Mojave River, Desert river in San Bernardino County, California, US
The Mojave River is a desert waterway that stretches roughly 110 miles through sandy terrain in California's interior. Most of the water flows invisibly beneath the surface, emerging only where geological formations bring it back to view.
Spanish explorers first traveled the full length of the river in the late 1700s and gave it several different names during their expeditions. These early journeys marked the beginning of European contact with the region.
Indigenous people lived along these banks for thousands of years, shaping their daily life around the water's presence and seasonal rhythms. Place names and archaeological remains throughout the valley reflect their long connection to this landscape.
The best spot to see the river flowing aboveground is Afton Canyon, located northeast of Barstow, where water regularly surfaces along the valley floor. A car is helpful to reach this area, and several walking trails follow the water's path.
Unlike typical rivers, it flows inland and never reaches the ocean, instead draining into basins and salt marshes deep within the desert. This backward flow makes it one of California's most unusual waterways.
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