California
Mojave Road
About this off-road route
The Mojave Road follows a Native American trade route that became a wagon road and a military supply line, and it is still essentially a two-track across the desert. It is driven east to west by convention, starting near the Colorado River and finishing at Afton Canyon, which is the direction the historic mile-by-mile guide is written in. There is no pavement and no services for the length of it. Deep sand, dry lakebeds and rock steps come in rotation, and the route crosses Mojave National Preserve for most of its middle.
The historic desert crossing, traditionally driven east to west from Fort Piute through Marl Springs to Afton Canyon.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- One of the last long historic desert crossings still drivable end to end
- Fort Piute, Marl Springs and the Mojave Mailbox are all on the line
- Soda Dry Lake and Afton Canyon at the western end
- Two full days of desert with essentially no traffic
Stops
- 1
Fort Piute
The eastern end, at the ruins of the 1860s army outpost.
- 2
Marl Springs
A historic watering point in the middle of the preserve.
- 3
Afton Canyon
The western end, where the road drops into the Mojave River canyon.
When to go
Best time to go
October through April. Summer heat in the Mojave is genuinely dangerous for a vehicle-dependent route.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 6h 7m
Before you go
Know before you go
- Carry far more water and fuel than you expect to use. There are no services between the ends.
- Airing down for the sand sections is standard. Bring a compressor and full recovery gear.
- Afton Canyon involves water crossings whose depth changes with weather. Walk them before driving.
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