North Chemehuevi Trail

NS513 travels north across the Chemehuevi Valley desert basin as part of the Eastern Mojave Heritage Trail (EMHT). The route begins in the relatively lush Chemehuevi Wash, where scattered shade trees provide inviting spots for a break, before exiting the wash and continuing across the hard desert pavement of Chemehuevi Valley.

The entire route is part of Eastern Mojave Heritage Trail (EMHT) Segment 4, a curated 145-mile section of the larger 733-mile EMHT network. Segment 4 highlights some of the most remote terrain in the Eastern Mojave and is managed through a partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association.

The route is entirely on BLM land, and dispersed camping is permitted throughout. The most favorable camping is found within Chemehuevi Wash among the shade trees, though this area should be avoided if rain is in the forecast due to potential flooding.

Conditions vary from easy desert travel to soft sand. The wash section can be deep and loose, while the remainder of the route crosses flat, hard desert pavement. A 4x4 with some clearance is recommended for the sandy wash portion, while the rest of the trail is generally easy.