01
Best classic desert hike
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Ca-14 North Of Mojave • Colorful Badlands And Canyon Network • Best For First-Time Visitors
A quick drive north from town brings you to sculpted red cliffs, short loop trails, and big desert views that feel much farther from the highway than they are.
Most locals point visitors here first because it delivers that movie-set Mojave scenery with very little fuss. Short routes like the Hagen Canyon loop let you weave between towering rock fins and striped cliffs, with side washes to poke into if you want more exploring. Go early or late in the day for softer light on the rocks and milder temperatures.
02
Coolest summer escape
Tehachapi Mountain Park
Tehachapi Mountains West Of Mojave • Pine Forest And Ridge Hiking • Best For Beating The Heat
Climb out of the desert into shaded forest trails with views back toward the Mojave wind farms and the high desert floor.
When the desert bakes, locals head up into the pines above Tehachapi for cooler air and softer, needled paths. Trails roll along ridges and through oak and pine forest, with a mix of mellow strolls and steeper climbs toward higher viewpoints. It feels like a different world from Mojave, yet it is close enough for an easy half-day or sunset outing.
03
Best thru-hike sampler
Pacific Crest Trail near Cameron Canyon
Hills West Of Mojave Off Highway 58 • High Desert Singletrack • Best For Longer Day Hikes
Walk a storied stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, with rolling hills, big-sky views, and a steady sense of open desert distance.
This section of the PCT gives you a real feel for thru-hiking without committing to weeks on the trail. From the Cameron Canyon or Tehachapi Pass access points, you can do an out-and-back ramble along smooth singletrack, watching freight trains thread the passes below. Wind can be strong here, so bring layers and expect wide-open, sun-exposed terrain.
04
Best summit-style workout
Saddleback Butte State Park
High Desert East Of Lancaster • Desert Butte Climb • Best For Big Views On A Short Hike
A straightforward climb up a lone granite butte rewards you with a 360-degree panorama over the Antelope Valley and Mojave Desert.
The main trail up Saddleback Butte is a steady, no-nonsense ascent that makes a great training hike or leg-stretcher after a long drive. The landscape shifts from open creosote flats to rockier slopes dotted with Joshua trees as you gain elevation. On clear days you can see the Tehachapis, the San Gabriels, and a wide sweep of the desert you just drove through.
05
Best quiet wildlife walk
Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area
North Of Mojave Toward California City • Protected Desert Interpretive Trails • Best For Slow-Paced Nature Walks
Gentle paths through protected Mojave scrub give you a chance, in the cooler months, to spot wild desert tortoises and other native wildlife.
This is not a big-mileage outing, but it is one of the best nearby spots to see the Mojave landscape as it once was. Wayfinding is easy on signed loops that weave through creosote, Joshua trees, and wildflowers in a good spring, with interpretive signs adding context. Move quietly, especially in spring and fall, and you may be rewarded with a tortoise sighting just off the trail.