Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2009, Spring: Mojave National Preserve / Day 7: Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve, from Mid Hills campground 48
I've wanted to visit Macedonia Canyon since my first Mojave National Preserve trip almost 10 years go, but just never managed to fit it in.
I almost go on a hike to Live Oak Spring today instead, but I keep delaying my departure due to light rain, so I'll save Live Oak Spring, a longer hike, for tomorrow.
14.9 bicycle miles with 1650 feet of elevation gain and loss, plus 3.8 hiking miles with 640 feet of elevation gain and loss. I take six litres of water and drink about three.
A noise outside my tent proves to be a lizard scurrying about
I keep delaying my departure to Macedonia Canyon due to the light rain that falls from time to time
The fun ride down Wild Horse Canyon Road looks different today with the ominous clouds hovering above the Mid Hills
After a few miles, I turn at Macedonia Canyon Road and pass through the flimsy barbed-wire gate
I begin the gradual descent down Macedonia Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve
I pull over along Macedonia Canyon Road to examine what's left of an old foundation
Down at about 4125 feet, I turn up an old road that leads into the Macedonia Canyon valley
I ride up the track into Macedonia Canyon valley, but the hard-packed surface doesn't last, so I park the bike and start hiking
Up on a hill in the Macedonia Canyon valley, I stop to check my maps and GPS
I decide to head over to the remnants of the Columbia Mine, those small orangish mounds in the distance
Approaching the Columbia Mine area, I pass a few abandoned metal tanks
I reach the orange tailings pile at Columbia Mine and see a "danger" sign
I don't know how deep this mine hole is at Columbia Mine, Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
A final glance at the orange tailings pile near Columbia Mine, Macedonia Canyon
White buckwheat flowers in Macedonia Canyon valley
According to my maps and GPS, an old road exists in the gulley just below
And voilà, there it is, the Macedonia Canyon cabin
Atop the little hill, I get a better look at the Macedonia Canyon cabin
Lots of debris surrounds the Macedonia Canyon cabin, including this old barbeque grill
The Macedonia Canyon cabin has definitely seen better days
An old broken soda-pop bottle, of a brand named Bubble-Up
View of the east side of the cabin in Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
Inside the cabin in Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
Labels on the stove inside the cabin in Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
One of the bottom drawers of the stove is labelled "do not use"
The other bottom drawer of the stove is full of packrat materials
More 1970s' plastic antiques in the cabin in Macedonia Canyon
This structure near the Macedonia Canyon cabin was apparently the outhouse
One of several debris piles near the cabin in Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
I take one last look at the Macedonia Canyon cabin as I begin walking away down the wash
Below the Macedonia Canyon cabin is an old rusty stove
More junk near the Macedonia Canyon cabin!
When I reach Macedonia Spring, I dont find any water at all
Rhus trilobata bushes at Macedonia Spring instead of water
A bit disappointed at having discovered only dryness at Macedonia Spring, I walk back down the drainage
From the low point of today's travels at about 4000 feet, I walk back up Macedonia Canyon a half-mile or so to fetch my bicycle
I've got 700 feet of elevation gain on Macedonia Canyon Road ahead of me and I'm sweating hard already!
Macedonia Canyon Road is quite sandy, which is why I've never ventured down here on my previous Mojave National Preserve trips
On the way up Macedonia Canyon Road
A tree grows in the wash in Macedonia Canyon, Mojave National Preserve
I ride back up through the invisible-until-you-get-to-it gate at the top of Macedonia Canyon Road
A quick 270-degree turn of the bike and I'm on Wild Horse Canyon Road again and on my way back to Mid Hills campground
I'm mesmerized by the tentacles of dark clouds swimming above while I look behind me during my ride up Wild Horse Canyon Road
As I get closer to Mid Hills campground, the dark clouds weaken, but a few raindrops fall
Mid Hills campground to Macedonia Canyon and back bike ride (Day 7)
Macedonia Canyon ride profile (Day 7)
Macedonia Canyon hike route (Day 7)
Macedonia Canyon hike profile, Mojave National Preserve (Day 7)