RVing in California’s outback got even better thanks to the three newest desert monuments officially declared by President Obama:
Mojave Trails National Monument
Sand to Snow National Monument
Castle Mountains National Monument
National monuments are specially-designated areas within federal lands that feature scientific, cultural, natural and historic areas found nowhere else in the country. Designating a national monument will prevent development on the area but still allow for recreation and ranching use to continue. Here’s why each one of these new California desert monuments is a national treasure, and what you need to know about visiting:
Mojave Trails National Monument
Smithsonian Magazine has already recognized as one of the “15 Must-See Endangered Cultural Treasures.” That’s because located along the longest undeveloped stretch of Route 66, Mojave Trails National Monument is the wild and pristine area that connects Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve. According to the Campaign for the California Desert, within the 400,000 acres of the monument you’ll find significant landmarks such as:
- The scenic lava flows of Amboy Crater—North America’s youngest volcano and a National Natural Landmark;
- The 550 million-year-old trilobite fossil beds of the Marble Mountains;
- Sleeping Beauty Valley—the last intact valley representing the West Mojave plant ecosystem; and
- The Cady Mountains—one of the best areas in the Mojave to see bighorn sheep.
Camping and off-road highway vehicle use will still be allowed but first the BLM must prepare a transportation plan to designate roads and trails for motorized or mechanized vehicle use. For more information see the BLM’s Mojave Trails web page.
Sand to Snow National Monument
At just 150,000 acres, one reason why Sand to Snow National Monument attained this special designation because it’s home to more than 240 species of birds and 12 threatened and endangered wildlife species. This four-season desert and alpine destination is also where you’ll find the areas tallest mountain, 1,700 Native American petroglyphs and 30 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Designating it as a monument will protect the area between the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Joshua Tree National Park and Bighorn Mountain Wilderness located East of Los Angeles. You’ll still be able to camp, hunt and fish according to BLM and State of California regulations.
Castle Mountains National Monument
As the smallest of our newest national monuments consisting of less than 21,000 acres, the Castle Mountains National Monument straddles two states in San Bernardino County, California and Clark County, Nevada. Protected on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve, Castle Mountains National Monument is the only of of the three newly designated monuments that will be managed by the National Park Service. According to advocates, the Castle Mountains’ fragile wildlife you may encounter includes:
Desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, golden eagles, Swainson’s hawks, desert tortoise, gila monsters, prairie falcons, Bendire’s thrashers, grey vireo, Townsend big-eared bats and California leaf-nosed bats.
Although this newly federally designated wilderness is now off-limits to vehicles in many areas, according to the park service there are two National Park Service Campgrounds, as well as other camping options nearby. Roadside dispersed camping and backpacking are also permitted.
Often called “The O.G. of full-time RVing,” Rene Agredano and her husband Jim Nelson hit the road in a fifth wheel trailer in 2007, after their dog Jerry lost a leg to terminal cancer. Sixteen years later they are still traveling and sharing their nomadic adventures at LiveWorkDream. As a self-employed wordsmith, Rene shares her expertise for many RV industry videos, publications such as the Escapees RV Club Magazine, and has authored numerous books, including the Essential RVing Guide to National Parks, and Income Anywhere, a guide to earning money on the road. She has been featured in global media outlets including the PBS documentary “NATURE: Why We Love Cats and Dogs,” The Guardian Sunday Edition, and the Dan Pink book Free Agent Nation.
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