The “California City Caching” Series is located within the Mojave Desert, in the area bounded by US Highway 395, California State Highway 58, California State Highway 14, and Redrock Randsburg Road. The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Named after the Mohave Native Americans, it occupies roughly 54,000 square miles in a typical Basin and Range topography.
The California City Caching Series is split between paved and dirt roads, with about 2/3rds of it on paved roads. All of the dirt roads should be drivable by almost any vehicle, although higher clearance vehicles are always preferable when driving on dirt roads. There is no requirement for 4WD. The dirt roads seem very well maintained. The paved roads have very little traffic, but there is enough so that someone should pass by within a few minutes, if you somehow run into trouble. The dirt roads have almost no traffic, so plan accordingly. If you start at CCC-0001 and progress numerically, the caches will be on the right hand side of the road wherever possible. The paved roads should all have areas to pull out of the path of any traffic.
The Mojave Desert receives less than 6 inches of rain a year and is generally between 2,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation, with this area being between 2,000 and 3,500 feet in elevation. Although infrequent, flash flooding can occur very quickly. Appropriate caution should be exercised whenever it rains in the desert.
The Mojave Desert, like all deserts in general, is known for its summer heat, however, there is wintertime cold. The Mojave Desert temperatures typically range from highs of around 95-105F in the summer to lows of around 20-30F in the winter. You should plan accordingly, based on the timing of your visit.
The Mojave Desert is home to a variety of wildlife, including but not limited to: Tortoises, Lizards, Snakes, Scorpions, Coyotes, Rabbits and Rodents. Please be mindful that this is their home and try not to disturb them.
Resources are somewhat limited within the Mojave Desert. Gasoline, Lodging, Food, and Groceries are available to the Southwest in Mojave, to the Northeast in Ridgecrest, and within California City. Limited Resources, including Gasoline and some groceries are available at Kramer Junction at the intersection of Hwy 58 & US 395. Whenever you travel in the desert, you should carry food, water and any other emergency supplies you think you may need.
In case of an Emergency, the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital located in Ridgecrest at N 35 38.456 W 117 40.202. Tehachapi Family Health Center is located in California City at N 35 07.984 W 117 57.752. Primary Care Adventist Health is located in Mojave at N 35 03.350 W 118 10.171.