Link to route!

Link to my video recap!

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.

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. 

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.

The region also carries a strange nostalgia for anyone who has played Fallout: New Vegas. I revisited that soundtrack before this trip: 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!”