HILLS P I U CANYON K E L S O M I D CINDER CONE LAVA BEDS MARL MOUNTAINS ROUND VALLEY GROTTO HILLS H I L L S Seventeenmile Point PINTO VALLEY Rock Spring LANFAIR VALLEY T E R P I U CIMA DOME Teutonia Peak 5755ft 1754m N E W Y O R K Kessler Peak 6163ft 1878m I V A I V A N N P A C A S T L E M O U N TAINS H E Y P A H V A L L M M O U N T S V A L T A I N E Y Halloran Summit 00ft 1219m Kelso Peak 4764ft 1452m Kelso 2126ft 648m A L L MESCA L MINERAL HILL L E Y S P I U T E V RANGE Salton Sea Mojave National Preserve Habitats Habitats epen on elevation, sunlight, an moisture. Those in bol are feature on the other sie of the brochure. Self-guiing trail O W MOHAWK HILL S H A D Clark Mountain 7929ft 2417m Granite Pass 24ft 1226m Mountain Pass 4730 ft 1742m 40ft 1341m 5600ft 1706m Pinto Mountain 6144ft 1873m Table Top 6176ft 1882m 3025ft 922m Hackberry Mountain 5390ft 1643m Castle Peaks 5829ft 1777m Hart Peak 5543ft 1689m River Colorao Colorao River C L A R K M O U N T A I N R A N G E L U C Y G R A Y M O U N T A I N S M c C U H I G H L A N D R A N G E Nearby Desert National Park System Areas 0 Mi 50 Km 14 Los Angeles Death 267 Valley NP Barstow 62 NEVADA Primm CALIFORN IA Las Vegas Mojave National Preserve Joshua Tree NP Neeles Lake Mea NRA 93 Kingman 10 UTAH ARIZONA Phoenix Flagstaff 17 L L O U G H R A N G E