Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Fall 2012: Mojave National Preserve bicycle-camping and hiking, Lanfair Valley loop / End of day 4: Piute Gorge hike to Piute Spring to filter water 29
Great way to end the day! It's only 3.6 hiking miles, and about 600 feet of elevation gain on the way back up, but I feel like I'm in one of those spectacular Death Valley canyons with colored rock walls, not common in Mojave National Preserve.
- I begin the hike down to Piute Spring by walking over to the trail sign at campsite #2
I didn't want to camp at this campsite in case it gets extra human traffic that I don't want to see in the morning. I'm camping over at #3. Despite this sign, there's not much of trail here, but it's enough to get you started and inspired. - Late-day sunlight looks great in Piute Gorge
I follow the trail down to the canyon, wondering what I'll see on the way to Piute Spring. - I'm almost at the bottom of the rather eroded trail leading down to Piute Canyon
This trail doesn't seem to be used often. Once on the canyon floor, there is no more trail, so I just follow the canyon downward. - Hiking down Piute Canyon is like entering another world
The unexpected highlight of my day. - Here's a little rock shelter in Piute Canyon
It won't provide much shelter in the event of a flash flood here, however. - Colourful layers of earth are exposed in Piute Canyon
- Some of the layers are tilted
- Layers exposed by erosion
- This rock-wall segment in Piute Canyon has a crumpled appearance
- Rust and grey-blue in Piute Canyon
- Boulders strewn about in Piute Canyon
- Layers of sandy sediment are exposed here and there in Piute Canyon
- A couple of steep steps down here in Piute Canyon
Hmmm... I hope I don't run into any really difficult drop-offs on my way down to the spring. - I pass through a slot in Piute Canyon
- Piute Canyon opens up a little
- Twisted rock layers in Piute Canyon
- More rust and grey-blue in Piute Canyon
- Big boulders in Piute Canyon
Most of the time, I'm easily able to walk around these, so far. - Piute Canyon: down we go...
- A half-moon looks down at me while hiking Piute Canyon
Looking forward to a bit of moonlight tonight! - It must be dramatic when water gushes down this well-worn drainage in Piute Canyon
- This huge ball of rocks seems to have tumbled down the hillside in Piute Canyon
- I should be close to Piute Spring now
- I come around another rocky bend and arrive at trees, mostly willows: Piute Spring is here somewhere
Now I just have to locate the spring, which hopefully won't be difficult. - I push my way through the willows and locate Piute Creek, then filter some drinking water just before dark
It's always exciting to discover a new spring, especially when it turns out to be a good one, since my life depends on it. The small babbling brook here is so significant in this dry landscape. - About two gallons of water filtered from Piute Spring, I hike back up the canyon to my campsite
With the new water load on my back and 500 feet of elevation gain ahead, the climb back up the canyon at dusk is a bit slower than it was coming down. But equally scenic and perhaps even more special as sunlight disappears for the day. - I pass a few coyote melons on the way back up Piute Canyon and arrive at my campsite just before total darkness
Great way to end the day! When I get back, the first thing I need to do is set up my tent, in the dark. The late-afternoon wind is gone and now it's super-quiet out here. An interesting sight is a jet-exhaust stream in the sky illuminated by moonlight. Super tonight is Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice; I'm starved and eat it quickly. A couple of owls up on an adjacent hill protect me with their hoo-hooing before I get to sleep around midnight. - Elevation profile of Piute Canyon/Piute Spring hike
3.6 hiking miles, about 600 feet of elevation gain. - Hiking route: Piute Canyon to Piute Spring
3.6 hiking miles, about 600 feet of elevation gain.