Desert Collective

The Desert Collective will be a series of interjoining bikepacking routes in the southernmost corner of the Mojave Desert, totaling approximately 350 miles. The new route(s) cover the area of the greater 29 Palms, Joshua Tree National Park, Chuckwalla Mountains, Mecca Hills & a portion of the Salton Sea. Each of the routes are designed to be completed in a single weekend, or can be combined to create a longer experience. Each route offers car camping/ basecamp opportunity with all the #freedom one would desire from a remote corner of the desert.

*Author’s note: These routes are relatively short tidbits of desert that caught my attention over the years. I’ve ridden them from time to time, predating the Stagecoach 400 going back to 2007 or 2008. While I say they’re short; be forewarned they can be difficult. The design of these routes is not driven by a desired mileage, rather they are written in a way that makes sense for to showcase what the land and/or the history of the area is can show us.
Each loop is unique as a standalone ride and will present different challenges & rewards. This is a diverse landscape with rich human history. I’m doing my best to showcase it.
–Brendan
The Collective will be 4 routes to start, but it may likely grow into more over time.

Why the Desert Collective?
The goal for these new routes is to help provide attainable bikepacking and experiential learning opportunities in Southern California during the cooler months. Each of these routes use well established roads & trails that are not likely to change or need many updates from year to year, so cues & route files should stay pretty reliable with minimal need for updates. The Collective’s close proximity to Joshua Tree National Park also makes it a nice choice for the experienced bikepacker to get out for a quickie while visiting the area from out of state.
The area is accessible by high clearance vehicles and offers a number of options for car base camp setups by car.

Additionally, this landscape holds rich stories of human history; we can hopefully learn them even more clearly through these experiential routes. Stories of the native Cahuilla & Pinto people, gold miners seeking a new future, General Patton & the world’s largest military training center, and everyday citizens seeking a piece of the American Dream through the Small Tract Act of 1938; a program in which the US government handed over small tracts of public land to homesteaders seeking recreational & permanent housing– an idea that’s still relevant today.

Best seasons to ride the Desert Collective

These routes are best ridden from October through March, but the shoulder seasons can extend a bit depending on weather. Precipitation is not often a concern. Bear in mind high winds can be a factor in this part of the desert, and overnight temperatures can be very cold.

Getting there

Approximate drive times to suggested starting locations:
Escondido: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Pasadena: 2 hours
Riverside: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Route Pages
Jackrabbit Homesteads Loop (Wonder Valley)
Dale Mines / Pinto Basin Loop
Cottonwood Loop
Patton Bombay Loop

Equipment, gear, e-bikes?

Each of the routes are best ridden with a MTB with 2.2″ or larger tires. Gravel bikes are not recommended.
E-bikes are legal throughout the Desert Collective, but we cannot confirm recharging locations, yet.
Each route will require a minimum of 200 ounces of water, or more, depending on weather conditions and your own consumption. Prepare for harsh desert conditions in any season.
Resupplies are few and far between, see more details on each route page.

Keep up to to date with the Desert Collective

We will be posting regular updates to the route(s) here on this site’s blog and alson on the Desert Collective instagram account