Mitchell Caverns is a piece of Route 66 history

Mitchell Caverns (Lance Gerber/DESERT magazine)

Some years back, while I was out exploring the remote stretches of what is left of Route 66 in the remote desert east of Barstow, I happened upon a sign along Essex Road. It pointed to “Mitchell Caverns” but had a “closed” sign underneath it. Fascinated by this discovery, I immediately looked up the caverns, and found they had recently been closed with no date set for reopening. Bummer!

Well, time heals all wounds, as they say, and that it flies – and that it does. Mitchell Caverns is NOW OPEN again after being closed for about seven years for infrastructure upgrades. When you see how remote the caverns are, it makes a lot more sense why improvements would take so long.

Surrounded by Mojave National Preserve, the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is where the Mitchell Caverns are located. It’s more than 100 miles east of Barstow, about 60 miles west of Needles and 16 miles north of Interstate 40 on Essex Road. At an altitude of 4,300 feet, this location is very remote to say the least. The nearest gas station is 24 miles away to the east in Fenner, or 40 miles west in Ludlow (Grab cheap gas and a classic diner meal at the Ludlow Café!).

Named after Jack and Ida Mitchell (who led tours of the caverns as a Route 66 attraction from 1934 to 1954), the caverns are now part of the state park system. It is essential to have a reservation for tours, which take place Friday through Sunday only. There are only two of them per day, at 11a.m. and 2 p.m.. Each hold a maximum of 15 people. Reservations are NOT available online at this time and must be made by phone to the visitor’s center during the week.

This road trip is a long day-trip unless you are passing through or plan to camp out, so it’s best to get an early start as it is about three hours from the Coachella Valley. After breakfast and fueling up in Twentynine Palms, I take Amboy Road all the way until it ends in Amboy on Route 66. Amboy is sort of a ghost town – home to Roy’s Motel and Café that no longer serves any food – but is now a last chance for gas and cold drinks, snacks and souvenirs. Roy’s is a great place to take photos and is becoming popular with the Instagram crowd. The motel rooms are home to art exhibitions, too.

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BEFORE YOU GO

Tours are available at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Costs are $10 per adult, $5 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 16 and under. There is also a $10 entrance fee per vehicle, reduced to $5 for seniors. The park accepts credits cards or exact change in cash.

Each tour involves a 1.5-mile moderate roundtrip hike to and from the caves. Inside, you’ll experience an hour-long guided tour.

Reservations are required by phone, and can be made on Mondays only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call 760-928-2586 to speak with a staff member.

There are no pets allowed in the caverns or on the trails.

Learn more at parks.ca.gov/ProvidenceMountains

SAFETY TIPS

Bring plenty of water and pack food, as there is none available at the park and the nearest place to purchase is at least 25 miles away.

Print out a map as cell phone service can be spotty in and around the park.

Fill up your gas tank well in advance, as the nearest station is nearly 60 miles away.

Wear close-toed shoes for hiking, and dress in layers, as the weather can be extreme and often changes during the day.