Golden Jackrabbit Loop

The route begins in Wonder Valley at a low-key designated camp spot on BLM public land, adjacent to The Palms Restaurant and entertainment venue. The riding begins on fairly flat, moderately sandy terrain past a number of site-specific art installations and passes by Jackrabbit Homesteads (recreational cabins) built in the 1950’s as a product of the Small Tract Act of 1938. Many of these cabins are in very bad shape, waiting to be reclaimed, and others are in the process of becoming restored or already have been. Some of them are active short-term rentals, and there are a few with geothermal hot springs on site.

The route then leaves Wonder Valley and begins climbing into the mountainous Dale Mines area where the terrain will at first become quite sandy, and then rocky. You will climb through a number of valleys painted in naturally contrasting colors of deep chocolate brown rock, and tan sand. The route threads a few canyons and visits gold mines dating back to the 1880’s, including a well-preserved miners’ cabin with a visitors’ logbook and abandoned cars from the 1930’s & 1940’s. This area is rich in artifacts and encourages riders to take their time and explore off the bike as much as time will allow.

From here the route spills out into the vast Pinto Basin and into Joshua Tree National Park. Riding in this portion of the route is fast and miles tick away quickly. The basin offers sublime solitude and breathtaking sunrise, and sunset views set against a rugged mountain backdrop.

Leaving Joshua Tree National Park, the route climbs again into Dale Mines area, this time taking a westerly route to the north. The terrain is at first steep but then yields to faster-rolling desert double track, visiting a few more mines, each unique in their own way, with ample camping opportunities in the final leg near Humbug Mountain before returning to Wonder Valley in the Northwest corner of the loop.

Lastly, the route takes a paved stretch which will likely be welcome for most riders ready for faster, smoother riding. The fast-moving Hwy 62 can be dangerous, as vehicles are known to drive very fast in this area and can be especially dangerous at night. Highlights on this paved section include quirky roadside attractions and art galleries, before arriving in the town of Twentynine Palms, which is a cultural mashup of a Marine Corps town and a post-pandemic tourist hotspot. Picture pawn shops and microbreweries.

The final leg of the route is a fairly short and fast ride through the westernmost end of the Jackrabbit Homesteads area of Wonder Valley before returning to your start location at The Palms.

• Paved: 20%
• Smooth Gravel: 20%
• Rough Gravel: 30%
• 4×4 Road: 30%
• Singletrack: 0%

• A mountain bike is highly recommended due to the rugged terrain, though experienced riders may opt for a gravel bike with a tire size of 2.2″ or larger. The route takes you through remote desert landscapes, so be prepared for limited services and very limited cellular reception. The only services along the way are in the town of 29 Palms, located about 18 miles from the end of the route. Be sure to bring all the water you’ll need, as there are no natural water sources available.
• The best time to ride is from fall to spring when the weather is more manageable, avoiding the intense summer heat.
• Park a vehicle on the BLM land right next to The Palms of Wonder Valley. (start location for the route)
• This loop can be tough to accomplish in a single weekend. If you are concerned about getting it done you can consider truncating the route by starting & ending near Gold Crown road.
• Camping opportunities are plentiful throughout the route, with many suitable spots near gold mines and other desert locations. The camping options are nearly endless and most offer very good stargazing opportunities. Just be prepared for the isolation and plan your supplies accordingly.
• Riders entering the various abandoned Jackrabbit Homesteads should be sure to exercise caution for hazardous conditions such as rusty nails, etc, and give ample respect to locals and homeowners living the area.

• Check out Brendan’s website (socalbikepacking.com) for more information including a downloadable detailed PDF cue sheet for the route.
• Despite this loop traveling through dense mining country and Wonder Valley, the Jackrabbit Homesteads have nothing to do with the mining operations. The cabins were mostly built in the 1950’s by Los Angelinos as recreational cabins, a product of the Small Tract Act of 1938. You can read more about it and listen to an audio tour at jackrabbithomestead.com, a project of Dr. Kim Stringfellow.
  • Please do not enter onto any private property of any of the Jackrabbit Homesteads that have been reclaimed – look for signs of being renovated as well as “private property” signs. Some of these cabins have been fully renovated, and have solar panels on the rooftops, Starlink, nice landscaping, etc. Others are in the process of being refurbished (they became popular during the pandemic) or may have For Sale signs on them.
  • Others may have no signage at all but clearly “look” abandoned and most in this category are owned by San Bernardino County, usually a result of repossession after years of unpaid taxes. It’s fine to go inside these. Just leave everything as you found it.
• Several miners’ cabins can be found in the Dale Mines area of the route, south of Hwy 62 deep into the mining country. These have a very different feel and are all on public BLM land. Going inside any of them is fine, but again, leave everything as you found it and leave no trace.
• Keep an eye out on The Radavist for a great photo essay by Brendan about the Jackrabbit Homesteads that will be published soon.

Brendan Collier created and stewards this route. Brendan is the creator of the Stagecoach 400 bikepacking route. This route is the first of a new series of bikepacking routes that Brendan is creating called The Desert Collective. Brendan lives about two hours from the route in Idyllwild, California.

Brendan would like to thank the following people who supported the development of this route: “My wife Amanda Dunlap for making it possible for me to pour time into this. Meg Knobel for inspiring me to keep sharing these routes. KC Fraser for showing me the beauty of the deserts outside JTNP. Errinn Vasquez for showing up ready to die in the name of “trying this thing that might go” and keeping me company.“

Brendan has offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route. Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

This route traverses the traditional lands of the Cahuilla, Yuhaviatam/Maarenga’yam (Serrano) and Newe (Western Shoshone).