Black Canyon Equestrian Campground

Spanning 1.6 million acres, the Mojave National Preserve is one of the largest national preserves in the country. It is known for a unique landscape of volcanic lava flows, giant sand dunes, limestone caverns, slot canyons, and vast open desert. In the heart of the preserve is the Black Canyon Equestrian Campground. This little used site is a great basecamp to explore the Mojave National Preserve on horseback.

Despite being located between Las Vegas and Los Angeles and between two major interstates, the Mojave National Preserve is not heavily visited. Its next door neighbor, Joshua Tree National Park, steals most of the spotlight for tourism. And, the preserve is also chronically underfunded making it a little rough and rugged. Signage is old, most roads are dirt, facilities are minimal, and designated trails are few. While that deters some people, it makes for a fun destination for equestrians looking for adventure.

Campground

The Black Canyon Equestrian Campground is located in the middle of the preserve near the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center and Campground. But, it is tucked away near the mountain about a half mile away so it is very private and quiet. The campground has a large parking area that can accommodate plenty of rigs, six nice sized and well-built horse stalls, several water spigots, and troughs. There is a manure dump area, garbage cans, vault toilets, and a picnic area with tables, a fire pit, and BBQ grills.

The campground is very nice – it’s clean, well maintained, and is a good spot from which to explore the surrounding area. It is open year-round and while reservations are required, it does not get a lot of use. Probably because it is technically a group site. That means you can not reserve individual stalls. It costs $50 per night for the entire campground. That price may be prohibitive for a solo traveler, but a small group can split the cost and have the whole thing to themselves.

Trails

The must-do ride is the Barber Peak Loop Trail, which is across the street from the horse camp, at the area known as Hole-in-the-Wall. This six-mile single-track trail circles the mountain and offers interesting views the whole way. First, the trail leads past a petroglyph panel of geometric designs. Then it leads around to the mouth of the striking Banshee Canyon. You can’t ride into the slot canyons, but you can still get a good look at the unique “swiss cheese” holes that dot the walls.

The trail winds around the cliffs, then climbs a narrow gap between the mountains before dropping into a sandy wash. You’ll ride past the Opalite Cliffs – light colored with a black lava cap. From there the trail meanders through the desert before heading back toward the Hole-in-the-Wall campground and visitors center. There is one section between the campground and the visitors center that is not accessible to horses. See map below.

The Barber Loop Trail is really nice, but obviously not used by equestrians often. It is very overgrown with large cholla bushes. There are places where the trail is not wide enough at all to ride through so you’ll need to carefully navigate the cactus minefield. There is also a technical spot in the gap that require thoughtful hoof placement over boulders (step ups and step downs). The trail could use some work to make it a bit more accessible and safe for horses. Until then, just be sure to carry a Leatherman tool to help pull any rogue cholla and watch where you’re going.

There are a few other trails that cross the desert, including the Mid Hills Trail which connects to the Barber Peak Loop. You can also ride out of camp to the north along the Black Canyon Wash.

Riding Tips

A standout feature of this part of the Mojave Desert is that almost everything that grows here is sharp. Yucca, barrel cactus, pencil cholla, agave, pancake prickly pear, catclaw, teddy bear cholla, fishhook cactus, and so on. You have to be careful riding cross-country here. Even a slight brush against a cactus will send barbs into your shoes, your pants, or your horse. Think carefully about bringing dogs as well.

Interspersed with the painful plants, you’ll also see creosote, juniper and mesquite trees, grasses, and wildflowers seasonally. It can be pretty rocky outside the washes so boots or shoes are recommended. There is no water on the trails, but you may find a stock tank from a rancher. Keep an eye open for cattle, coyotes, desert tortoises, and the odd wild burro. Temperatures in the preserve can soar in the summer so fall, winter, and spring are the best times to ride here.

Other Things to Do

While you are in the area, it is worth it make a few non-horse related detours. South of the campground is Mitchell Caverns, an extensive limestone cave system hidden in the Providence Mountains. The remote site is managed by California State Parks, who offer a really wonderful tour through two of the caves. There are also some short hikes from the visitors center at the caverns with nice views of the vast valley floor.

It’s also worth a side trip to the non-rideable Rings Trail out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center. This short but strenuous hike goes through a narrow Banshee Canyon slots. There’s rock scrambling and a few very steep sections with rings drilled into the rock that you have to use to climb down and back up. It’s a bit of a workout, but it’s worth it.