At OC Designworks, our mission has always been to capture the spirit of the California lifestyle—what we call Surf. Summit. Soul.™ While we love the salt air of the coast, our creative compass often points us eastward, deep into the high desert where the cell service ends and the real adventure begins.
Following our journey through Old Dale Road, the next stop in our Hidden Places Revealed series takes us to a legendary trail that is as much a passage through time as it is a test of your 4WD: The Mojave Road.
Traversing the Mojave Road: 3 Days, 2 Nights, 140 Miles
The Mojave Road isn't just a trail; it’s an expedition. Stretching roughly 140 miles from the Colorado River to the Mojave River near Barstow, this historic wagon route requires a commitment—usually 3 days and 2 nights of self-reliant backcountry travel.
- Day 1: Into the Wild. Starting near Needles, you climb from the river valley into the Lanfair Valley. You’ll pass through the ruins of Fort Piute, an 1860s military outpost, and navigate through some of the densest Joshua Tree forests in the world.
- Day 2: The Heart of the Preserve. This is the day of iconic landmarks. You’ll traverse the Cinder Cones, navigate the deep sands near Marl Springs, and reach the expansive, eerie white expanse of the Soda Lake dry bed.
- Day 3: The Crossing & The Canyon. After crossing the lakebed, the trail leads through the spectacular high walls of Afton Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Mojave, where you’ll likely face a water crossing before finally emerging back into civilization.
The Inspiration: The Mojave Mailbox
As you navigate the stretch between the Kelso Cima Road and Soda Lake, you’ll encounter one of the most iconic stops in the desert: The Mojave Mailbox.
This isn't your average neighborhood postbox. Placed here in 1983, it serves as the ultimate sign-in sheet for desert travelers. But the magic doesn't stop at the mailbox itself. Surrounding this lonely sentinel are several whimsical monuments created by fellow travelers—gardens of garden gnomes, plastic frogs, and a collection of other curiosities that have survived the harsh desert sun. It’s a surreal, folk-art oasis in the middle of the wilderness that reminds us that even in the most rugged environments, there is room for a little humor and community.
This spirit of connection and exploration inspired our featured piece: The Mojave Mailbox Tee. It’s a tribute to that remote check-in point and the silent pact made between adventurers and the desert itself. Whether you've signed the logbook or are just dreaming of the horizon, this shirt carries the weight of the journey.
A Relic Relocated: The Mojave Road School Bus
For decades, one of the most surreal sights at Mile 37 was the Mojave Road School Bus. This yellow relic sat bullet-riddled and abandoned in the middle of the desert, serving as a silent milestone for every traveler.
However, time and the elements eventually led to its relocation. In late 2017, the bus was moved to preserve it and protect the land. Today, you can visit it at the Goffs Cultural Center, where it has been retired as a piece of desert history. Even though it's no longer on the trail, the legend of The School Bus remains a core part of the Mojave Road experience.
Gear up for the journey: We’ve immortalized this desert legend with our Mojave Road School Bus Shirt. It’s the perfect way to carry a piece of that "lost in the desert" history with you, long after the dust has settled on your rig.
Mojave Shirts for Every Kind of Explorer
The Mojave is a place of extremes, and we’ve created a collection to match. We offer unique Mojave shirts for explorers of all kinds. Whether you’re a photographer chasing the light at the Kelso Dunes, a hiker scrambling through the Hole-in-the-Wall Rings Trail, or an overlander navigating the Lava Tubes, our designs reflect the grit and beauty of the Mojave National Preserve.
More to Discover in the Mojave
While the Road is the main event, the Mojave National Preserve is full of hidden spots worth a detour:
- Kelso Depot: A beautifully restored 1924 train station that serves as a desert oasis for history buffs.
- Teutonia Peak: A hike that offers panoramic views of the Cima Dome, a geological wonder covered in ancient Joshua Trees.
- Travelers Monument: Located out on the Soda Lake dry bed, where tradition dictates you carry a stone across the lake to add to the mound.
From the Backcountry to Your Wardrobe
At OC Designworks, we aren’t just making apparel; we’re documenting a lifestyle. We will continue to sprinkle the places that we love and have visited into our designs. Keep an eye out for future Hidden Places Revealed posts as we share more stories from the coast, around town, and deep in the backcountry wilderness.
We enjoy sharing the places that we love with others and hope that you discover and love them too.
Ready to start your own crossing? [Shop the Desert Collection] | [Explore our Off-Road Collection]
Designed in SoCal. From the Tides to the Trails.