Our second 4 wheel drive trip was to the Desert National Wildlife Range in the Sheep Mountains. A stop at the Corn Creek ranger station provides an early stop where you can watch the birdas and other wildlife around the spring's pond. You cal also pick out a route for your drive. The roads lead either east or north The Mormon Well Road leads east to US93. The Alamo Road leads north to Alamo. Both roads have turnoffs to side roads. Most of the side roads off the Alamo Road lead higher into the Sheep Mountains. The side roads off the Mormon Well Road lead to places at lower elevations.
The Mormon Well Road leads basically south of the Sheep Mountains and then follows along their east side for a while. The road winds through a broad valley, lined with Joshua Trees and creosote. Eventually, you can view the steeper east side of the mountains. Along the east side, you can take a short scramble to an agave roasting pit used by the Paiute and their predecessors.
There are side roads leading into the foothills, rising through the Joshua trees to pinyon and juniper. Eventually, the road passes through a gap with bluffs close by and then rises high enough for a pleasant picnic ground in the ponderosa pines. Eventually, you come to a canyon that leads back into the mountains at 9000 feet. Unfortunately, the road is closed, but you can hike up there.
The road opens into the broad vally containing US 95. The area becomes drier near here, supporting sparser growth. But there is a nice stand of barrel cactus right by the sign marking the eastern entrance to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.
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