Since I'm outside Mojave National Preserve right now, I run across a BLM off-road route sign

Since I'm outside Mojave National Preserve right now, I run across a BLM off-road route sign

Here's another of those BLM OHV road signs

Here's another of those BLM OHV road signs

I stop for a short break at the entrance to the Kingston Wash route

I stop for a short break at the entrance to the Kingston Wash route

I walk around the Kingston Wash Route entrance kiosk

I walk around the Kingston Wash Route entrance kiosk

I'll arrive at Hwy 127 shortly and then drive to the Owlshead Mountains for the night

I'll arrive at Hwy 127 shortly and then drive to the Owlshead Mountains for the night

I've arrived at the entrance to the Kingston Wash Route!

I've arrived at the entrance to the Kingston Wash Route!

As the sign says, it's Wilderness on both sides of the road for the next 21 miles

As the sign says, it's Wilderness on both sides of the road for the next 21 miles

Kingston Wash Route starts out well-traveled and just a bit bumpy

Kingston Wash Route starts out well-traveled and just a bit bumpy

I have to stop here to open a gate, with the Mesquite Mountains behind me

I have to stop here to open a gate, with the Mesquite Mountains behind me

After the gate, Kingston Wash Route enters its namesake wash

After the gate, Kingston Wash Route enters its namesake wash

Kingston Wash Route is a little sandy here and there so far, but nothing special

Kingston Wash Route is a little sandy here and there so far, but nothing special

Kingston Wash Route forks here, time to make a random choice

Kingston Wash Route forks here, time to make a random choice

Sand and gravel, with the Avawatz Mountains silhouette in the distance

Sand and gravel, with the Avawatz Mountains silhouette in the distance

So far, it's mostly easy driving on the Kingston Wash Route

So far, it's mostly easy driving on the Kingston Wash Route

Ah, I'm on NN428 road; I like these BLM road signs

Ah, I'm on NN428 road; I like these BLM road signs

I pass a Wilderness marker (not sure why that side of the wash is Wilderness)

I pass a Wilderness marker (not sure why that side of the wash is Wilderness)

Follow the tire tracks (I'm not always sure where the road is)

Follow the tire tracks (I'm not always sure where the road is)

I pass a row of solidly installed posts that attempts to keep motor vehicles out of the Wilderness area

I pass a row of solidly installed posts that attempts to keep motor vehicles out of the Wilderness area

It looks like Kingston Wash Route makes a right turn here

It looks like Kingston Wash Route makes a right turn here

Light sand ahead

Light sand ahead

Kingston Wash Route doesn't look like a road right here

Kingston Wash Route doesn't look like a road right here

I suspect that this part of the Kingston Wash Route washes out with each heavy rain

I suspect that this part of the Kingston Wash Route washes out with each heavy rain

I guess I'll drive around the right side of that bush, like the majority here have done

I guess I'll drive around the right side of that bush, like the majority here have done

The tire tracks tell me that others do drive here

The tire tracks tell me that others do drive here

I get to choose between left and right tracks again; I'll randomly choose

I get to choose between left and right tracks again; I'll randomly choose

Driving the Kingston Wash Route is getting slower and slower

Driving the Kingston Wash Route is getting slower and slower

Right here, it seems that there's no road in Kingston Wash

Right here, it seems that there's no road in Kingston Wash

The tire tracks do turn into a road again

The tire tracks do turn into a road again

Onward we go down the Kingston Wash Route

Onward we go down the Kingston Wash Route

Hmmm... a few rocks ahead...

Hmmm... a few rocks ahead...

It's a tighter fit to get through here than I thought a few minutes ago

It's a tighter fit to get through here than I thought a few minutes ago

I get out to do some self-spotting here

I get out to do some self-spotting here

I get stuck in the loose rocks for a moment and use my rear differential locker for the first time

I get stuck in the loose rocks for a moment and use my rear differential locker for the first time

It took about 15 minutes to get past those rocks behind me!

It took about 15 minutes to get past those rocks behind me!

