Back on the road, I cross I-15 without getting on it and Cima Road becomes Excelsior Mine Road as I head away from civilization again. It's fairly flat, even a wee bit downhill for a while. I watch for the side roads that head off toward Clark Mountain, where I originally thought I might end up camping last night.
Clark Mountain, seen from Excelsior Mine Road
Clark Mountain is a big and imposing chunk of land that is officially part of Mojave National Preserve, but it's disconnected from the rest of the preserve because it's on the north side of I-15. There are a number of ruins and old mines in the area.
Passing by at a distance, it's much less inviting than I had expected, due to its proximity to the freeway and the barren character of the area. The fact that the freeway is nearby is a definite negative trait. For this reason, it might be more interesting to explore the back side of the Clark Mountain area.
I won't be stopping here on this trip after all, but it would be worth exploring during a future visit.