Rings Loop Trail,
Mojave National Preserve
The Rings Loop Trail begins at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center parking area and ends at the picnic area above Banshee Canyon, a twisted passage through a rock barrier — while you can hike this trail in the opposite direction, climbing out of Banshee Canyon is the preferred direction. There are petroglyphs scattered on boulders near the beginning of the trail, made by the people who lived in the Mojave Desert area, perhaps thousands of years ago. Please respect this rock art — it is sacred to many people. Use the metal rings embedded in the rocks at the end of the trail to climb out of Banshee Canyon — you can return to the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center parking lot by walking along a short dirt road.
Elevation
The Rings Loop Trail has a maximum elevation of 4,252 ft., a minimum elevation of 4,104 ft. and an elevation range of 148 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 1.1 mi | 4,104 ft | 4,252 ft | 148 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 29 min | 11.6 | 139 ft | 91 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 29 min | 7.6 | 91 ft | 139 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Rings Loop Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Cima, CA
- North Topo Map: Mid Hills, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: Pinto Valley, CA
- West Topo Map: Hayden, CA
- Topo Map: Columbia Mountain, CA
- East Topo Map: Woods Mountains, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Fountain Peak, CA
- South Topo Map: Colton Well, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: Desert Spring, CA
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Rings Loop Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Rings Loop Trail?
The length of the trail is 1.1 miles (1.8 km) or 2,480 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Rings Loop Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 29 minutes in one direction and in 29 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.