Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Spring 2012: Mojave National Preserve Bicycle-Camping and Hiking / Day 11: Rings Trail and Barber Peak Loop Trail hike, Mojave National Preserve 42
I never got around to checking out these great trails near the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre during past trips. I manage to sleep in until 8h30, a bit tired (but inspired) from yesterday's long bike ride. I was missing out! 7.8 hiking miles and 11 bicycle miles. Temperature hits 93F today at Cima, so it's a warm one.
- After breakfast, I ride the 5.5 miles over to Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre to do the Rings Trail hike
I've been here many times, but never did this hike. I *almost* did it during last year's trip, but decided to walk up nearby Saddle Horse Canyon instead. My expectations are low, thinking it won't compare to my usual cross-country hiking. Wrong! - As I start down the Rings Trail, I take a look back at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre, where I've locked my bicycle
Since my regular battery-powered camera is almost dead, and I'm not carrying a solar charger, I have little choice but to come to the visitor centre here occasionally to recharge my cell phone with the outdoor plug. Also, I need water from here. - The Rings Trail starts out following a wash, and I can see down beyond the Woods Mountains where I rode my bike yesterday
I'm amazed that I have no leg cramps after yesterday's 73-mile bike ride, the longest I've done in several years. And those knee problems I was having before the trip seem to have disappeared for some reason. - Rings Trail curves and I'm now staring straight ahead at Wild Horse Mesa
I'll still have a few days left on this trip, so I might end up on that plateau during the coming days before going back to work. - If you don't pay attention, you might miss these little beauties as you walk past!
- Rings Trail, Mojave National Preserve: buckwheats blooming
The scenery is Mojave-nice, but I'm not seeing any rings yet. Anticipation. - Rings Trail moves straight ahead toward those hot bubbly rocks
More anticipation. - It looks like the Rings Trail is going to lead me into that slot in the rocks
Cool, this is more interesting than I was expecting! - As the Rings Trail approaches a slot in Banshee Canyon, it's nice to look back
I can see rocks below delineating the lower part of the trail that I'm now following upward. - Is that the slot where the Rings Trail is leading?
I still don't see any rings yet. I'm getting very curious as to how this trail continues! - Ah... there are those famed rings I've heard of: the Rings Trail is now headed upward!
Neato. Reminds me a bit of a slot canyon I hiked last Xmas in the Funeral Mountains in Death Valley, except that I had no rings there to help me up (and consequently was eventually forced to turn around). - As I start climbing the rings, I take a look back at a rock turret behind me
That flat surface in the background is Wild Horse Mesa. - Climbing up the rings on the Rings Trail
It's not as difficult, nor as claustrophobic, as I thought it might be. I get vertigo fairly easily, but have no problem here. Great trail! - At the top of the short climb up the rings on the Rings Trail, I take a look back down
This is a great little slot canyon and I realize I've been really missing something by skipping it during previous trips here! - At the top of the Rings Trail, I encounter the sign warning that it's a potentially strenous climb for some folks
Given the wide variety of fitness levels of the people who will see this sign, it's a well-worded sign. I decide to check out the "overlook," which I hadn't noticed. - I walk over to "The Overlook" at the top of the Rings Trail to see what it is that the sign points toward
It provides a nice view into an adjacent slot canyon, but the modern platform installation is a bit jarring for me. Nonetheless, it does a great job of making the slot-canyon view accessible to folks who might not otherwise venture down the Rings Trail. - Oh, there's an eye, a tiny natural arch in the bubbly rock here near the top of the Rings Trail, Mojave National Preserve
There's a water spigot nearby, so I take a short rest with cooler water, and eat an energy bar. Just another desert animal, I'm really feeling today's 90+F temperature with all these dark rocks, absorbing and radiating heat. I'm moving rather slowly. - I notice a big patch of those pink dry buckwheats that I see here and there in the Mojave Desert, near the top of Rings Trail
And there's Table Mountain over in the distance; maybe I'll hike over that way tomorrow. - I decide to try hiking the adjacent Barber Mountain Loop Trail, or at least part of it, since I'm here
My bicycle headlight is happily recharging back at Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre, so I might as well give it more time. As I begin the gentle initial climb, I turn back for a great view of the area around the top of the Rings Trail. - The Barber Mountain Loop Trail climbs slowly from the Rings Trail summit
