California Desert Hikes

Sunday, January 17: Youth in the Desert Rodman Mountains Petroglyph Day Hike

We will explore the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in the Rodman Mountain Wilderness with the BLM Barstow Office Archaeologist, Jim Shearer. This ACEC was established to protect sensitive, ancient cultural sites which include petroglyphs and intaglios. This moderate hike will be about 5 miles round trip with an optional climb to the top of a nearby hill to get a lovely view of the Cady Mountains proposed wilderness and surrounding desert. Wear good hiking shoes/boots and layered clothing. Bring plenty of water, snacks, lunch, and a hat—and don't forget your binoculars and camera. The drive is about 90 minutes and requires high clearance. Early registration and carpooling is highly recommended. Participation is limited and preference will be given for adults bringing youth. This hike is being coordinated with the Mojave Sierra Club. For more information, contact Jenny Wilder at JensOasis (at) aol.com

Saturday, January 31:  Deep Creek Day Hike

We will hike 6 miles along a section of the Pacific Crest Trail that flanks Deep Creek. This stunning tributary of the Mojave River has miles and miles of deep pools and cascading waterfalls. The creek is flanked by a chaparral ecosystem and beautiful rocky hills. The stream was a major entry point to the San Bernardino Mountains for the Vanyume Serrano Indians, who once traversed from the Mojave Desert to the Mountains each summer to collect acorns. Deep Creek is home to the endangered Southwestern Arroyo Toad and supports the greatest diversity of wildlife habitats of any drainage on the San Bernardino National Forest. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy hiking boots or shoes, and bring 2 liters of water per person, snacks, and lunch. All ages are welcome. We will carpool from the meeting spot. *Meet at 9AM in Hesperia at Starbucks Coffee at *16922 Main St (between C Avenue and E Avenue).

Saturday, February 14th: Palo Verde Mountains Day Hike

Join us for a relatively flat, desert hike along the edges of the Palo Verde Mountains, a range of jagged desert peaks near the Colorado River.

From a distance, these mountains look like melting chocolate ice cream, but up close they are rugged and steep. Desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, wild burros, coyote, dove, quail, mountain lions, and diamondback rattlers all make their homes among these mountains and the sandy washes in between peaks. Large Palo Verde trees, mesquite, ironwood, and even saguaro cactus, a species rarely seen in the wild in California, can be found. Our hike will take us across an expanse of "desert pavement," a natural phenomenon that occurs when wind and rain have scoured the land clean except for gravelly looking rocks perfectly placed as though a human created an expanse of pavement. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, hat, and bring 2 liters of water per person, as well as snacks and a lunch. *All ages are welcome. *Meet at 9AM at the junction of Highway 78 and Walter’s Camp Road, approximately 30 miles North of Glamis, California*. *

Sunday, February 15: Youth in the Desert

Afton Canyon and Cady Mountains

Join us for a cross country hike through a rugged landscape and winding slot canyons just north of Barstow. Our hike will take us through lands that were utilized by Native Americans as a water source and that were traveled by Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson in the early 1800s. We'll start in Afton Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of California, with the beautiful red, gold, brown and purple striped walls. This area is one of the few places where the Mojave River flows above ground, and the surface water attracts a variety of wildlife. We will hike roughly 4 miles along the river wash, keeping a look out for bighorn sheep and learning about local vegetation. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, and bring 2 liters of water, snacks and lunch.
Don't forget your camera. Early registration and carpooling is highly recommended. Participation is limited and preference will be given to adults bringing youth. This hike is being coordinated with the Mojave Sierra Club. For more information, contact Laurel at lwilliams (AT) calwild.org. The hike leader will be Carol Wiley.