Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Spring 2012: Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking / Day 6: Gold Valley and Black Canyon bicycle ride from Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve 28
A fun mountain-biking day without the weight of all my gear, for the first time on this trip, with a stop at Hole-in-the-Wall to recharge my phone. Perfect weather: 82F at Cima. 27 bicycle miles, plus 1.5 hiking miles near Rustler Canyon.
- Desert marigolds along Wild Horse Canyon Road (I stay camped at Mid Hills Campground)
After a relaxing morning and a bit of sleeping in (hurray for the cooler weather), I'm starting to feel refreshed, and am now on my way on a bicycle ride down to the Hole-in-the-Wall area on an old road I like through scenic Gold Valley. - I leave Wild Horse Canyon Road and head down Gold Valley Road
This is a favorite ride of mine, taken in the north-south direction. - Here we go, riding down Gold Valley Road, Mojave National Preserve
For a short stretch here, I pass through juniper-sagebrush scrub that didn't burn in the 2005 brush fires here. I wish more of this remained. - Small blue flowers along Gold Valley Road, Mojave National Preserve
I've seen these tiny flowers before, and maybe even once knew their name... - After some nice gentle rolling, Gold Valley Road passes through an old range fence into the next section
From here the road will rise between a couple of unnamed hills off to the right to a summit. An alternate trail doesn't rise up that way, and I'll have to try it one day. - Cows graze by an old burned juniper tree in upper Gold Valley
- I pause at the summit of Gold Valley Road to enjoy the views before starting the downhill ahead
That flat land in the distance is Wild Horse Mesa, which I might hike to again later this trip. I'm at 5440 feet elevation here. - Guzzler and Paper-bag bush at the summit of Gold Valley Road, Mojave National Preserve
Bees love Paper-bag bush (Salazaria mexicana). - Gold Valley Road is rutted and downhill, essentially a perfect bicycle trail with no traffic
It's not very steep, but there are a few navigational challenges due to the worn-out nature of the old road. I've already dropped 400 feet elevation since passing the summit a mile ago. - Water tank and windmill on Gold Valley Road, Mojave National Preserve
The windmill and water tank here serve the cattle that have been grazing here for decades, if not a century. - I take a break when I reach the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre, which is closed during the hot months except on Saturday
I recharge my cell phone using the outdoor plug and fill up on cool water. I meet a couple from LA, also camping at Mid Hills and we decide to meet later at the campground to chat more (but we never do hook up). - I decide to go for a short ride over to the Rustler Canyon area and explore a few roads I've not taken before
I pass a few Range ratany bushes still in full flower with their muted magenta blooms. - There are a couple of different types of Cholla cacti here in the area just south of Rustler Canyon
It's not as hot as it was the last few days, but it's warmer down here than at my campsite up at Mid Hills Campground. - I reach the end of the dirt road, just south of Rustler Canyon, and park the bicycle
This should be a good place to start a short walk on the rocky hills here. - I try my cell phone here just south of Rustler Canyon and it works
However, it's so windy that it's difficult to hear anything on the phone! - As I prowl around the hills here, I look over toward Grass Canyon, the next canyon over
Good place for a hike? Maybe. What I don't know right now is that I'll find myself atop Tortoise Shell Mountain in a few days, that rounded hill in the distance. - Lots of barrel cacti grow here in the hills near Rustler Canyon and Grass Canyon
They seem to love this dark volcanic rock that gets so hot in the sun. - I climb up a couple of hills near Grass Canyon at a leisurely pace, with no specific goal in mind
Perhaps I'll do a day hike in one of these canyons before this trip is over. There are things to see around here. - The views from here are excellent, and I can almost see down to the old Route 66 area from here
Route 66 is not all that far away; maybe I should go for a ride down that way while I'm out here. I haven't been down there in several years. - After my walk around the bottom of Grass Canyon, I ride a few miles down Black Canyon Road to the Cave Spring area and pull over
I've seen Cave Spring on my maps, but never walked over that way to see if there's anything of interest there. I could probably squeeze in a short hike over there right now, but I'll save that for another time. - The 13-mile ride back to Mid Hills Campground up Black Canyon Road starts on pavement
I'll rise from about 3600 feet to about 5600 feet, a moderate grade. Best of all, I seem to have a tailwind behind me to help me along. - After about 3.5 miles, the pavement goes away; Black Canyon Road turns to dirt on the way back to Mid Hills Campground
...but I still have that nice tailwind pushing me up the slow grade. - Twin Buttes and Table Mountain: I've ridden past them many times around sunset while camping at Mid Hills Campground
I've been looking at these landmarks for years, yet haven't visited them. Maybe in a few days' time... - A motor vehicle pulls over while I'm taking photos by a big, old corral in the Gold Valley Ranch area: I meet Russ
He recognizes me from this web site. It's always good to chat with fellow Mojave fans. His party is on their way back to a campsite in the New York Mountains, and they give me a couple of oranges before leaving. Thanks! - The sun starts to go down as Black Canyon Road winds its way through the pass
I guess I'm early this evening: I've been in this pass several times over the years after dark, on the way back to Mid Hills Campground. I don't see any other vehicles on the road after Russ' vehicle. - It gets dark just as I approach Wild Horse Canyon Road for the final couple of miles back up to Mid Hills Campground
It's also getting chilly, which feels weird after so much heat recently. I need my sweater, long pants and jacket during the evening, and wear long underwear and sweater to bed! No flies, no ants, and a quiet evening at the nearly empty campground. I noticed people wearing heavy jackets huddled around a campfire for warmth at one of the few occupied sites. Supper is Backpacker's Pantry Chicken Vindaloo, yum again and I finish the end of a bag of Vietnamese spicy beef jerky. I don't sleep well tonight due to the sudden cold air. - Gold Valley bicycle route
27 bicycle miles and about 2200 feet of elevation gain. - Elevation profile of Gold Valley bicycle ride
27 bicycle miles and about 2200 feet of elevation gain.