01/15/2026 to 01/30/2026
We realized we have gotten very sedentary since COVID, so decided to just Go West. Since California is west, we went there.
We started off near Mojave National Preserve area and worked our way north.
It felt good to just get on the road, look at lots of desert, and visit a few sites.
- Amboy Crater
- Mitchell Caverns
- Rio Tinto Borax Mine
- Kramer Junction Antique Shop & Museum
- Trona Pinnacles
- Fishy Rocks, Ghost Town, Death Valley and Pretty Clouds
Amboy Crater is what is left of a volcano that last erupted about 10,000 years ago.
It sits in the Barstow-Bristol Trough and is one of the youngest volcanos in the U.S.
It is about 250' high and 1,500 deep. A nice little walk.
Little info on the crater
The trail leading to it.
The sky was amazing.
The path going up is not too steep, but you do feel it
Ya, that's me striking for the rim
It's pretty rugged
And very windy. Between the narrow, rocky rim and the strong winds, it was a little iffy at times.
But the views are great.
Looking out across the valley
Inside the crater
I do not know what or who did the circle
Today we do a cave.
Mitchell Caverns is located in the Providence Mountain State Preserve. Lovely area.
This cave was originally owned by Ida and Jack Mitchell who ran it as a tourist attraction until they sold it to California in 1954.
We were not expecting much, but were pleasantly surprised. Happens a lot.
Our guide, William, started here on a California teen work program, so a lot of the effort making and maintaining the route up and surroundings was done by him and others. Cool program.
It was a great tour, very pretty cave, and a fun stop
This is the visitor center. It is very well done with lots of native rocks for steps
Starting on our tour, that's the area we are going to see.
Part of the path to the mine
One of Mitchell's test mines - we passed it on our way up
William helped build that little bridge we will be crossing.
Looking back at where we came from
That's not our cave - you go around the bend and up some more to get there.
That's not our cave - you go around the bend and up some more to get there.
Finally, the real entrance to the cave
A plethora of baby straws
The cave is still growing so one day this will be a full column
I have never seen a disc shape like this before
The path can get a little close to your head
A burst of stalagtites
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Yup, another mine, only this one is active.
20 Mule Team, TV westerns, all come to mind.
I did not know just how many products use Borax - mind blowing.
While not a long or detailed tour, you do learn a lot about how, where and what borax is mined for.
The people are really nice. While picking up souvenir minerals we talked with a man who worked there and he was a trove of fun information.
So, if you're ever near Boron, stop by.
Borax Mine Sign
You are driving through a very active mining op, so they really do want you to follow the arrows
The visitor center
Little truck
Looking out at the mine, or rather, the pit
An area no longer mined and hopefully being restored to a more natural hill
The processing area
The processing area
One of those huge trucks needed a tow - or a push, not sure
The row of truck ready to go
Moving along Highway 58, you pass through Kramer Junction.
The antique store was a fun find. There are so many unique, odd and lovely pieces. If you need a new set of dishes, this is your place.
The owner was there, and she was very interesting to talk to. She also reminded us her husband had the little museum next door.
The little museum was so worth the trip. He has collected a bevy of cars, pumps, and anything that was once a staple of driving around before interstates.
Welcome to the Junction
A hint of what is inside the museum
Military amphib transport
Even I don't remember these
Now inside the museum. Lots of nostalgia pieces from days gone by
A few of the gas pumps
Military vehicles
Great cars from the 50's mostly
And more modern cars - sporty models
These were so interesting. You drive out into nowhere and there in the distance is a large group of tufa pinnacles.
When you start walking around you realize there are more and more behind, and people like to camp among them.
We strolled around the maze of peaks. Very quiet, except for the raven who seemed to feel we were trespassing on his turf.
Driving along the dirt road toward the pinnacles
Still driving
Starting to see humps in the distance
Ta Da! Pinnacles
Our scolding raven
A "cave" - well a hole in the wall so naturally I go in
It's not deep, but someone painted SHELTER on the post. Maybe campers do use it?
The sun was starting to set, and the skies were beautiful
Our route took us north heading toward Vegas for our trip home.
We did a quick stop in Ballarat Ghost town - which has a very large and private compound of RVs - and into Death Valley.
Just a nice, easy, quiet route heading home.
No, we did not go into Las Vegas.
Driving down the road, and here's what we see
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Rocks with Fish Faces
Baharat Ghost Town
The old jail
See all those RVs in the background. Well, it's a compound with gate and NO TRESPASSING signs.
Death Valley - driving by Badwater Basin, the lowest place in the US
The sky was just beautiful.
Took a little walk to Natural Bridge
The bridge
Back on the road, the sky had changed colors again.