![]() NPS / MOJA Media Desert Driving Pro Tips Required knowledge for a successful desert adventure.
Do not rely solely on automated mapping and driver assisted applications, they often lead you astray in and around the preserve. Bring an old-timey paper map or atlas for backup and to teach the crew the ways of the ranger. Check here for updated road conditions from the National Park Service. 🗺️ Don't rely on your phone for in the preserve for navigation where coverage is spotty at best, except for pictures at scenic locales! Cities for GPS
From I-40: Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction with Black Canyon Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black Canyon Road. Mojave's rugged nature, large size, and remote locations make assessing, designing, and repairing roads a constant challenge for park maintenance crews. Roads are closed by the superintendent for public safety or to preserve the character of the road bed. Speed Limits on the paved roads are 55 mph or less. Please obey posted speed limits for your safety and help keep wildlife alive.
|
Road | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|
Black Canyon Road |
CLOSED Between Hole-in-the-Wall Campground and Mid Hills Campground Junction OPEN Between Essex Road and Hole-in-the-Wall Campground. OPEN from Cedar Canyon Road to Mid Hills Campground. |
No Access to Hole in the Wall area from the north or from Cedar Canyon Road. Closure requires visitors to access the Hole in the Wall area soley via Interstate-40 and Essex Road (Exit 100). All routes north of the Hole in the Wall area are either CLOSED or required heavy duty 4WD on backcountry routes. |
Essex Road | Open | Access to Mitchell Caverns and Providence Mountains State Recreation area is open via Exit 100 |
Ivanpah Road | Open | Watch for bumpy areas and tortoise on roadway |
Kelbaker Road | OPEN - Ignore closures on GPS apps | Road open between Baker and Kelso, and Kelso to Interstate-40. Disregard GPS apps that route you through Ivanpah and Nipton Roads to access Interstate 15. No centerline in seventeen mile point area, use caution. Open to all non comercial vehicles. |
Cedar Canyon | Open | Open, but dont use this road if you want to get to Hole-in-the-Wall from the north |
Kelso-Cima Road | Open | Drive Like a Tortoise and slow your roll. Speed Limit 55 MPH |
Cima Road | CLOSED 3/20/2023 to 3/31/2024 to All Vehicles |
Cima Road CLOSED due to construction. Access to Teutonia Peak Trail, White Cross World War I Memorial requires independent use of a map and routefinding with a heavy duty 4WD high clearance vehicle on approved backcountry routes. In order to protect public safety and road crews in the area, DO NOT DRIVE ON OR CROSS CIMA ROAD DURING CLOSURE with any vehicle. |
Morningstar Mine Road | Open | Drive Like a Tortoise and slow your roll. Speed Limit 55 MPH. |
Zzyzx Road | CLOSED | Zzyzx Road closed at park boundary due to unsafe conditions. Expected repair time is mid June 2023. Trespassing prohibited around buildings of Desert Studies Center without prior arrangements. Visit CSU Fullerton Website for more information |

NPS/K. Lewandowski
Backcountry Roads
March 14, 2023 Update:
Deep snow drifts from an early March 2023 snow may cover some backcountry routes.
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Many unimproved and backcountry roads in the preserve require high clearance of 8" or more and 4-wheel drive.
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Road conditions can change quickly. Check with a ranger for vehicle requirements and conditions on the specific roads you plan to travel before you leave the pavement.
- Cell phone service is unreliable or nonexistent in most of Mojave National Preserve.
Road | Clearance | Description |
---|---|---|
Aiken Mine (Lava Tube Access) | 2WD High Clearance Required | NEW! Beginning March 16, the 2WD high clearnance route from Kelbaker Road and Aiken Mine Road will be OPEN |
Black Canyon | CLOSED between Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid Hills areas. | No access between Mid Hills Campgound area and Hole-in-the-Wall Campground area. Use Interstate-40 and Essex road as alternate route. Wildhorse Canyon Road available for heavy duty high clearance 4WD vehicles as an alternative route. |
Brannigan Mine | 4WD High Clearance | deep washouts, may be impassible to even expereinced 4WD vehicle operators. |
Castle Mountains | 4WD High Clearance | Very rough roads. |
Cedar Canyon | 2WD | Recent aggregate and grading operations have made this a very passable road. Use caution after any rains, beware of washouts. |
Clark Mountains | 4WD High Clearance | All roads need 4WD and high clearance. |
Colosseum Mine | 4WD High Clearance | Beyond BLM boundary. Steep grades, impassable in sections. |
Deer Springs | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy with deep washouts. |
Fort Piute | 4WD High Clearance | Very rocky; no street tires. The rocks are sharp and pointy, likely to puncture a tire. |
Globe Mine | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy in spots. |
Green Wells Cutoff | 4WD High Clearance | Rocky with washouts. |
Hidden Hills | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy with washouts. |
Ivanpah | 4WD High Clearance | Extensive debris and missing roadbed / washouts |
Kelso Dunes | 2WD / 4WD High Clearance | Rough with lots of pot holes. 2WD accessible to the main trailhead and dispersed camping area. 4WD high clearance required west of camping area and along powerline road. |
Lanfair | 4WD High Clearance | Potholes in pavement section. Sandy in the washes, but with no flooding a two-wheel drive could make it to the junction with Ivanpah. Use caution. |
Macedonia Canyon | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy and rocky. Many vehicles (even Jeeps with external gear) will not be able to fit under train tressle towards Kelso-Cima Road to access this drive. Access to eastern end of road impacted by closure of Wildhorse Canyon Road. |
Mojave Road | Accessing Mojave Road via Kelbaker OPEN Closed at Paiute Gorge (detour available) OPEN in other areas |
Soda Lake crossing OPEN as of 4/30/2023 Washout on east side of Paiute Range (35.0905677, -115.0028316) makes road impassable to all vehicles. Check map for available detour route (access points found at 35.107054, -115.052624 and 35.039974, -114.978447). 4WD with heavy duty tires, 4L low range transfer case, and high clearance required for safe travel in other areas of the road. |
New York Mountains | 4WD High Clearance | West of Carruthers Canyon, sandy and rocky with washouts. |
Valley View | 2WD / 4WD High Clearance | 2WD until you reach the ranch. Afterwards its 4WD and high clearance beyond the ranch. |
Vulcan Mine | 4WD High Clearance | Very rough on east side. |
Walking Box Ranch (Castle Mountains NM) | 2WD / 4WD High Clearance | 2WD accessible, but any roads off Walking Box Ranch Road are 4WD high clearance only. |
Wildhorse Canyon | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy, rocky, and uneven breaks in some sections. |
Wood Wash | 4WD High Clearance | Sandy with washouts. |

NPS
Mojave Road Closed Across Soda Lake
Mojave Road is closed across Soda Lake due to wet and mudding conditions. Please use the attached detour route. Violators could be stranded and incur significant recovery and wilderness restoration costs for driving on the lake bed in muddy conditions.
The long and winding road takes constant maintenance.


Left image
A road near Hole In the Wall Visitor Center
Credit: NPS/J. Petruncio
Right image
The same road after maintenance
Credit: NPS/J. Petruncio

It's hot and sunny out there. Safe travel through rugged desert terrain requires more than a driver's skill.

Food and lodging near Mojave National Preserve
Last updated: May 30, 2023