Castle Mountains Grasslands Trail

Solitude, beautiful desert scenery, and history – what more could you want on a trail ride? The Castle Mountains Grasslands Trail is located in a remote edge of the state, smack-dab in the middle of Nevada’s Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and California’s Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument. This is a backcountry trail, but access is easy and the riding is worth the drive.

The Castle Mountains Grasslands Trail is a designated five-mile loop trail. It follows a dirt road through rare Mojave Desert grasslands. This unique landscape features 28 species of native grasses, dense groves of ancient Joshua trees, yuccas, and cholla cactus. In the spring, this area is surprisingly lush and green, but it is beautiful year-round.

To be honest, signage is poor along the designated trail and there any many old roads to add to the confusion. Let the Castle Mountains Grasslands trailhead be your starting point, but this is really a choose your own adventure type of place. Pick a direction and ride! There are enough trails and roads to spend several days exploring the vast region.

The dirt roads wind and weave along both sides of the state line. (Keep an eye open for the low-tech border signs.) Along with the beautiful Mojave scenery, there is a lot of history to find. You can see the remains of a few early 20th century ghost owns, old mines, ranches, and even the short-line Barnwell & Searchlight Railway. Because this spot is so remote, you will almost always have it all to yourself, but keep an eye open for bighorn sheep or the elusive Gila monster.

There are some springs in the hills, but don’t count on water. The trails vary from rocky to sandy. There is nothing technical here. Elevation gain is minimal unless you head up into the mountains. Ride here in the spring, winter, or fall but avoid summer.

Getting Here

Where to Park: About seven miles past Walking Box Ranch is a large corral on the right side of the road. Many rigs can fit in here and it would be a good spot to camp as well. There are no facilities or water. The designated trail starts across the street.