About Mojave National Preserve
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.
Quick Facts
Operating Hours
Outdoor areas of the Mojave National Preserve including trails, roads, campgrounds are OPEN 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Be sure to check Alerts and Conditions for any temporary closures.
Activities
Getting There
Note: There is no fuel inside the Preserve. Please fill up with gas BEFORE you enter. Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow and 90 miles west of Las Vegas at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads. Kelso Depot is currently closed for renovations.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
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…
The Rings Loop is about 1.5 miles roundtrip and mostly flat until you get to the upper end of the…
Visit Kelso Depot
Kelso Depot Visitor Center and Museum contains a wealth of information on the human and natural history of the area.…
Kelso Depot has an information desk staffed by a ranger and two floors of museum exhibits. There is also a…
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…
From the parking area the walk to the lava tube is about 300 feet uphill. Enter the tube using the…
Teutonia Peak trail
The Teutonia Peak Hike is a great way to examine the aftermath of the Dome Fire up close. The hike…
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…
This is a maintained, front-country hike. The trail is about three miles, with 650 feet of elevation gain.
Visitor Centers
Barstow Headquarters Information Desk
A small visitor center lobby is located in the front of our Barstow Headquarters.
Hours: Enter through the doors facing the main road.
Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center
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…
Hours: Hole in the Wall Visitor Center is Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 am to 4 pm. Please verify that the access roads and/or visitor center are open at our conditions page at go.nps.gov/MojaveConditions
Kelso Depot Visitor Center
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…
Hours: Kelso Depot is temporarily closed for rehabilitation. The contract is underway, and work is being performed according to schedule. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and visit us at the Hole-In-The-Wall Information Center.
Campgrounds
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…
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…
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…
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