The easiest way to reach the boundary of Turtle Mountains Wilderness is along the northeastern corner. From Needles go approximately 25 miles south on Hwy 95 to Turtle Mountains Road. Turn west onto this road and go 10 miles to a fork in the road. Turtle Mountains Road can be driven (carefully) by a 2wd vehicle to this point. You might want to park and hike from here. If your vehicle can handle it, turn south (left) and travel another 3 miles to the road end at Carson's Well. There are a few ruins of houses here. Mohawk Spring makes for a good hiking destination from this location. It is about 1 mile distant on an old jeep trail. Don't get your hopes up by the name; the spring is more of a seep than a gushing fountain. Near the spring is an unusual petroglyph. It is an abstract design that looks like a blueprint more than anything else. Outstanding specimens of chalcedony roses have been found here by the spring.
Another good hike destination is Mopah Spring. From Needles go south on US Hwy 95 for 34.4 miles and turn west onto the dirt road marked with a rock cairn. Travel 2.75 miles west until you see a red road closure sign in the center of the road; park here. This is usually passable in a 2wd vehicle. From the road closure, walk along the south extension of the fork for about 1.1 miles to the ruins of a stone cabin. Here at the canyon mouth you are about 3.5 miles from Mopah Spring, which is southwest up the canyon wash. Mopah Peak is about the same distance away, but a little farther to the south. To reach the spring, hike up the wash.
Mopah Spring, which lies northwest of the massive monolith of Mopah Peak, has a small pool of clear water approximately 4 feet across. A clump of California fan palms grows at the spring. (This is an excellent spot for bird watching.) The five mature palms were burned in 1983, and now dozens of seedlings have appeared. Like nearly all of the palm oases in the southwest, this one is growing in size. Those with good map and compass skills may consider doing an overnight cross-country backpack loop of 16 to 18 miles that goes up to Mopah Springs and eventually comes back out the north fork of Gary Wash. Follow the directions to Mopah Spring then continue another 0.5 mile west to a saddle, which you cross to enter Vidal Valley—the Turtle's interior valley. Hike northwest up the valley to another saddle about a half-mile east of Thumb Peak—a prominent spire on the northern horizon. Once over this saddle you enter the wide expanse of Gary Wash, which can be followed east and south on an old 4wd route back down to your starting point.
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