Planning a trip to Mojave National Preserve

Getting There

I-15, the major route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, extends along the northern boundary of the preserve. I-40, the major route between Southern California and Arizona, is the southern access route.

Common entry points include Kelbaker Road, which crosses the preserve from Baker to Kelso. There are Kelbaker Road exits from both I-15 and I-40. The Essex Road exit from I-40, 25 miles east of Kelbaker Road, is the access point for Providence Mountains State Recreation Area (Mitchell Caverns) and two other campgrounds. The Cima Road exit from I-15 near Mountain Pass leads into the center of the preserve.

The town of Nipton, technically outside preserve boundaries, is a common destination for Mojave travelers. Take Nipton Road from I-15, within sight of the Nevada border.

The nearest airport is Las Vegas's McCarran International.

Tips for Families

There's a lot for kids to enjoy in Mojave, from scrambling on sandy Kelso Dunes to exploring lava beds so similar to the moon's surface that U.S. astronauts once trained here, or you can make a contest of finding familiar shapes and profiles in the jagged Granite Mountains.

Getting Around

At the risk of discouraging you from leaving your car to really experience the Mojave, I must admit that Kelbaker Road provides an excellent opportunity to sample the preserve with a minimal expenditure of time or trouble. The well-paved two-lane road, crossing the preserve roughly from north to south between I-15 and I-40, takes about 1 hour one-way without stops.

You'll drive through the eerie blackened landscape of lava beds and cinder cones, visit the elegant Kelso Depot, and see the towering golden mounds of Kelso Dunes. This 45-square-mile formation of sculpted sand dunes is famous for its "booming," a low rumble emitted when small avalanches or blowing sands pass over the underlying layer. Geologists speculate that the extreme dryness of the East Mojave Desert, combined with the wind-polished, rounded nature of the sand grains, has something to do with the musicality. Sometimes the low rumbling resembles a Tibetan gong; other times it sounds like a 1950s doo-wop musical group. After Kelso Dunes, you'll end your trip with views of the Granite Mountains, where erosion has removed all but the most resilient chunks of extraordinarily hard rock, leaving piles of rosy-hued boulders that are alternately smooth and jagged.

Leading northeast from Kelso Depot, the Kelso-Cima Road provides another scenic diversion, running alongside railroad tracks to the tiny community of Cima (Spanish for "summit"), at the foot of a geological oddity called Cima Dome, an almost perfectly rounded landform rising 1,500 feet above the desert. The dome is a batholith, created by molten rock that, unlike its volcano cousin, stopped rising below the surface. This unusual formation is blanketed by majestic Joshua trees. The community of Cima consists of a tiny U.S. post office and a ramshackle market, but no gas station. (Don't be fooled by its boarded-up appearance.) Be prepared for the many heart-stopping dips in the Kelso-Cima Road; they're a favorite with young backseat passengers.

Visitors with four-wheel-drive vehicles or especially rugged two-wheel drives can explore the Wildhorse Canyon Road, looping from Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall, at the preserve's heart. In 1989, this short route was declared the nation's first official "Backcountry Byway," an honor that federal agencies bestow on America's most scenic back roads. The 11-mile horseshoe-shaped route crosses wide-open country dotted with cholla cactus, but the landscape was irrevocably altered by a 2005 wildfire.

When to Go

Seasons & Climate

Mojave National Preserve's 1.6 million acres lie in the high desert, with elevations from 1,000 feet to nearly 8,000 feet. Although conditions from December to February can be windy and cold with a dusting of snow, summers often see blistering temperatures exceeding 100°F (38°C). The best time to visit is between February and April, when temperatures are mild and wildflowers are in bloom. October and November have comfortable weather and few visitors. The area gets little rainfall, but what does occur (usually during winter) can begin suddenly and cause flash flooding.

Seasonal Events

Best between February and May, the wildflower viewing depends on weather conditions such as rainfall, sunshine, and temperatures, but you can bet on seeing the brilliant blooms somewhere in the preserve each year. Rangers can help direct you to the flowers currently in bloom.