Pipes Canyon in the Mojave Desert, nestled in the desert mountains north of Palm Springs is a unique treasure of the high desert. It's off the beaten path of the route to Joshua Tree, and remains a secluded outpost of horse ranches, cabins, volcanic mesas, rugged boulder outcroppings, and feels a world away from the Coachella Valley which is only about a half an hour down the road. We were lucky enough to stay in the Black Lava Lodge, a recently built cabin in Pipes Canyon sitting at the base of the Black Lava Butte, which is a part of the newly created Sand to Snow monument. It's a breathtaking and almost undisturbed area of the Mojave where not so long ago the indigenous people lived off of the land. The boulders are full of pictographs, and you can see them sitting on the front porch. A walk through the new monument land gives clues to the thriving population that was here before it was "discovered".
Besides being an adorable and roomy 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom new home with all the trimmings, the raw land around the home is bursting with wildlife. Families of quail live everywhere, and during the day the parent quail herds its young from bush to bush foraging for food. Hawks and eagles fly above, gliding on the wind currents with an effortless majesty, coyotes howled at sunset, and well-fed lizards appeared to our delight. I would encourage anyone who is traveling to Joshua Tree or anywhere in the high desert to stay here, the area is very high end and quiet. It is well worth the extra drive to Joshua Tree National Park, but if you ask me it's more important to be a close drive to the legendary Pappy and Harriet's bar, restaurant, and live music venue in Pioneertown, since you'll want to go there every night of your stay they are open. Nothing compares to the the vibe there; cowboys and cowgirls, ranchers, Marines from nearby 29 Palms Marine base, artists, musicians, instagram models, and hipsters mingle and all seem to be having the best night of their lives.
Black Lava Lodge was spotless, inside and out; which is all the more impressive because if you've been to the Mojave Desert then you know that the sand, and granite dust are everywhere and follow you wherever you go. I wanted to point this out, because cleanliness is probably the most critical thing for a vacation rental for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that.
Here is the link to Black Lava Lodge's Airbnb listing: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5307562
Here is their website: http://www.blacklavalodge.com/
All of the views in Black Lava Lodge are at eye level, you can just sit in any room of the house and look outside at the stunning beauty of the Mojave. The two photos of the house are from their instagram account @blacklavalodge, but the rest of the photos I took either from the front porch or the expansive back patio of the home. Just sitting outside and watching the light change on the boulders and mountains as the minutes ticked by was just about as pleasurable experience as you could imagine.
From the front of the home you see across Pipes Canyon, to the Sawtooth Mountains, a rugged mountain range made up of granite boulders. These rival anything in Joshua Tree National Park, but instead of fighting your way through crowds you will most likely be the only people on the trail. This seems like a good place to mention that I don't recommend hiking alone, regardless of physical condition.
Black Lava Butte is directly in front of the home, and watching the sun set on the boulders and the joshua trees was breath-taking and captivating. The light and shadows changed by the minute and I couldn't take my eyes off of them.
Minute by minute the light on the boulders changed, captivating the eyes. What a way to end the day!
Just before the sun completely set the entire valley was awash in coppery, golden light.
The last rays of sun on Pipes Canyon.
The Mojave Desert, particularly the area round Joshua Tree has some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I go there as often as I can and a day spent up there feels like a week away. The climate is perfect for me, at 4,000 ft elevation give or take your exact location, this area has four seasons, it snows a few times a year in the winter, the spring and fall are the standout seasons with warm sunny days and cool nights, and the summer is a good 20 degrees cooler than Palm Springs. It was 120 in Palm Springs and in the high 90s, low 100s, when we were there which to many people still seems too hot but believe me compared to 120 it's refreshing. Also, that's the peak temperature of the day, so only the hottest part of the afternoon. In the summer I would not recommend hiking during the heat of the day, the air is thinner there and dehydration can really sneak up on you. However the mornings would certainly permit a nice hike, and the end of the day is perfect for a short hike before or after dinner. As opposed to the Coachella Valley, even though it warms up during the day in summer, at night you can almost always sleep with the windows open at night and enjoy the fresh Mojave desert breezes. I would recommend for anyone who is looking for an inspiring getaway, especially when the coast is foggy and cool, to head up to the high desert and just park yourself at Black Lava Lodge. Arrive stocked up on food and beverages, put your car keys away, leave only to hike on foot right from the house and you'll have an amazing long weekend that you'll soon want to repeat. I know I'll return!
http://www.blacklavalodge.com/
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5307562
Follow Black Lava Lodge on Instagram: @Blacklavalodge