Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Spring 2011: Mojave National Preserve and area bicycle camping / Day 11: Bicycle ride from Mid Hills campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve 45
After yesterday's relaxing and social day with Sarah and Heather, I'm refreshed and excited to start the final chapter of this trip. I've visited Pinto Valley before, but haven't camped there yet. 16.2 bicycle miles with about 850 feet of elevation gain, another easy day.
My final morning at Mid Hills campground, I hear a noise outside my tent, and guess who it is?
The cottontail rabbit hears me and looks over my way before darting away
After four great nights here at Mid Hills campground, I pack up; a strong gust of wind blows my tent over once it's half empty
I've procrastinated all morning, but I'm finally packed and ready to leave Mid Hills campground
I always enjoy the expansive views across Round Valley while riding down Wild Horse Canyon Road
At the end of Wild Horse Canyon Road, I turn left on Black Canyon Road for a couple of miles
An old wooden fence along Black Canyon Road that burned in the 2005 brush fires has been replaced by a wire fence
I pause along Black Canyon Road to take a look across the valley to Table Top Mountain
I zoom in for a better look at the expanse of orange Desert mallows in this part of Round Valley
Now it's time to ride down "The Shortcut Road" between upper Black Canyon Road and Cedar Canyon Road
The "Shortcut Road" is only 3/4 mile long; soon enough, I'm approaching Cedar Canyon Road, that horizontal line ahead
Oooo, land for sale on Cedar Canyon Road
Cedar Canyon Road east of the Mid Hills is mostly unpaved, except for this short stretch by a cattle guard
Since I'm in no rush today, I decide to take a short detour over to Government Holes, that big tree up the dirt road here
This sign near Government Holes used to say something about private property
Well, this is it: Government Holes, Mojave National Preserve
I park the 10-ton bike and walk over to the Government Holes corral, next to which a cistern full of green water glows
The corral at Government Holes, Mojave National Preserve
Some of the old fencing at the Government Holes corral is made of unhewn wood posts with metal horizontal members
OK fat bovines, I'll leave you alone and let you get back to your green water
A substantial bird's nest up in the Government Holes cottonwood tree also watches me
I ride down an old alignment of the Mojave Road that will arrive at the Bert Smith Rock House after about 1.5 miles
This little piece of dirt road is a good mountain-bike ride, if you like sagebrush flats
I wasn't planning on revisiting the Bert Smith Rock House today (I was here last week)
Gotta love the view toward the New York Mountains from the front windows of the Bert Smith Rock House
There's something so luxurious to me about the solid wood interior of the Bert Smith Rock House
A warning note above the fireplace in the Bert Smith Rock House
I go for a walk around the Bert Smith Rock House property, which I didn't do on my visit here last week
Before I leave the Bert Smith Rock House and ride over to Pinto Valley, I refill my Camelbak
I leave the Bert Smith Rock House and coast down the hill into Watson Wash
Here I am at the beginning of New York Mountains Road
The first part of New York Mountains Road slowly climbs out of Watson Wash
New York Mountains Road passes the eastern tip of Pinto Mountain on a very gentle uphill
A snake crosses New York Mountains Road, Mojave National Preserve
I reach a fork on New York Mountains Road and veer to the left on the lesser path toward Howe Spring
This purple sage stands out along Howe Spring Road since this part of Pinto Valley is mostly dry grassland
Howe Spring Road is rather rough in places, but nothing that a high-clearance can't take care of
Ah, another crossroads! The right fork leads to Howe Spring, the left to Bathtub Spring
I pass a big boulder alongside the road to Bathtub Spring
I arrive at the end of the road toward Bathtub Spring
Ah, there's even a fire pit here, which doesn't look like it has been used in a while
I go for a walk in the adjacent rock piles to get familiar with the area around my new campsite
Time for my evening meal; I'm hungry! Mountain House Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice, predictably tasty
Elevation profile of bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve
Bicycle route from Mid Hills Campground to Pinto Valley, Mojave National Preserve