Cima Road Reopens

Contact:Ondrej Macejko, 760-718-8508

Newly paved and improved Cima Road is safer to visitors and offers a more enjoyable scenic driving experience thanks to the addition of vehicle turnouts, wider turns and clearly defined road shoulders.
Since 2012, 10 people have died in traffic accidents in Mojave National Preserve with another 121 injured.
Over the last year, 18 miles of Cima Road underwent major roadway rehabilitation and safety improvement projects including road realignment, culverts, tortoise fencing and other betterments to increase the roads' resiliency from monsoon events.
"We are thrilled to reopen Cima Road ahead of the holiday season. It's a great time of year to visit Mojave National Preserve and Cima is now a safe, smooth, modern road that enhances scenic driving, safety, and the overall visitor experience," said Mojave National Preserve Superintendent Ray McPadden. "I'd like to thank our Mojave National Preserve staff, regional team members, and Federal Highways for helping make this happen."
With $24M dollars of federal funding and assistance from the Federal Highway Administration, the Preserve has been able to improve a network of paved roads including Essex Road, Black Canyon Road, North Kelbaker Road, and Kelso-Cima Road.
The installation of five miles of tortoise fencing along Cima Road will reduce mortality of the Federally Listed desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) from motor vehicles impacts. Please plan ahead and drive safe while visiting the Preserve's vast and scenic landscapes.
Cima Road connects to Interstate-15 at exit 272 and ends at the intersection of Kelso-Cima Road and the Morning Star Mine Road located within the Preserve. Popular destinations primarily accessed from Cima Road include Cima Dome, WWI White Cross Memorial, and Teutonia Peak Trailhead.
Join us for a ribbon cutting ceremony November 6th at 10 a.m., near our park entrance sign on Cima Road. Ranger led hike up Teutonia Peak to follow ceremony.