21 Best Sights in The Mojave Desert, California

This museum got its start as a private collection of Native American antiquities gathered in the 1920s by artist and amateur naturalist Howard Arden Edwards. Today, his Swiss chalet–style home is a state museum known for one-of-a-kind artifacts from California, Southwest, and Great Basin native cultures, including tools, artwork, basketry, and rugs. The eclectic works are predominately focused on the people of Antelope Valley. A ¼-mile walking trail loops a portion of the property. To get here, exit north off Highway 138 at 165th Street East and follow the signs, or take the Avenue K exit off Highway 14.

This former silver-mining boomtown was founded in 1881, and, within a few years, it had 500 mines and 22 saloons. Its reconstruction in 1951 by Walter Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm makes it more about G-rated family entertainment than the town’s gritty past, but that doesn’t detract from the fun of panning for (fool’s) gold, touring the original tunnels of Maggie Mine, or taking a leisurely ride on the Calico Odessa Railroad. Of the 33 structures, five are original buildings, such as the impressive Lane’s General Store. The town's setting among the stark beauty of the Calico Hills can make a stroll along its once-bustling Main Street downright peaceful. Camping, cabins, and a bunkhouse are all available for overnight stays. 

Because of its colorful, steep walls, Afton Canyon is often called the Grand Canyon of the Mojave. It was carved over thousands of years by the rushing waters of the Mojave River, which makes one of its few aboveground appearances here. The dirt road that leads to the canyon is ungraded in spots, so it is best to explore it in an all-terrain vehicle. There are 22 primitive campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The California poppy, the state flower, can be spotted throughout the state, but this quiet park holds the densest concentration. Eight miles of trails wind through 1,745 acres of hills carpeted with poppies and other wildflowers, including a paved section that allows wheelchair access. Keep in mind that poppy flowers will curl up their petals if it's too windy or cold, so plan accordingly. Heed the rules and stay on the official trails when taking photos.  Blooming season is usually March through May. On a clear day at any time of year, though, you'll be treated to sweeping valley views. Visit the website to watch the poppy cam, or call the wildflower hotline for the current bloom status.

This historic train depot was built around 1911 (the first 1885 structure was destroyed by fire) and was one of the original Harvey Houses, providing dining and lodging for rail passengers. Waitresses at the depots were popularized in movies such as The Harvey Girls with Judy Garland. It now houses offices and three museums: the Western American Railroad, Route 66 Mother Road, and the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Visitor Center, but you can still walk along the porticos of the impressive Spanish Renaissance Classical building, or stroll into the restored lobby to see the original staircase, terrazzo floor, and copper chandeliers.

Since the Naval Air Warfare Station is now closed to the public, this museum—opened in 2018—gives an alternative glimpse into the history, technology, and weaponry at China Lake. More than 20 exhibits display missiles, aircraft, rockets, and other full-spectrum weapons. There is no charge to visit the gift shop and exterior fighter jets.

It's not easy to spot the elusive desert tortoise in this protected 40-square-mile habitat, but the area often blazes with wildflowers in the spring and early summer. It's also a great place to view desert kit fox, red-tailed hawks, cactus wrens, and Mojave rattlesnakes. Walking paths and a small interpretive center are part of the experience, and a naturalist is on hand March to June to provide information on the area's flowers and wildlife.

A mile from the San Andreas Fault, this natural bowl-shape depression in the earth is framed by 300-foot rock walls. At the bottom is a stream, which you can reach via a moderately strenuous 1-mile hike. You also can detour on a short nature trail; at the top, an interpretive center has displays of native flora and fauna, including live animals such as snakes, lizards, and birds of prey.

Don’t be fooled by the name. The Owl Café off Highway 395 just south of Randsburg contains a mining museum in a building that once served as a speakeasy saloon and brothel. The original 1930s bar remains, and there’s plenty of memorabilia to keep you entertained, including prospecting supplies, old photographs, and newspaper clippings from the Prohibition era. Mining tours and gold-prospecting charters are offered by advance reservation.

After driving through the hot desert, you'll surely appreciate a cold one at Indian Wells Brewing Company, where master brewer Rick Lovett lovingly crafts his Lobotomy Bock, Amnesia I.P.A., and Lunatic Lemonade, among others. If you have the kids along, grab a six-pack of his specialty root beer and soda pop available in more than 100 flavors.

