Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2010, Mojave National Preserve / Day 9: Nipton to Malpais Spring by bicycle via Walking Box Ranch Road, Mojave National Preserve 56
The striking Malpais Spring area of Mojave National Preserve has been on my to-visit list for a few years. I hope to find water in the area. Near-perfect temperatures today: warm sun, a bit chilly at times, but never cold.
I rode the unpaved Walking Box Ranch Road on an earlier trip, almost 10 years ago, but I didn't stop near Malpais Spring.
27.6 bicycle miles today. The 3500 feet of elevation gain reported is probably exaggerated as usual by the Topo 7 software that I use.
I'm up reasonably early and walk over to the Nipton store for some breakfast snacks and coffee
I enjoy the morning shade of the eucalyptus trees at Nipton campground on this cool morning
Time to brush my teeth and pack up for the ride from Nipton to Malpais Spring, Mojave National Preserve
A datura blooms at Nipton campground while a long freight train squeals by
The outdoor sink at Nipton is decomposing after many years of service in the hot Mojave sun
From Nipton campground, I look across the train tracks and up Ivanpah Valley toward Cima
The cactus garden in front of the Hotel Nipton is artfully built of multi-coloured rock
The 10-ton bike awaits departure at Nipton's outdoor sink after the final, heavy addition of my water supply
The 10-ton bike and I wobble up Nipton Road away from the campground and pass a few antique buildings while leaving town
Across the road from the Nipton General Store is a rock-display yard
I head east up Nipton Road toward Crescent Pass, Nevada, up in the hills at centre-left
At the Nevada border, I notice that my 10-litre MSR water bag is dripping a bit from the nozzle
After half an hour, I stop for a few minutes on the way up the hill: I'm in Nevada now
From the Nevada-California border on Nipton Road/Nevada 164, I look back down the hill to the tiny town of Nipton
Just beyond the "Welcome to Nevada" sign is an "Area of Critical Environmental Concern" sign
Riding east toward Crescent Pass on Nevada 164, I pass under the power lines that cross Mojave National Preserve
I notice some tiny purple flowers growing in the gravel on the shoulder of Nevada 164
I approach Crescent Pass on Nevada 164, whose high point is at about 4870 feet elevation
Near Crescent Pass, I stop to look at a dirt road that leads toward the McCullough Mountains
After crossing Crescent Pass on Nevada 164, I'm coasting downhill when I see this huge joshua tree by the highway
Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness: I take a short energy-bar and water break at the turnout along Nevada 164
Purple desert sages dominate the foreground as I go for a short walk in the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Area
I've just coasted blissfully down 6 miles of Nevada 164 and reach unpaved Walking Box Ranch Road, where I'll turn off
The historic Walking Box Ranch is being restored, but is not yet open to the public
A sign warns of mining traffic near the start of Walking Box Ranch Road
One lane only on Walking Box Ranch Road: for a Mojave Desert dirt road, it's actually pretty good
Fields of pinkish-white buckwheat flowers bloom along Walking Box Ranch Road, with Nevada's McCullough Mountains in the distance
The pinkish-white buckwheat flowers dominate the Walking Box Ranch Road area, but they are not the only showy plants
Walking Box Ranch Road is mostly straight and slightly uphill, but occasional humps over desert topography add interest
Views down to the town of Searchlight, Nevada open up occasionally along Walking Box Ranch Road
Fragments of old pavement on Walking Box Ranch Road
I pass the six-mile marker on Walking Box Ranch Road
I pass an old corral on Walking Box Ranch Road and check my GPS for directions here
I approach the sole motor vehicle that I've seen today on Walking Box Ranch Road
I pass an extremely modest post on Walking Box Ranch Road which marks my re-entry into California from Nevada
I almost missed the old road to Malpais Spring, here it is; I've been watching for it and checking my pre-recorded GPS points
Stagecoach Well sits in the wash along the road to Malpais Spring, Mojave National Preserve
Rising out of the wash just past Stagecoach Well, the road is really rough, with loose rock on the surface
I pass one of those small "Entering Mojave National Preserve" signs on my approach to Malpais Spring
Malpais Spring Road tops out on a plateau at about 4600 feet elevation, so I park the bicycle and start looking for a campsite
I go for a short walk to check out the area at the top of Malpais Spring Road; this will be home for a night or two
I look westward up the gorge toward Malpais Spring and get excited about tomorrow's hike up into that area
OK, so where do I set up the tent here on Malpais Spring Road?
I put on my sweater and long pants and decide to set up camp in the turn-out at the top of Malpais Spring Road
The plateau at the top of Malpais Spring Road and a few old stretches of range fence receive the orange glow of end-of-day sun
Fluffy white stuff on a small barrel cactus at the top of Malpais Spring Road
A close-up of the white fluff on the barrel cactus
The pale buckwheat flowers look pinker in the blush of sunset near Malpais Spring, Mojave National Preserve
Looking toward the Castle Peaks, the buckwheat flowers pick up the sunset light differently
The nearby Castle Mountains and Hart Peak radiate in the sunset near Malpais Spring
Pink-orange haze sets in over Nevada, east of my campsite near Malpais Spring
The sun sets, little by little, minute by minute, on the Castle Mountains and Hart Peak
The upper turrets of the Castle Mountains and Hart Peak soak up the very last rays of the day
The moon is full enough tonight to cast shadows here near Malpais Spring, Mojave National Preserve
Elevation profile of Nipton to Malpais Spring bicycle route via Walking Box Ranch Road
Nipton to Malpais Spring bicycle route via Walking Box Ranch Road