Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2010, Mojave National Preserve / Day 3: Kelso Peak area to Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, by bicycle 43
Kelso Peak area to Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, by bicycle. 37.8 bicycle miles, 3640 feet elevation gain.
No sign of last night's rain; I'm up around 7h, have breakfast, then pack up leisurely for today's ride to Mid Hills campground
I walk my packed saddlebags back to the powerline road, assemble the 10-ton bike, then ride a short distance to reach pavement
Once back on the pavement of Kelbaker Road, I begin the always-wonderful 12-mile downhill to Kelso
As I coast down Kelbaker Road, I glance often at Kelso Peak, where I hiked yesterday
An old-style power line follows Kelbaker Road as it descends past the Kelso Mountains toward Kelso
I pull over on Kelbaker Road, with Kelso Peak still in view, and go for a short walk
I look across a patch of yellow desert senna flowers at the Mid Hills area in the distance, my destination today
A little further down Kelbaker Road, I stop again to look at a desert senna with dodder growing in it
Across the lower, southeastern end of the Kelso Mountains are nice views to Kelso Dunes and the Granite Mountains beyond
As I reach the bottom of this stretch of Kelbaker Road, the hamlet of Kelso keeps getting closer
Coyote melon grows on the shoulder of Kelbaker Road just north of Kelso
3865-coyote-melon
I break for 60 minutes at the Kelso Depot visitor centre to refill my water supply and enjoy an iced tea at the lunch counter
After my break at Kelso Depot, I begin the gentle 15-mile uphill ride on Kelso-Cima Road
My favourite old house here at Kelso, the one with the rounded roof, isn't doing so well
One of several long freight trains passes by as I slowly rise up Kelso-Cima Road
Blooming daturas decorate the train tracks along Kelso-Cima Road
I pass Globe Mine Road, the only signed road off Kelso-Cima Road between Kelso and Cedar Canyon Road
I amuse myself visually with the views of Cima Dome and Kessler Peak on my left as I climb Kelso-Cima Road
Behind me, looking back toward Kelso, are some great views of the Kelso Dunes
Reaching the sign for Cedar Canyon Road after 15 miles: I'm happy and pull over for a break
I take my break at the E Clampus Vitus Mojave Road marker at the junction of Cedar Canyon Road and Kelso-Cima Road
Detail view of the E Clampus Vitus plaque at the junction of Mojave Road, Kelso-Cima Road and Cedar Canyon Road
I begin the climb up Cedar Canyon Road toward, and then into, the Mid Hills
The first 2.5 miles of Cedar Canyon Road rise at about 5% grade, so the views behind me improve quickly
Cedar Canyon Road's famous "pavement ends" sign, Mojave National Preserve
Cedar Canyon Road rises through a healthy joshua tree forest, with Cima Dome still in the background when I look behind me
Once Cedar Canyon Road enters the Mid Hills, it drops down into Cedar Wash for a couple of miles
Looking behind me at the heavily washboarded surface of Cedar Canyon Road as it drops into Cedar Wash
After six miles on Cedar Canyon Road, I reach my next turn for Mid Hills campground: Black Canyon Rd. Time for a break!
An energy-bar break is de rigueur here before tackling the final few miles up to Mid Hills campground
After my break, I ride up Black Canyon Road from Cedar Canyon Road, still 5-6 miles away from Mid Hills campground
The climb up Black Canyon Road toward Mid Hills only lasts a mile until I reach an almost-flat plateau (Round Valley)
The Round Valley area of Mojave National Preserve includes quite a bit of private land
A chunk of land in Round Valley is for sale
I ride up the gravelly Wild Horse Canyon Road the final two miles to Mid Hills campground
Finally, I reach the Mid Hills campground entrance road; those final two miles always seem to last forever
I ride almost 3/4 mile to the far end of Mid Hills campground to see if my prized site 21 is taken or surrounded by undesirables
It's a bit chilly up here at Mid Hills campground! I put on my sweater, set up the tent, settle in, and enjoy the sunset
Sunset from Mid Hills campground through a pinyon pine; that should be the Kingston Range way over there
The usually ochre hills on the other side of Cedar Canyon Road, which I passed earlier, collect the day's pinkish orange rays
Kelso Peak area to Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, route elevation profile
Kelso Peak area to Mid Hills campground, Mojave National Preserve, bicycle route