Parks / Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve
National Preserve · CA
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 increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places.
Official NPS page →Current Alerts (7)
Hart Mine Road Closed
Hart Mine Road Closed.
Road damage possible throughout park
Use caution when driving through Mojave National Preserve. Widespread storms have potentially flooded or damaged roads throughout the preserve.
Do not pick up hitchhikers
Do not pick up hitchhikers. Please report their locations to law enforcement by calling 911.
Fire restrictions in place
Fire restrictions are in place at Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument. Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted. Most camp stoves are. See fire restriction order for additional details.
NPS Visitor Wifi
Visitor wifi and wifi calling is now available in The Kelso Depot parking lot for calls including emergencies. Go to the bulletin board at the Kelso Depot restrooms for instructions.
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
Road Conditions
Hart Mine Road Closed. · Hart Mine Road
Hart Mine Road Closed.
Impact: all-lanes-closed
Entrance Fees
This park is fee-free.
Campgrounds (3)
Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground
The Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground is ideal for larger groups. The group site is available to groups of up to 50 people and up to 30 campers at the equestrian site. Reservations are required.
Details →Hole-in-the-Wall Campground
At 4,400 feet in elevation, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is surrounded by sculptured volcanic rock walls and makes a great basecamp for hikers. Thirty-five campsites accommodate RVs and tents; two walk-in sites are also available. Maximum RV or trailer length is 30 Feet.
Details →Mid Hills Campground
The Hackberry Fire swept through the Mid Hills area in June 2005, burning much of the vegetation. About half of the 26 campsites were left unburned and remain surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper trees. At 5,600 feet in elevation, Mid Hills is much cooler than the desert floor below. The access road is unpaved and not recommended for large motorhomes or trailers. Water is not available at this campground.
Details →Things to Do
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.
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.
Hike the Kelso Dunes
Hike the Kelso Dunes
Hike the Rings Loop
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Visitor Centers
- Barstow Headquarters Information Desk
- Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
- Kelso Depot Visitor Center
Source: National Park Service.