Nine Mile Canyon, Sherman Pass, Inyokern, CA
Nine Mile Canyon begins after a smooth, fast cruise across the flat sagebrush of the Kern Plateau, known here as Sherman Pass, flowing through the tiny off-grid mountain community of Kennedy Meadows.
The eastern leg (pictured) of this ride is known as Nine Mile Canyon. The road takes a dramatic turn and drops a staggering 3,000 feet in its final 10 miles down to Highway 395. This two-lane stretch is wide open, fast, and intensely twisty, inviting speed whether you are carving your way up or diving down the descent.
However, the thrilling terrain demands requisite focus; most of the Nine Mile Canyon section lacks barriers or guardrails, meaning a momentary lapse in attention could send you over the edge into the canyon below. Because this is a desert route, riders must constantly scan the tarmac for patches of sand, navigate blind corners, and anticipate oncoming vehicles that often disregard lane discipline entirely.
Fortunately, the canyon’s open vistas allow you to spot opposing traffic from a long distance. Adding to the unique landscape, Joshua Trees line the sparse hillsides at specific elevation bands, and halfway down the canyon, the massive Los Angeles Aqueduct dramatically pops out of the ground, leaps across the canyon space, and disappears right back into the mountain. When ridden eastbound, Sherman Pass throws out this dramatic big finish.
And a short distance up 395, is another stopping point most have never heard of- don’t miss Fossil Falls. But that’s for another day.
Full article:
Nine Mile Canyon is the eastern leg of Sherman Pass.
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