Kelso Dunes: Climb This Sandy Peak in Mojave National Preserve
If you’re planning to visit Mojave National Preserve, you simply cannot miss seeing Kelso Dunes! And for those of you who love to seek out adventure, be sure to make time to hike to the top of Kelso Dunes’ sandy summit! It will truly be one of the most unique experiences you’ve ever had.
The Kelso Dunes are a vast playground of sand. Standing at 600-feet tall, these sand dunes are among some of the tallest and most impressive sand dunes in the United States. They are so large that you can see them from miles and miles away!
To fully experience the massive scale and grandeur of Kelso Dunes, you should make plans to climb its highest peak. From the top are phenomenal views of the surrounding mountains and the Mojave Preserve. You’ll also have 360 degree views of the sand dunes and be able to properly see how far and wide they spread out.
The Kelso Dunes hike is three miles round trip. Although it is only 1.5 miles to the top, do not underestimate the trail. It is really hard!
On the way up it will seem like for every step forward you take, you slide two steps backwards. Unless you visit in winter it will likely be very hot. Sand will get into everything; your shoes, your hair, on your skin, and probably in your eyes too.
All of this may sound unpleasant, but trust me, it is one of the coolest experiences you will ever have. I’ll be honest, you will probably be frowning on the way up but don’t worry because you’ll definitely be smiling on the way back down!
“Singing Sand Dunes”
Kelso Sand Dunes are singing sand dunes. What are singing sand dunes? Sand that produces sound caused by either wind or by walking on the sand. This natural phenomenon only occurs when certain conditions come together; the sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter, the sand has to contain silica, and the sand needs to be a certain humidity.
Examples of singing sand dunes in America include Kelso Dunes in Mojave National Preserve, Eureka Dunes in Death Valley National Park, Sand Mountain in Nevada, Indiana Dunes in Indiana, and Warren Dunes in Michigan.
So if you’re looking for bucket list worthy adventures in California, take a trip to the starkly beautiful Mojave National Preserve to hike Kelso Dunes. The park is located three hours from Los Angeles and only one hour from Las Vegas!
Here’s how to hike to the top of Kelso Dunes
The hike up Kelso Sand Dunes is fairly straightforward. Although there is no marked trail due to the constant shifting of sand, the direction you need to take is for the most part quite obvious.
From the trailhead make your way towards the towering sand dunes ahead of you. The beginning of the trail starts out along a flat sandy path between a heavily vegetated area. This section of the trail is really easy.
We visited the Mojave National Preserve in spring. There were beautiful wildflowers throughout the entire park! Wildflowers on the Kelso Dunes Trail were hidden among the creosote bush.
It’s along along this stretch of the trail you will likely come across different types of lizards and possibly snakes. Since we hiked in the middle of the day we only saw two different species of lizards.
Eventually the trail begins to climb over gentle rolling dunes where the landscape becomes more sparse in vegetation. The trail over these low rising sand dunes is still easy to follow.
Be sure to enjoy the mountain views and windswept landscape from this point before the going gets tough. I won’t lie, things are about to get miserable! This is a good point to turn around if you decide not to keep going.
You will come to a certain point where the tallest of the five sand dunes will be towering right in front of you. You will no doubt be shocked by how massive the sand dunes are up close. The trek up from here may seem daunting but don’t give up!
From this point the “trail” will disappear. Although it may seem like the best path to reach the summit is to head in the direction of the highest peak, do not be fooled because this is not the easiest way to climb to the top of Kelso Dunes.
Instead head towards the right of the summit where you will see a ridge line. Hike towards this ridge line and then begin the ascent to the summit along the back side of the sand dunes.This is the easiest route.
I’ll be honest, this section of the trail is torturous. Each step you you take you will be fighting the sand. It doesn’t help that the wind is constantly whipping sand into your face.
We did a hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up in one day and that made this hike seem like a piece of cake. Not that I want to deter you from completing this hike.
The good news is the views even from here are phenomenal and will motivate you to keep going. Take your time. Soak in the unique geology of these sand dunes. Admire the beautiful rippling patterns on the sand which have been created by the wind.
Eventually you will reach the summit of Kelso Dunes. The view from the top is simply magnificent. Enjoy the surreal backdrop of sand that seems to extend forever.
While you will want to stay and enjoy the once in a lifetime views as long as possible, chances are it will be windy at the top. Sand will likely be whipping the exposed parts of your body. If you have long hair like me it will be a tangled mess!
Hiking back down is the fun part! You can make the trek back down the same way you came or go down the steepest part of the dunes. Feel free to run or slide back down. The sand is so soft that you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself if you fall over. In no time, you will be back at the parking lot with a story to tell.
When is the best time to hike Kelso Dunes?
The best time to hike at Kelso Dunes is between October and May. Summer in the Mojave National Preserve is really hot! Like dangerously hot.
Hiking in summer is not recommended. Summer temperatures in the Mojave Desert regularly soar above 100° degrees. Even as I write this article in the last week of September, the temperature today at Kelso Dunes will be 90° degrees at 9pm.
We hiked in early May and it was very hot. To be fair we did start the hike in the middle of the day so it was to be expected, but it was a now or never kind of moment. If you have a choice, try to plan your hike for early in the morning or late afternoon.
Here’s what to bring on your Kelso Dunes hike:
- Bring water! Bring a lot of water. Note that there is no potable water at the trailhead. Also keep in mind your water bottle will heat up quickly if hiking in the warmer months. If you haven’t already, invest in a good quality water bottle that will keep your liquids cooler longer like this Yeti Rambler water bottle.
- Cover up! Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and don’t forget your hat and sunglasses. To be honest, I wore shorts and a tank top but everyone else was covered from head to toe. What can I say, I’m a sun-loving Aussie who loves living in sunny southern California 💁♀️
- Put on sunscreen. Although I was not covered up, I did wear sunscreen. Who wants to look like a lobster in their vacation photos?! I use this Sunbum sunscreen because it doesn’t have octinoxate or oxybenzone (chemicals that can cause cancer).
How long does it take to hike Kelso Dunes?
Although the Kelso Dunes trail is only a three-mile return trip hike with minimal elevation gain, it is strenuous. Allow at least 2-3 hours to complete this hike.
Where is Kelso Dunes trailhead?
The Kelso Dunes trailhead is located on Kelso Dunes Road. This is a dirt, washboard road which is very bumpy and has many potholes. Drive slowly and carefully on it for three miles until you reach the trailhead. There is a vault toilet at the trailhead.
Where is Mojave National Preserve?
Mojave National Preserve is located in southern California near the Nevada border. The park is situated between Interstate-15 and Interstate-40 and the closest town is Baker, California.
Kelso Dunes is situated in the southern end of Mojave National Preserve. Whether you’re entering the park from the north or south, you’ll need to turn onto Kelbaker Road and then take Kelso Dunes Road to the dunes.
ROAD TRIPS
You can visit Mojave National Preserve on this Los Angeles to Las Vegas Road Trip or on this California Route 66 Road Trip.
Have you got any questions about hiking Kelso Dunes? Ask in the comment section below. Feel free to leave your own tips if you’ve hiked this trail!