More than two dozen hand-painted murals in downtown Barstow depict the town's history, from prehistoric times and early explorers to pioneer caravans, mining eras, and Route 66. Self-guided walking tour maps are available at the Barstow Chamber of Commerce or on the Main Street Mural website. 

The museum contains interesting exhibits that survey the Upper Mojave Desert area's art, history, archaeology, and geology. It also sponsors art exhibits and cultural programs, and it contains an information center for Death Valley.

This 840-acre park is one of the few spots where the Mojave River flows aboveground, and the result is open pastures, wetlands, and two lakes surrounded by cottonwoods and cattails. Amenities include camping, fishing, equestrian/walking trails, and a large playground with splash zone (runs 8–3:30). The two lakes are stocked with catfish (May–September) and trout (November–April). A California state fishing license is required to fish.

Considered "Barstow's attic," this museum has a floor-to-ceiling collection that highlights local history, both quirky and conventional. Items on display include Ice Age fossils such as a giant mammoth tusk dug up in 2006, Native American artifacts, 19th-century handmade quilts, and exhibits on early settlers. Entrance is free, and there’s a little gift shop with a nice collection of more than 500 books about the area.  The story about Possum Trot and its population of folk-art dolls is not to be missed.

Many science-fiction movies set on Mars have been filmed in this area 8 miles north of Barstow. Huge slabs of red, orange, white, and green stone tilt at crazy angles like ships about to capsize, and traces of ancient beasts such as mastodons and bear-dogs, which roamed the basin up to 16 million years ago, have been discovered in its fossil beds. The dirt road around the basin is narrow and bumpy so vehicles with higher clearance are recommended. Rain can quickly turn the road to mud so, at times, only four-wheel-drive vehicles are permitted. Owl Canyon has 22 primitive campsites.

The colorful history of the Rand Mining District during its heyday of 1896 is celebrated in this small museum, with displays that include historical mining photographs, documents, and artifacts. Since the museum is only open weekends (11 am–2 pm) based on volunteer availability, it's best to email ahead regarding a visit. (The phone line is seldom answered.) 

A geological feast for the eyes with its layers of pink, white, red, and brown rock, this remote canyon is also a region of fascinating biological diversity—the ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada, the Mojave Desert, and the Basin Range all converge here. Native American known as the Kawaiisu lived here some 20,000 years ago. Later, Mojave Indians roamed the land for centuries.

From 1863 to 1893, the gold rush lured miners, eventually leading to an infrastructure comprised of a stagecoach station, the Ricardo settlement, and the Red Rock Railroad. You can still see remains of gold and ash mining operations in the park, and more than 150 movies such as Silverado and Jurassic Park have been shot here. For a quiet nature trail a little off the beaten path try the 0.75-mile loop at Red Cliffs Natural Preserve about about ⅓ of a mile off Highway 14, across from the entrance to the Ricardo Campground.

Check out a bit of surviving Americana at this dusty drive-in, where you can watch the latest Hollywood flicks among the Joshua trees and starry night sky. Keep in mind the old-time speakers are no more; sound is tuned in via car radio.

Fantastic-looking formations of calcium carbonate, known as tufa, were formed underwater along fault lines in the bed of what is now Searles Dry Lake. Some of the more than 500 spires stand as tall as 140 feet, creating a landscape so surreal that it doubled for outer-space terrain in the film Star Trek V. The Pinnacles also served as the backdrop in Planet of the Apes, Battlestar Galactica, and music videos by Rihanna and Lady Gaga. An easy-to-walk ½-mile trail allows you to see the tufa up close, but wear sturdy shoes—tufa cuts like coral. It's located 45 minutes east of Ridgecrest, and the best road to the area can be impassable after a rainstorm.

You can almost hear the murmur of passengers and rhythmic, metal-on-metal clatter as you stroll past the old cabooses, railcars, and engines, such as Sante Fe Number 95, that are on display outside the historic Barstow station housing this museum. Inside, the memorabilia includes a train simulator, rail equipment, a model railroad, items from the depot’s Harvey House days, and period dining-car china from railways around the country.