After that last rocky stretch, the rough road suddenly seems so easy

After that last rocky stretch, the rough road suddenly seems so easy

Kingston Wash Route is wide-open for a few minutes

Kingston Wash Route is wide-open for a few minutes

The few rocks here are easy to avoid

The few rocks here are easy to avoid

I'm starting to feel a bit tired from navigating the FJ all afternoon

I'm starting to feel a bit tired from navigating the FJ all afternoon

I drive around this heavy-duty cairn, following faithfully

I drive around this heavy-duty cairn, following faithfully

I drive toward the distant silhouette of the Avawatz Mountains

I drive toward the distant silhouette of the Avawatz Mountains

I cross a little gulley at what I think is where the route leaves Kingston Wash

I cross a little gulley at what I think is where the route leaves Kingston Wash

I gear down to 4WD low in the slippery, fine gravel up out of Kingston Wash

I gear down to 4WD low in the slippery, fine gravel up out of Kingston Wash

I see a tiny hole high in the hills ahead that lets blue sky shine through

I see a tiny hole high in the hills ahead that lets blue sky shine through

The road edges its way along a steep hillside

The road edges its way along a steep hillside

I listen to the sound of gravel hissing under the FJ

I listen to the sound of gravel hissing under the FJ

The short climb out of Kingston Wash ends with this curve in the road near Kingston Spring

The short climb out of Kingston Wash ends with this curve in the road near Kingston Spring

While passing these ochre hills, I catch myself thinking I'd like to hike in this area one day

While passing these ochre hills, I catch myself thinking I'd like to hike in this area one day

More mistletoe ahead!

More mistletoe ahead!

I exit the Kingston Wash Route roughly four hours after entering it off Excelsior Mine Road

I exit the Kingston Wash Route roughly four hours after entering it off Excelsior Mine Road

I have about 7 miles of dirt road to drive from the Kingston Wash Route down to Hwy 127

I have about 7 miles of dirt road to drive from the Kingston Wash Route down to Hwy 127

Gotta stop for a few photos of sunset on the Kingston Range!

Gotta stop for a few photos of sunset on the Kingston Range!

Map of the Kingston Wash Route, not including the 7 miles west of it to Hwy 127

Map of the Kingston Wash Route, not including the 7 miles west of it to Hwy 127

Elevation profile of the Kingston Wash Route, not including the 7 miles west of it to Hwy 127

Elevation profile of the Kingston Wash Route, not including the 7 miles west of it to Hwy 127

No destination, no chosen campsite for tonight, what's up these roads?

No destination, no chosen campsite for tonight, what's up these roads?

I head up the rolling foothills of the Kingston Range...

I head up the rolling foothills of the Kingston Range...

Oh, this road ends at someone's private property

Oh, this road ends at someone's private property

I've turned around and am driving back to Smith-Talc Road

I've turned around and am driving back to Smith-Talc Road

Hmmm... lots of animal footprints here, but no tire tracks

Hmmm... lots of animal footprints here, but no tire tracks

The road rises up into a really sandy area

The road rises up into a really sandy area

I park the FJ and walk up the sandy road to see if I want to drive any further

I park the FJ and walk up the sandy road to see if I want to drive any further

My feet arrive at a crest on the road with a view down to salty Mono Lake

My feet arrive at a crest on the road with a view down to salty Mono Lake

I turn around and drive back down across the fields of rabbitbrush

I turn around and drive back down across the fields of rabbitbrush

Many roads penetrate Granite Mountains Wilderness; I'll try this one now

Many roads penetrate Granite Mountains Wilderness; I'll try this one now

The FJ climbs a gentle hill in the Granite Mountains Wilderness

The FJ climbs a gentle hill in the Granite Mountains Wilderness

The driving is rather easy as I head up onto the Granite Mountains plateau

The driving is rather easy as I head up onto the Granite Mountains plateau

My tire tracks flatten animal tracks as I arrive on the Granite Mountains plateau

My tire tracks flatten animal tracks as I arrive on the Granite Mountains plateau

I decide to drive back down to Hwy 120 and check out another area of Granite Mountains Wilderness

I decide to drive back down to Hwy 120 and check out another area of Granite Mountains Wilderness

