Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2000: Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping Trip #2 / Day 3: Mountain-bike ride from Mid Hills Campground through Wild Horse Canyon Road, Mojave National Preserve 15
It's nice to be here at Mid Hills Campground again. This was one of my favorite spots on last year's 1999 Mojave National Preserve trip, my first desert bicycle-camping trip.
Today is a day to sleep in late and recover from yesterday's exhausting ride up the long hill. I'm relieved to find that the water taps at the campground are functional this morning, after being apparently frozen solid overnight.
When I finally crawl out of my tent and expose myself to the flawless blue skies, I ride from here at 5500 down Wild Horse Canyon Road to Hole-in-the-Wall Campground at around 4200 feet, then return to Mid Hills Campground via Black Canyon Road. I did this ride when I was here last year and it is definitely worth repeating.
21.2 bicycle miles, 2:13 hours, 23.5 mph max speed, 9.5 mph average.
Morning at Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve
Huge old juniper tree near my campsite at Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve
These mountain-desert trees don't provide as much shade as you might get from big trees in a moister climate
An old, crusty juniper by my campsite offers the perfect sit-down for a late-morning pipe
I ride southward down Wild Horse Canyon Road away from Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve
Wild Horse Canyon Road meanders over the hills
I stop briefly at the top of Macedonia Canyon Road, though I won't be riding down that road today
The lower part of Wild Horse Canyon Road passes interesting geological features like Wild Horse Mesa
Heavy sand appears on the lower parts of Wild Horse Canyon Road
A horse grazes at the bottom of Wild Horse Canyon Road
At the end of Wild Horse Canyon Road, I start up Black Canyon Road, which is paved for half a mile or so
Just beyond the end of the pavement, Black Canyon Road crosses a cattleguard
Black Canyon Road climbs slowly the next eight miles toward Mid Hills Campground
An antique sign for the Cima Store 10 miles beyond sits at the top of Black Canyon Road
At the top of Black Canyon Road, I go left on Wild Horse Canyon Road for the last couple of miles back to Mid Hills Campground