Kelso Dunes

Visit Kelso Sand Dunes in Mojave National Preserve

The hike to the top of Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve is only 3 miles (out and back), but you’ll feel like you’ve hiked much farther by the time you’re done.

The word “trail” is used very loosely, because, like many dunes, there really isn’t much of one to follow. You just walk across the sand towards the top of the dunes. The path gradually climbs as you leave the parking lot and approach the big climb, giving you a small taste of what’s to come.

Sand accumulated here in the Kelso Dunes some 2400 to 9000 years ago when lakes dried up. The surrounding Granite and Providence Mountains create crosswinds and eddies, causing the sand to gather in the same place again and again, forming the dunes.

The Kelso Dunes are only one of seven known “booming” dune fields in North America! The booming is a deep rumbling sound you might get to hear as you climb the dunes if you displace a large quantity of sand, like a mini avalanche—the smooth and rounded moving sand grains produce the sounds.

When it’s time to start the big ascent, take the ridge on the right instead of attempting to go straight up, which is impossibly hard and much more strenuous than it needs to be. Even taking the ridge, it’ll still be a challenge: for every step forward you slide back half a step and can end up with shoes full of sand.

The trail climbs nearly 600 feet in elevation to reach the top of the dunes. You’ll definitely feel it. The last stretch is steep, but the views at the top are well worth the effort, especially if you’re lucky enough to catch a vivid desert sunset.

Return the way you came … and maybe try a little sand sledding as you do. Just don’t end up with pants full of sand … uncomfortable!

Kelso Dunes location. The dunes are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No fees or passes required. This is a remote area of the desert—be sure to have a full tank of gas before entering the preserve. Pit toilets available at the trailhead. *Do not embark on this hike in heat. Go during cooler seasons and carry plenty of water. No dogs.

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View