Mojave Road (39.26 miles away)
Baker, California
Flattop Mountain Road
Scout Route
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Flattop Mountain Road is a 25-mile trek and, when combined with Ship Mountain Road, creates a 100-mile adventure route from Joshua Tree to Needles, perfect for overlanders. Views galore are offered up by this rocky rolling trail, which guides one through a valley between the Old Woman and Piute Mountain ranges, then across the sandy Ward Valley Basin to eventually reach the black imposing Flattop Mountain. The base of Blacktop Mountain is also a popular rock-collecting area for Jasper.
Most of the trail is hard-packed and strewn with apple-sized rocks, traversing mild grades. Cattle wander the trail's eastern portion, and drivers are asked to keep a respectful distance. A high clearance 4x4 is best for this trail, and drivers must be prepared to self-rescue in this remote part of the desert.
Several dispersed campsites can be found along the trail, with the best wind-protected dispersed campsites around Flattop Mountain. Campfires may be prohibited, and it is the responsibility of campers to know and follow any fire restrictions.
