David Lamb’s latest release documents a lonely three-day ride along our 100-mile Mojave Solitaire bikepacking route in California. Find his impressions from the spectacular backcountry track and some insights from route designer Jeremy Nolan in the 20-minute video here…

Words, photos, and video by David Lamb

Mojave Solitaire is a 100-mile, three-day bikepacking route through the remote and rugged backcountry of Mojave National Preserve. Solitude is the defining feature of this route. I’ve done my fair share of desert riding, but I can’t remember another trip where I felt this alone in nature.

Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert

The colors are another remarkable feature of the route. A deep azure sky clashes against white sandy roads, green Joshua trees, and red cliff tops. The collection of different colors gives the desert a vibrant appearance: a stark contrast to what one might expect in such an inhospitable landscape.

  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert

I was fortunate to speak with the route’s creator, Jeremy Nolan, who helped me better understand what makes this region so special. Unlike Joshua Tree or Death Valley, Mojave doesn’t see nearly as much traffic, and it’s not entirely clear why. I rode Joshua Tree National Park in 2023 on the SoCal Desert Ramble, and Mojave is no less beautiful. Maybe the relative quiet is a blessing. For me, it was an escape, trading the chaos of Austin, Texas, for a few nights under Mojave skies.

Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert
  • Bikepacking Alone in the Mojave Desert

The region also carries a strange nostalgia for anyone who has played Fallout: New Vegas. I revisited that soundtrack before this trip, which has a dusty, Western ambiance that perfectly matches the lonely Mojave landscape. At 4 a.m., after chasing off a fox that was trying to steal my leftovers, I stepped outside my tent, looked up at the stars, and yelled, “Bikepacking the Mojave makes you wish for nuclear winter!”

Find our detailed Mojave Solitaire route guide here.

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