Mojave National Preserve: A Visitor's Guide - Paperback

by Cheri Rae (Author), John McKinney (Author)

"A lively and detailed description of attractions, habitats, and issues."
-Sunset Magazine

Long before most travelers had heard of Mojave National Preserve, John McKinney and Cheri Rae were exploring its hidden canyons, singing sand dunes, volcanic landscapes, forgotten mining camps, and lonely stretches of old Route 66. Their work helped introduce the East Mojave to a wider public and build appreciation for the remarkable desert that would become Mojave National Preserve.

Updated over the years, Mojave National Preserve: A Visitor's Guide is the definitive companion to this extraordinary national parkland-1.6 million acres of towering sand dunes, Joshua tree forests, rugged mountain ranges, lava fields, limestone caverns, historic railroads, and remarkable desert solitude. It's a land of extraordinary diversity, easy to enjoy on a first visit and rewarding to explore for a lifetime.

Whether you're planning a scenic drive, a weekend camping trip, or several days of hiking and discovery, this comprehensive guide helps you experience the Preserve with confidence.
Inside you'll discover:

• Scenic driving tours and carefully selected hikes
• Hole-in-the-Wall, Kelso Dunes, Mitchell Caverns, the Lava Beds, the Mojave River, and dozens of other natural wonders
• Historic Route 66, Kelso Depot, Goffs, Nipton, Fort Piute, Zzyzx, and fascinating stories from the desert's past
• Nature notes that bring the Preserve's plants, wildlife, geology, and history to life
• Directions and practical travel advice for memorable adventures

Unlike many Western parks, Mojave National Preserve remains wonderfully uncrowded. Here you'll discover every landscape people imagine when they think of the American desert-and several they don't. Explore it one canyon, one back road, and one unforgettable sunset at a time.

From The Trailmaster's California National Parklands Series:

• Hike Mojave National Preserve: Best Day Hikes
• Hike Death Valley: Best Day Hikes in Death Valley National Park
• Hike Joshua Tree: Best Day Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

Author Biography

John McKinney is the author of 30 books about hiking, parklands and nature and loves to share the natural treasures of his native state of California. "HIKE Southern California, A Day Hiker's Guide," "HIKE Griffith Park & the Hollywood Hills," and "HIKE Santa Barbara" are among his Southern California guides. John's other guides include "HIKE San Francisco," "HIKE Point Reyes" and "HIKE Yosemite" For 18 years, McKinney, a.k.a. The Trailmaster, wrote a weekly hiking column for the Los Angeles Times and now writes articles and commentaries about nature and outdoor recreation for both print and online publications. A passionate advocate for the environment and our need to reconnect to nature, McKinney also shares his expertise on radio, TV, in the blogosphere and at www.TheTrailmaster.com. Along with co-author Cheri Rae, John McKinney has long been a staunch advocate for desert protection. Beginning in the 1980s, he worked with conservation groups to produce maps and other publications that highlighted the environmental threats facing the eastern Mojave, as well as the opportunities to preseve these scenic gems in parklands and wilderness areas. Cheri Rae and John McKinney worked to establish Mojave National Preserve and place it under National Park Service stewardship. In recognition of John McKinney's writings about the desert, the Sierra Club presented him its Media Conservation Award. John is also the author of A Walk Along Land's End: Dispatches from the Edge of California on a 1,600-mile hike from Mexico to Oregon; plus many more books about hiking, nature, and outdoors recreation for both adults and children.