Cedar Spring home to waterfall

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Cedar Spring Canyon is a little known treasure located in the northern Mid Hills section of Mojave National Preserve, in California but easily accessible to Las Vegans, just south of the Nevada state line. The highlight of the short hike, only one mile round trip, is a cascading waterfall. For those willing to do some rock scrambling, there also are plenty of opportunities to explore upstream.

The 1.6 million-acre preserve was established in 1994 as part of the California Desert Protection Act. Because of its remote location it doesn't receive the high level of use of other parks its size so it affords visitors more solitude.

This is an especially good time to do some winter camping, and the campgrounds are handy to the hike. But expect temperatures to be about 15 degrees cooler than in Las Vegas; the trailhead, for instance, is at an elevation of about 5,000 feet.

The hike begins by just walking generally north, up the unpaved four-wheel-drive road towards the obvious canyon. The wash forks in one place but you can walk either way as the paths meet up again after a short distance.

About one-half mile after leaving the trailhead you will be in the canyon proper and within a pinyon/juniper woodland. The plant community here also includes a great variety of cacti including Buckhorn cholla, pencil cholla, pancake and barrel.

The canyon was spared any damage from the Hackberry Complex fire that burned over 71,000 acres in this area of the park in June 2005.

The first evidence of water you find most likely will be a thin ribbon flowing down the sandy streambed. Continue upstream another 100 yards and you'll be standing at the base of a lovely cascade waterfall, where water gently flows for about 75 feet over rounded granite rocks.

This is said to be a seasonal waterfall, but there has been a good flow every time I have been there, although none of my visits were in mid-summer.

The water is a result of a spring upstream, one of more than 200 found in the park.

The wet sand along the route is perfect for seeing a wide variety of wildlife tracks. Some I have seen were left by antelope squirrels, badgers, bobcats and even mountain lions.

On my last visit I watched as a golden eagle soared above and a few scrub jays looked for cover, apparently to avoid being part of an eagle meal.

I don't know whether golden eagles prey on jays, but the jays must not know either, for they looked downright nervous.

For anyone with young children along, the base of the cascade should mark the end of your hike. It's an ideal spot to lunch and to let the little ones enjoy the outdoors.

The sand is deep and plentiful, like a natural sand box complete with water to make a sand castle. The young and young-at-heart will enjoy tossing a small, light piece of wood into the stream to see how far it will travel.

The trip further upstream is best reserved for experienced hikers able to do some tricky rock scrambling. The easiest route is found by backtracking about 20 feet from the fall, then scrambling about halfway up the right wall of the canyon, onto a ledge. The ledge slopes slightly and can be very slippery. From the ledge carefully make your way over toward the drainage itself and then continue to the right of the flow and up and onto the higher level area.

Once you make it on top of this initial fall the terrain is easier. You will find many flat areas followed by more obstacles, but all are easily negotiated or bypassed. About five minutes upstream from the first fall, you'll arrive at another pour-off. Here most of the water flows down a narrow, water-worn chute on the right.

With a little effort this can be easily skirted to the left. Once on top of this you will find a few small obstacles, but for the most part nice, flat walking terrain.

As you continue up the drainage you will notice that the stream disappears in many areas only to reappear farther upstream.

Depending on how much time you have there are a few side canyons worth exploring.

The Preserve is a great place for winter camping and there are two official campgrounds close to this hike, Mid Hills, about 5 miles away, and Hole-in-the-Wall, 10 miles. The Hackberry fire swept through about two-thirds of the 26-site Mid Hills campground but it is now reopened. Many of the choice sites were untouched by the blaze and offer great sunset views and excellent ones of Cima Dome to the northwest.

The road to Mid Hills Campground is unpaved and washboarded. I do not recommend it for RVs or trailers but it is suitable for passenger cars if you take it easy. Both campgrounds have picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, trash cans and drinkable water. All campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis but they rarely fill to capacity.

Currently no fees are charged at the Mid Hills Campground. Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is $12 per site per night.

The Preserve is already enjoying the beginning of wildflower season in the lower elevations although it is thought this will not be a banner year.

On average, the bloom advances about 1,000 feet toward higher ground every two weeks.

The Mojave Preserve lacks commercial facilities. The nearest gas and food are located outside the park, so if you're counting on having a wiener roast, don't forget the mustard.

Deborah Wall is the author of "Great Hikes, A Cerca Country Guide," published by Stephens Press. She can be reached at Deborabus@aol.com.