Golden Jackrabbit Loop

• The best time to ride is from fall to spring when the weather is more manageable, avoiding the intense summer heat. Check the forecast for temperatures and wind conditions.
• No permits are required unless staying a night within Joshua Tree National Park. Four miles of the route are within the park boundary; recommend camping outside the park on BLM land.
• Potential dangers include falling in uncovered vertical mine shafts, possible cave-ins inside horizontal shafts, and debris inside Jackrabbit Homesteads.
• While the route avoids as much pavement as possible, there are some stretches on Hwy 62 and Rte 66. Riders should take extra caution on these roadways, especially at night, as drivers are known to go well over the posted speed limit and are not accustomed to seeing bicycles.
• Good cell service on the north-facing slopes of the Dale Mines district for the first three miles. Almost no service for the rest of the route.
• Follow LNT guidelines throughout this route. Leave all artifacts where you find them.

• Wonder Valley Hot Springs is an excellent short-term rental within a short distance of the route start/end. There are several other short-term options in the area as well.
• Outstanding backcountry camping is available throughout most of the route south of Hwy 62 in the Dale Mines area. Keep in mind this area is also used by overlanders and off-roaders. While not particularly busy with this user group, some of the more spectacular mines may already be occupied for campsites on occasion. Be prepared to select alternate campsites if your primary choice is already taken.
• Please be mindful of private property and area residents when observing the Jackrabbit Homesteads in Wonder Valley.

• There is no food or water available on the route other than in Twentynine Palms, approximately 65 miles into the 80-mile loop.
• Visit Kitchen in the Desert for elevated dining in Twentynine Palms, Grnd Sqrl for beers, and The Cactus Bar for low-key dining

• The route can be easily shortened, or lengthened. Two-wheel-drive car camping in the open desert is accessible for the first ~2.5 miles of Gold Crown road. We have hosted 2WD accessible group campouts at a spot approximately 2.1 miles south of the highway on the east side of Gold Crown Road.
• Four-wheel-drive “overland” camping is available throughout most of the route south of Hwy 62 in the mining district.
• Extended bikepacking is available throughout the mines area with a solid two days available in the mines area alone. Other mines and highlights are listed as POIs on the RWGPS route.
• The Jackrabbit Homesteads area is doable on a gravel bike from any of the short-term rentals in Wonder Valley.
• The entire route is legal for e-bikes, though charging infrastructure is unknown.

Wonder Valley

Wonder Valley is one of the most prolific examples of where you can see Jackrabbit Homesteads. These structures are remnants of the Small Tract Act of 1938, a government program that offered five-acre parcels of public land to citizens for homesteading. An aspiring homesteader could claim a plot of land to call their own in exchange for “improving” it by building a cabin, drilling a well, etc., within three years. Once verified, the homesteader would receive a deed, and the land would enter San Bernardino County’s private property tax rolls. A win-win.

The small tract program was popular among postwar veterans and Los Angelinos seeking peace, affordable housing, and clean, dry air. Some folks saved their money to embark on occasional trips to build their cabin; others hired local companies that sprouted up specifically for the task of building cabins that would satisfy the minimum governmental requirements for the deal. By the 1960s, Wonder Valley had grown into a bona fide community, with some of the original homesteaders still in place and others having abandoned their efforts, perhaps not up to the challenges of desert living.

By the 1990s, some of the abandoned cabins had been reclaimed by San Bernardino County, seized for back taxes owed. Others were leveled by local residents in the name of cleaning up what they’d deemed to be eyesores after doing their due diligence to reach out to nonresponsive owners. Today’s community of Wonder Valley residents is a mix of longtime locals, weekend homeowners, and upscale retreat getaways, the latter of which seem to be gaining popularity as the Joshua Tree culture region continues to grow since the pandemic. Be sure to check out Kim Stringfellow’s seminal work on the topic at Jackrabbit Homestead

The Dale Mining District

The Dale Mining District was most active from the late 1880s until 1917, when the mines started drying out. Operations had significantly diminished by the start of WWII when all gold mines in the USA were ordered closed to focus resources on the war effort. At its peak, the Dale district was said to house about 3,000 miners. The deepest mineshaft in the western USA is out here, and there are still several active gold mining claims in the area. Many structures and artifacts from the small outposts of Old Dale to the north and New Dale to the south remain remarkably intact.

Additional Resources

• Download and listen to Kim Stringfellow’s audio tour of the Jackrabbit Homesteads
• The Desert Collective Instagram page)
• Brendan’s Instagram page (@brendan_at_the_hub)