February 12, 2023 marks the seventh anniversary of Mojave Trails National Monument. Established by Presidential Proclamation in 2016, the Monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to protect its rare ecology, extraordinary geology and ineffable beauty. Mojave Trails spans 1.6 million acres and contains 350,000 acres of designated wilderness within the Mojave Desert.

While the expansive Monument is a place for solitude and reflection away from the noise of neighboring Los Angeles and Las Vegas, if you look closely you will see a dense community of life, from past and present.

Mojave Trails is named for the network of routes used by indigenous tribes for thousands of years and by early Spanish explorers in the 1830s. It also boasts the longest remaining stretch of Route 66 where Americans between 1926-1985 traveled in search of a better life. Five of the twelve Desert Training Center camps, or Patton camps, also reside within the Monument’s borders. Over one million soldiers prepared for the North African conflict during WWII in the harsh desert conditions.

Many relics from these locations and events remain. Please do your part in not moving or tampering with items of cultural and historical significance such as rocks, petroglyphs or anything resembling military equipment.

Rare species of animals and plants call the Mojave Desert home. Desert fauna includes birds like the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and the Burrowing owl, reptiles like the Chuckwalla lizard and even fish; the Bonytail chub resides in sparse desert riparian habitat. The Monument contains the northernmost assemblage of smoke trees within the California desert and the densest concentration of Bigelow Cholla cactus in the state. Ongoing research within Mojave Trails continues to reveal plant species not yet discovered by science.

Celebrate the anniversary of Mojave Trails by exploring the many recreation opportunities this national treasure has to offer. Drive on designated OHV routes, hike trails less traveled and visit historical sites. Please honor these fragile desert communities by recreating responsibly!

The City of 29 Palms is proud to be a official gateway community to Mojave Trails National Monument and Route 66, and hope you’ll make time this winter and spring season to get out there and explore this beautiful part of California’s Mojave Desert region! From Amboy Crater to the Cadiz Dunes Wilderness, and the Desert Training Center, incredible adventures await.

Learn more about visiting Mojave Trails National Monument and start planning your next trip to 29 Palms!