Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / Spring 2011: Mojave National Preserve and area bicycle camping / Day 10: Teutonia Peak hike, Mojave National Preserve, with Sarah and Heather 41
A simple hike that's so scenic: the perfect intro for folks new to Mojave National Preserve. I haven't hiked it in several years, so I'm happy to join Sarah and Heather on their hike there. 3.3 hiking miles and about 700 feet of elevation gain.
The morning sun at Mid Hills campground is warm, but it was really chilly overnight, one of the coldest nights of this trip
We drive in Sarah's minivan over to the Teutonia Peak trailhead from Mid Hills campground for our end-of-day hike
As we start up the Teutonia Peak Trail, we're greeted by some Indian paintbrush
Some of the open areas between joshua trees are lightly carpeted with tiny white and yellow flowers
Heather stops to check out a joshua tree on Teutonia Peak Trail
A soft, furry cactus (one of many) invites passers-by along the Teutonia Peak Trail
I spot another "pineapple cactus" near Teutonia Peak Trail
Here's a colorful Hopsage (Grayia spinosa) along Teutonia Peak Trail
A blue delphinium adds a spike of colour in the joshua-tree forest
Sarah and Heather check out a really huge "pancake cactus"
The Mojave Desert is most known for its spiny and tough plants, but graceful bunch grasses are also to be found
The area here below Teutonia Peak is also known for its big boulder outcrops
I've been seeing desert sages along this trail (Salvia dorrii) and this is one of the better ones
An elderly juniper tree picks up the late afternoon sun along Teutonia Peak Trail
Heather pauses in the middle of the Teutonia Peak Trail to contemplate the awesomeness of the area
We start seeing the occasional Desert four o'clock bush with its intense magenta flowers
As the trail rises toward Teutonia Peak, we pass through a patch of junipers
A Banana yucca sends out a fresh bouquet on the way up Teutonia Peak Trail
Sarah moseys around in the rock outcrops as we get close to the top of Teutonia Peak Trail
Heather climbs up the top of the Teutonia Peak Trail past another patch of "pancake cactus"
Near the top of Teutonia Peak Trail, we get a good view across to nearby Kessler Peak (at left)
On Teutonia Peak, we linger and enjoy; Heather looks across the valley to the Mid Hills, where we're camping
Heather walks between some of the boulders strewn about on Teutonia Peak
Sarah takes a break on Teutonia Peak, overlooking the subtle curve of Cima Dome
We're all taking photos of each other; Sarah sits on one of the Teutonia Peak ridges
Sarah discovers a rock shelter at Teutonia Peak and tries it out
Heather stands on a Teutonia Peak "balcony" overlooking the Cima Dome curve
From Teutonia Peak are views over to the "summit" of Cima Dome
As we start our way back down from Teutonia Peak, Heather takes the lead
This Claret-cup cactus is comfortable growing on a rock overlooking the Cima Dome expanse
We pass another blooming Claret-cup cactus along Teutonia Peak Trail as we descend
Teutonia Peak Trail bends and heads toward the northeast
Desert sages along Teutonia Peak Trail pick up the pre-sunset orange glow
We turn around for a moment to look back toward Teutonia Peak
Rock outcrops and irregular joshua trees create endless visual interest on the high plain between Teutonia Peak and Kessler Peak
Kessler Peak soaks up as much of the reddish light as it can
The lower part of Teutonia Peak Trail was once an old road, as is visible here
Heather pauses to look at another one of the giant joshua trees along Teutonia Peak Trail
We're almost back at the minivan when we pass one last Desert four o'clock blooming in the sunset
Teutonia Peak Trail, Mojave National Preserve, elevation gain
Teutonia Peak Trail, Mojave National Preserve, hiking route