I'm taking it easy as I rise because it's a hot day, and felt even hotter in the heat-absorbing volcanic rocks of the Rings Trail area. I don't want to wear myself out too quickly! - With so few flowers in bloom, I'm happy to find a few Encelias (brittlebrush) flowering on the Barber Mountain Loop Trail
- A short stretch of the Barber Peak Loop Trail crosses a noteworthy patch of yellow lichen on pinkish rock
A few barrel cacti add to the pinkish hue. - I pass a nice juniper tree as I approach the crest of this segment of the Barber Peak Loop Trail
- This spot on the Barber Peak Loop Trail is just high enough for me to see all the way across Gold Valley toward my camp
I'm camped about 5 miles away, to the right of the low middle hill, which is one of the Twin Buttes. Maybe I'll hike over in the Twin Buttes area there tomorrow? - Barber Peak Loop Trail winds around some rocks, and I'm now looking at the Gold Valley hills that I rode across a few days ago
- Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Barber Mountain Loop Trail is this eroded rock hotel
I spend a few minutes here walking around and looking at it. - A nice rock staircase, part of the Barber Peak Loop Trail, hugs the left side of the rock hotel here
When I learned about this trail, I didn't think there was much it could bring me that my cross-country hikes already do. Wrong, this trail is really well thought-out! It's nice to let myself go and have someone else do the route-finding for a change. - I take a peak through some of the windows, but find the hotel has no interior, as expected
- The Flintstones would be proud to live here!
- I take a final look at the hotel as I continue my way along the Barber Mountain Loop Trail
- The next stretch of the Barber Mountain Loop Trail dips down into a familiar part of Gold Valley
Here, I'm really close to the dirt road I rode from Mid Hills Campgrounds a few days ago, but I've never been in this area on foot before, which makes for a new experience. - Gold Valley burned pretty bad in the 2005 brush fires here, but 4/5 of this tree survived
1/5 didn't. - 1/5 didn't. - This patch of Gold Valley by Barber Mountain is still largely devoid of vegetation almost 7 years after the brush fires
I could probably climb up to Barber Peak up there fairly easily, but I'm interested in following the trail and seeing what else it has to show me. - For a while, Barber Mountain Loop Trail follows an old road
I like this part of the hiking route on an old ranch road as much as I like the preceding segment which was a foot trail. I like the variety. Obviously, not many motor vehicles use this road. - Well, this is as close as I've ever been to Lobo Point, Mojave National Preserve, that outcrop in front of me
Usually I just see it off to the side while riding down Wild Horse Canyon Road, contributing to the great scenery. Future potential backcountry camping area! - I'm really enjoying walking through this area here behind Lobo Point on the Barber Mountain Loop Trail in a little hidden valley
I am noticing the heat of the day and the fact that there's not much of breeze in this protected valley. Perhaps a great place for cold-weather camping. I consider stopping under a tree for some shade, but continue on, sloooowly. - The Barber Mountain Loop Trail rises up a short, steep hill overlooking the hidden valley
Even on this short hill, I'm feeling the heat. It's nice to look back at the Lobo Point outcrop from up here. I haven't encountered any other hikers today so far. - Walking down the Barber Mountain Loop Trail, slowly approaching Black Canyon Road
The heat is starting to get to me, so I'm glad to have a bit of downhill ahead! I can see waaaay down across the valley toward the Fenner area where I rode my mountain-bike yesterday. - Walking down the Barber Mountain Loop Trail, slowly approaching Black Canyon Road
My cell-phone-camera battery is running out again, so I hike over to Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre for a recharge. I need to fill up on water for tomorrow also. It's 85F in the shade on the porch there! - After a break at Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Centre to recharge my phone, I ride the 5.5 miles back to camp on Woods Wash Road
Nice belt-of-Venus tonight, again. A 3/4 moon provides lots of light back at the tent after sunset. I catch up on some journal notes and drink that other bottle of Sierra Nevada beer that I bought yesterday. Crickets are singing, beautiful evening. After a week and a half out here, I'm happy and relaxed. Supper is Backpacker's Pantry Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry again, delicious again. - Mojave National Preserve: Rings Trail and Barber Mountain Loop Trail day hike: Day 11
7.8 hiking miles and 11 bicycle miles. - Elevation profile of Mojave National Preserve: Rings Trail and Barber Mountain Loop Trail day hike: Day 11
7.8 hiking miles and 11 bicycle miles.