Mule Canyon. It is so-named for the mule trains that once hauled borax from the mines to nearby Daggett. Now, it is a popular thoroughfare for off-roaders, recreational shooters, campers, and explorers.
I consider myself to be primarily an explorer first, and an off-roader second. Driving off-road is fun, to be sure. But, my main goal is usually to explore new places, or re-visit places with which I’m familiar.
Mule Canyon Road is one of the places with which I’ve become familiar. If I avoid making the trip during heavy traffic periods- such as Friday nights, the entrance to Mule Canyon is only an hour and a half from my home.
Mule Canyon is home to spectacularly reddish-brown rock formations, little hidden canyons, and many areas to pull off to the side for exploration on foot.
So, I thought that I’d describe my latest excursion to the area.
It was a sunny November afternoon when I departed my home in the Rancho Cucamonga area. It was 2 PM on Saturday. I knew that I wouldn’t have much time “on site”, with sunset generally occurring at 4:30 or so. But, the sunset was the point of the trip.
My plan was to catch the late-afternoon/early evening “sweet light”, so I wasn’t in too much of a hurry.
Traffic was light, on the 15 Freeway, and by 3:30, I was exiting at Calico Rd. Turning left (you have to slow down immediately after exiting the freeway, otherwise you stand a pretty good chance of missing the turn) I drove another mile until I reached the Mule Canyon Road turnoff on the right.
Keep in mind that I had no intention of taking this trail more than two miles or so into the back-country. I was alone, and I currently drive a stock Subaru Forester, which has only slightly higher than normal ground clearance. This vehicle is equipped with “light off-road” capable all-wheel drive, which makes it capable of getting me into quite a bit of trouble.
Roughly the first mile of trail consists of a gravelly, graded dirt road.
Mule Canyon Road, at the turn-off from Calico Road.
I drove another two tenths of a mile, and I parked on a small rise. This would be my “base of operations” for the next hour or so.
If you’re thinking that one can “commune” in silence with the spirits of the old miners and mule team drivers here, forget it. Mule Canyon is a hotspot for off-roaders and recreational shooters; the canyons constantly echo with the sounds of gunshots and the buzzing of all-terrain vehicles. Not that I’m complaining. I believe that the desert should be enjoyed by all.
When I want peace and quiet here, I come out during the summer evenings, when there are very few people around. The heat in the early evening is tolerable, and I’ve been able to capture some spectacular sunsets.
On this day, with the sun setting at roughly 4:30 PM, and with the temperature dropping, it was time to leave.
The view just before I left Mule Canyon at sunset.
It may seem pointless to drive an hour and a half just to spend an hour at my destination. But, in the midst of my busy life, I have to find my inspiration when I can, even when it comes in snippets.
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