A Ride-Along Off Road Adventure: Exploring the Volcanoes of Mojave National Preserve

[@SidetrackAdventures]

That area does look like its from another world. The volcanic rock has stopped me from going out there, for fear of busting a tire or two. Those lava tubes are incredible.

[@CactusAtlas]

It's not an area that I'd want to bring a regular passenger car for sure. But if one has the ability, it's so very worth it.

[@susanasalinas4273]

Love Cactus Atlas. Always bringing in new and beautiful images. Slim definitely looks beefy. Thanks for the ride along. Hi Amy.

[@CactusAtlas]

Hi there! 😄👋 Your kind words are so appreciated. Slim is thankfully capable of getting us to locations like those in this video. 😄

[@akamazon3]

Cinders are air-filled rocks formed when lava erupts from cinder cone volcanoes. The cinders were used primarily as a building material for the budding metropolis of Las Vegas. They were also used for road construction, landscaping, and decoration. Information direct from the interwebs. :) Interesting history. What is the abandoned mine in the Mojave National Preserve? Aiken Cinder Mine - Tales from the Desert Abandoned Mine ... The Aiken Cinder Mine is in the Mojave National Preserve, it began operations in 1948, mining cinder cone (volcanic rock). The abandoned mine has been closed since 1990, when they essentially just left everything behind. Thanks for sharing. :) (gotta love copy/paste)

[@MissAstorDancer]

Fantastic! I just cannot get enough of your adventures! Those lime green plants around that red rock, and really, ALL of the colors of the area WITH the surrounding landscape, the colors are just EVERYTHING! This is the color palette of my life! I was never a huge fan of "Southwest" decor, as such, but the color palatte is def my jam! Earthtones, Baby!!! The cave shots were just stunning! As always, beautifully done!👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much! Those green plants are super vibrant against all the muted desert colors, aren't they? So cool. 😄

[@springtime3771]

Very GOOD vid! We really enjoy your travels and appreciate the work that you put into your productions. Always informative. Also, great job Amy with your editing skills!

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you so very much! Much appreciated! 😊

[@SwiftyTravels]

It’s so beautiful in that cave!! Great find!!! The cinder volcanoes at the beginning of the video look a lot like the ones on the west side of Albuquerque!

[@CactusAtlas]

Plenty of volcanic activity at one time. Do the ones around Albuquerque also have dug out areas?

[@SwiftyTravels]

@@CactusAtlas no- all the petroglyphs are all over the large volcanic rock around the whole area so it’s all protected.

[@CactusAtlas]

That's good! As fascinating as mining it is from a historical perspective, they're much nicer looking as is. 😊

[@Raptor-gd6sk]

Lava tubes is on my to visit list .. I want to go even more now that I saw that mine up there.. Mojave desert has a lot of interesting things to see.. Thanks for sharing

[@CactusAtlas]

Thank you! You're not wrong about the Mojave! So so soooo much hiding in the desert with history or curiosity. Just a great place to explore. 😄

[@gstiles7]

WOW, that lava cave is amazing! Very cool trip and thanks for dragging us out to te middle of nowhere to check it out!

[@CactusAtlas]

Anytime! This lava tube was relatively small, but others to come! 😄

[@DiscoverexplorerS]

I really enjoyed this, loved the cavern and tubes at the end. I am always amazed at how clean you keep the windshield of your truck -- really amazing actually. Thanks for the fun adventure.

[@CactusAtlas]

The secret is RainX bug formula windshield wiper fluid. I usually go through an entire bottle in one trip and always carry a spare. I also have a bottle of Windex and paper towels. But, that RainX bug formula works exceedingly well!

[@nationalparksprincess3216]

I really like seeing the conder cones, its interesting see all the old equipment out there. The lava tube was cool. I love exploring lava tubes! If you are ever near Lava Beds National Monument in California, go check them out. The lava tube caves there are fantastic!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Lava Tubes National Monument, you say? 🤫😉😉

[@nationalparksprincess3216]

@@CactusAtlas Lava Beds National Monument. 😀

[@AZBADBOYz]

The one in Flag is pretty dang awesome and huge!

[@CactusAtlas]

It's been on our list for a good while. Now that we have some experience, we're certainly going to hit it up soon. 😄

[@joywyse6996]

Thanks Glenn. Very interesting to see the volcanoes and the rocks. Would be interested in seeing the ones around Flag too. I've heard that the San Francisco peaks are volcanoes too.

[@CactusAtlas]

The Flagstaff lava tube is definitely happening! Looking forward to it. But yes, lots of old volcanic activity in that area. 👍

[@alexmineff5596]

Amazing stuff and views lol thanks for taking us with you not sure I’d want to do that cave crawl myself but appreciate you for doing that For one not sure about all that dust lol. Anyway thanks u

[@CactusAtlas]

Always glad to take people along with us! 😊

[@garymoore3446]

Cool

[@dave9351]

Plenty of cinder cones near Mono lake in the Eastern Sierras that haven't been mines Glenn

[@CactusAtlas]

We actually were out there visiting where they are a few years ago when seeing Mono Lake for the first time. 😄

[@johnscherer376]

Very similar to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.

[@CactusAtlas]

We almost went there on our recent trip to the Wyoming area. It's too bad. Would have been fun to compare. 🙂

[@graciel3725]

Have you done the lava tube near Flag yet?

[@CactusAtlas]

Haven't yet, but it's on the list to do. 😊

[@graciel3725]

@@CactusAtlas nice!