Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve is more than just the Mojave Desert: it also includes parts of the Great Basin and Sonoran deserts among its 1.6 million acres.
Plan Around Mojave National Preserve
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Mojave National Preserve Details
Mojave National Preserve is more than just the Mojave Desert: it also includes parts of the Great Basin and Sonoran deserts among its 1.6 million acres. Remarkably remote considering its relative proximity to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the park is known for its forests of Joshua Trees as well as sights like the 600-foot-high Kelso Dunes, the rhyolite cliffs of Hole-in-the-Wall, and the Cima Dome, a remarkable smooth granite dome in the middle of a flat volcanic plain. Cinder cones and lava flows are common features of the Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark, found within the park. A 1920s lunch counter has been restored as the park's Kelso Depot Visitor Center in the former railroad depot (and current ghost town) of Kelso, Calif. In addition to hiking and viewing desert wildlife and landscapes, park visitors with 4WD vehicles can drive on the historic Mojave Road, an ancient Indian trail that became an important pioneer route to the west coast. The park has more than 1,000 miles of unpaved roads, which also provide the only access to the part of the park north of I-15, home to 7,929-foot Clark Mountain, the preserve's highest point.
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
National Parks
Nearby Parks Around Mojave National Preserve
Compare nearby parks around Mojave National Preserve when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Mojave National Preserve
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Mojave National Preserve while the map context is still fresh.
9.4 mi away
Wild Horse Canyon Scenic Backcountry Byway
If you are visiting the East Mojave National Scenic Area, then you will want to take part of your day to explore this backcountry byway.
10.4 mi away
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Overlooking the Mojave Desert, this park on the eastern side of the Providence Mountains is an excellent spot for hiking and wildlife viewing.
13.6 mi away
Cima Dome
This volcanic field in the middle of the Mojave National Preserve consists of 40 volcanic cones and 60 lava flows, creating and black and red landscape of rocky volcanic material.
14.6 mi away
Lava Tube in the Mojave Desert
It is not every day that you get to crawl inside the middle of a lava tube.
16.7 mi away
Kelso Dunes
The ever-changing landscape of wind-blown sand dunes is a surreal backdrop for this strenuous 3-mile hike.