Back down into the valley of yellow rabbitbrush flowers we go

Back down into the valley of yellow rabbitbrush flowers we go

Ah, here's my next dirt road into the Granite Mountains Wilderness

Ah, here's my next dirt road into the Granite Mountains Wilderness

There's a beautiful campsite where I'm standing, but the wind is too strong today to camp here

There's a beautiful campsite where I'm standing, but the wind is too strong today to camp here

I'll start the hike up this 4WD road, which would probably be equally fun to drive

I'll start the hike up this 4WD road, which would probably be equally fun to drive

Up there is Cowtrack Mountain and Horse Peak, my destination

Up there is Cowtrack Mountain and Horse Peak, my destination

Could I possibly cram more yellow into a natural landscape snapshot?

Could I possibly cram more yellow into a natural landscape snapshot?

I stop for a quick look back at the yellow land I'm hiking across

I stop for a quick look back at the yellow land I'm hiking across

Studly old sagebrush captures my attention as I walk up the road

Studly old sagebrush captures my attention as I walk up the road

Yes, this is a fork in the old road, divided by a rabbitbrush bush

Yes, this is a fork in the old road, divided by a rabbitbrush bush

A few pink Bigelow monkeyflowers add a different color

A few pink Bigelow monkeyflowers add a different color

I see another road snaking across the Granite Mountains Wilderness

I see another road snaking across the Granite Mountains Wilderness

My road ends here at the Wilderness boundary

My road ends here at the Wilderness boundary

I presume that's the Cowtrack Spring water tank over there

I presume that's the Cowtrack Spring water tank over there

The leaning Cowtrack Spring water tank: so far, I'm not seeing any water anywhere

The leaning Cowtrack Spring water tank: so far, I'm not seeing any water anywhere

The 4WD road to Cowtrack Spring doesn't get driven often

The 4WD road to Cowtrack Spring doesn't get driven often

According to my GPS, Cowtrack Spring should be just off to my left somewhere

According to my GPS, Cowtrack Spring should be just off to my left somewhere

I take a look back up the road toward Horse Peak before entering the valley

I take a look back up the road toward Horse Peak before entering the valley

I check my maps to see if the road across the valley here will take me where I want to go

I check my maps to see if the road across the valley here will take me where I want to go

My cross-country shortcut ends as I rejoin the rough 4WD road

My cross-country shortcut ends as I rejoin the rough 4WD road

I rise with the rolling road up to another crest as the sun dips down

I rise with the rolling road up to another crest as the sun dips down

Pink sunset light illuminates the mountains in the distance

Pink sunset light illuminates the mountains in the distance

The reddish hopsage foliage looks even pinker blushed by sunset

The reddish hopsage foliage looks even pinker blushed by sunset

I drive back to Taylor Canyon to set up camp and enjoy a well-deserved dinner

I drive back to Taylor Canyon to set up camp and enjoy a well-deserved dinner

Before leaving, I'm making a brief detour to check out another possible campsite in the area

Before leaving, I'm making a brief detour to check out another possible campsite in the area

Just a little more dirt-road driving and that will be all for today

Just a little more dirt-road driving and that will be all for today

Without a plan, I've just decided to drive a few of the dirt roads in the area of the Mono Craters

Without a plan, I've just decided to drive a few of the dirt roads in the area of the Mono Craters

I wind around Pumice Valley, ending up on a dirt road that passes some of the Mono Craters

I wind around Pumice Valley, ending up on a dirt road that passes some of the Mono Craters

Burnt plant stumps tell that there was a brush fire here in Pumice Valley not too long ago

Burnt plant stumps tell that there was a brush fire here in Pumice Valley not too long ago

Sometimes it's worth driving these dead-end roads just to see what's at the end

Sometimes it's worth driving these dead-end roads just to see what's at the end

This sandy road seems to lead up into the foothills of the Crater Mountain area

This sandy road seems to lead up into the foothills of the Crater Mountain area

I pause to take a look back across Pumice Valley to the Sierras

I pause to take a look back across Pumice Valley to the Sierras

Well-worn tire tracks tell me I'm not the only one to drive up this way

Well-worn tire tracks tell me I'm not the only one to drive up this way

My road ends near one of the smaller Mono Craters

My road ends near one of the smaller Mono Craters

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