Be advised that the NPS has issued alerts for this park.
Rough and Damaged Roads
Please drive slowly and exercise due caution when driving in Mojave National Preserve. Rough and damaged roads exist on both paved and unpaved roads. Watch for potholes.
Kelso Depot Visitor Center Closed
Kelso Depot Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation of the heating and cooling system. We expect to reopen the depot in 2026. The restrooms beside the depot are open.
Delays up to 1 hour are possible at Kelbaker Road Railroad Crossing near Kelso Depot
In the event there are train siding operations at the crossing near Kelso Depot, delays may be up to one hour. Please plan accordingly for this possibility with extra fuel and drinking water. Union Pacific Contact: 1 800 848-8715
Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the...
Visitors can enjoy the Granite Mountains at the Boulders Viewpoint Parking Area located 7 miles north of Interstate 40. Boulders Viewpoint Parking Area is also 50 miles south of Baker and Interstate 15. There are no services at this viewpoint.
Boulders Viewpoint Area is a wonderful place to park your car, take a break, and enjoy a stunning view of the Granite Mountains. Boulders Viewpoint Parking Area is located 7 miles north of Interstate 40. In addition, Boulders Viewpoint Parking Area is also 50 miles south of Baker and Interstate 15. There are no services at this viewpoint.
When the eastern Mojave Desert was opened to homesteading in 1910, Lanfair Valley became the focus of a visionary group of African American entrepreneurs and clergy in Los Angeles who were determined to establish agricultural and mining colonies in this desert settlement. These homesteads are the stories of friends and family who came to Lanfair Valley to escape oppression and bigotry, and to claim land that with work could become land of their own.
Near the parking area, there is an informational kiosk about the history and natural resources of the area. A short walk leads to a historical stone fort, about four feet tall. Hikers can continue on a difficult-to-follow trail along the creek until they reach Piute Canyon.
The Kelso Dunes are among the largest sand dunes in the country, and an exciting place to spend a few hours exploring.
A sand dune field, about 45 square miles, with the tallest dune being 650 feet. The sand forms sharp ridge lines and domed curves where blown by the wind. Grasses, cacti, and wildflowers dot the slopes.
Discover how Hole-in-the-Wall got its name as you ascend narrow Banshee Canyon with the help of metal rings mounted in the rock. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike connects to the Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall Trail and the Barber Peak Trail.
Discover how Hole-in-the-Wall got its name as you ascend narrow Banshee Canyon with the help of metal rings mounted in the rock. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike connects to the Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall Trail.
The Rock Springs area was used by miners and the military for years. It features an easy one-mile trail with interpretive information and a historic building.
A mile-long loop hiking trail winds through hills, a creek bed, and rocky areas. There is a historic cabin made of rock.
The Lava Tube at Mojave National Preserve basaltic lava tube feature in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field. A short, rocky hiking trail leads from a primitive parking area, to a skylight in the tube, where a ladder leads hikers into the lava tube. Access requires a high clearance from Aiken Mine and Kelbaker Roads. Be sure to check road conditions at go.nps.gov/MojaveRoads before you go.
The stairs down into the lava tube are sturdy, wide metal and have handholds along both sides. At the bottom of the stairs, visitors walk on loose boulders, then crouch or crawl under an overhanging rock to enter the lava tube's main room. Holes in the ceiling allow light beams to shine down, making for stunning photography. .
Information, park brochures, drinking water, and passport stamps are available. Limited maps, books, postcards and other items available for purchase with the Western National Parks Association. Public Wifi available for paying campground fees on Pay.Gov. Park maps and Passport to your National Park Stamps available after hours on front porch, to the right of the main entrance door.
Originally opened in 1924 as a train station, Kelso Depot was renovated and reopened in 2005 as a Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. Exhibits include a baggage room; ticket office and two dormitory rooms have been furnished to illustrate depot life during the first half of the twentieth century. Note: Kelso Depot is temporarily closed for rehabilitation. The contract is underway, and work is being performed according to schedule.
The Rings Loop Trail is a popular 1.5 mile hike that takes you past beautiful scenery and ancient petroglyphs, and up a series of metal rings. This is a moderately difficult hike, and generally flat until the rings climb.
Visit Kelso Depot
Kelso Depot Visitor Center and Museum contains a wealth of information on the human and natural history of the area. Come learn about the plants, animals, and people who have called this area home at some point in history. Rangers are available to answer questions and distribute maps. There is an auditorium featuring a 20 minute film, which is a good introduction to Mojave National Preserve.
Visit a Lava Tube
Come explore underground in a lava tube! Around 27,000 years ago, lava flowed across the surface here. As the red-hot liquid lava stream flowed, its top cooled in the air, blackening and solidifying like a freezing creek in wintertime. The liquid lava beneath continued to flow under the solid surface, which left behind this hollow tube: frozen in time.
Teutonia Peak trail
The Teutonia Peak Hike is a great way to examine the aftermath of the Dome Fire up close. The hike is three miles round-trip and takes between 2 and 3 hours for most people.
Hike Desert Sand Dunes
Take a day hike on the Kelso Dunes! Enjoy an approximately three mile round-trip trail to the top of cream-colored dunes, formed over millennia by wind and sand. If you're lucky, you might even hear the dunes sing. This hike can be strenuous and hot. Bring water and sunscreen.
Wander Through the Joshua Trees
The densest concentration of Joshua trees lies along Cima Road. Although about 1/3 of the Preserve's Joshua Trees were burned during the August 2020 Dome Fire, many healthy individuals remain on Cima Road. This makes it a a wonderful spot to observe Joshua trees, icons of the Mojave Desert! Explore by car or foot. We recommend walking the Teutonia Peak trail if you want to get close to Joshua trees impacted by that fire. This area is hot during the summer, so plan ahead.
Behold the Granite Mountains
A paved pullout about seven miles north of Highway 40 on Kelbaker Road allows visitors to park their cars and enjoy the view of the Granite Mountains. There is parking for five vehicles at a time. This is a great location to catch a sunset or to have a leisurely tailgate picnic.
