Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

The Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is the most remote of California's 275 state parks and is probably best known for the Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve, a striking limestone cavern hidden in the mountains within the Mojave Desert.

Guided cave tours are offered year-round. Visitors walk along a 1.5-mile loop through tight cave passages, tunnels and stairs. It takes about one to 1.5 hours. Tickets are sold on a first come-first served basis, or reserve by cash or check three weeks in advance. Each tour can accommodate a maximum of 25 people.

Highlights include stalagmites, columns and rare "coral pipes," a formation found only in 11 known caverns worldwide.

The rest of the recreation area offers 5,900 acres of arid, pinyon-covered slopes leading down to the vast desert. The Providence range includes massive, 7,171-foot Edgar Peak and 6,696- foot Fountain Peak.

Several hiking trails originate at the visitor center, where Native American and historic mining artifacts are on display.

The recreation area includes a primitive six-site campground with limited drinking water and flush toilets that are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Several short hiking trails begin at the visitor center. No food or fuel is available in the park, so visitors must pack in their essential food and drinking water.

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is 16 miles north of I-40 on Essex Road.

Cavern tours are offered daily from Labor Day through Memorial Day, and on weekends only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Call 760-928-2586 for details.