Hole-in-the-Wall

Hole-in-the-Wall. Mojave National Preserve. , Hole-in-the-Wall is a common place-name in the West, the most famous being the Wyoming hideout of such outlaws as Jesse James. Legends describing the origin of the local name abound. The most credible is that gunslinger-turned-homesteader Bob Holliman named it after spending some time at its famous Wyoming counterpart. Holliman was fifty when he settled in nearby Round Valley in 1918 and raised cattle on a small homestead operation. , , Banshee Canyon , The howling sounds of desert winds prompted early settlers to name the canyon ahead of you for the Banshees, the shrieking fairies of the Celtic Highlands. , , Rings Trail , Banshee Canyon is a twisted passage through the rock barrier. Metal rings provide handholds and foothold through steep sections. Use caution on the rings. Many people find them too difficult to climb. , , Beyond Banshee Canyon , Tall Mojave yuccas and gardens of barrel, cholla, and prickly pear cactuses grow in the wash beyond Banshee Canyon. The eight-mile, one-way trail to the north leads to Mid Hills Campground.