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Kelso Dunes Road
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve
Kelso Dunes Road
Kelbaker Rd at Kelso Dunes sign (view S)

Overview

Kelso Dunes Road is a chip-sealed road (a hard surface, but not exactly paved) in the south-central part of Mojave National Preserve that provides access to the Kelso Dunes trailhead and several primitive campsites. The road usually is pot-holed, but under normal conditions, the road should be fine in a sedan.

The road runs across desert flats carpeted with creosote bush, so the vistas are long and nothing gets in your way.

Link to map.

Kelso Dunes Road
Kelbaker Rd approaching Kelso Dunes Rd (view S)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about the desert, ... the road can be a bit rough from the potholes, but it is passable in a sedan. Use your own good judgment about the road conditions, as the road is subject to washouts.

While out in the desert, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, the area is remote, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Kelso Dunes Road
Kelso Dunes Rd (now paved); view W from Kelbaker)

Getting to the Road

This road is located in Mojave National Preserve, about 1-3/4 hours south of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center in Kelso. In Kelso, turn left onto Kelbaker Road, drive south across the railroad tracks, and continue towards Interstate-40 for 7.8 miles to Kelso Dunes Road on the right. Highway signs announce the turn. The road is just before several tin buildings that can be seen from miles away. Turn right onto Kelso Dunes Road.

Kelso Dunes Road
Kelso Dunes Rd and dunes in distance (now paved; view W)

The Road

From Kelbaker Road (Site 0838), Kelso Dunes Road runs straight and generally west, aiming towards the south side of the dune field. At about 2.5 miles out, the road bends a bit to the left, and shortly the road passes a parking area on the right and then arrives at a pullout with restrooms (2.9 miles out; Site 0121) on the right. This is the Kelso Dunes Trailhead, which is just southeast of the highest dunes.

Continuing, the road (now graded sand) passes a primitive campsite area on the left (3.2 miles out), then bends again and comes to a 3-way fork (3.8 miles out). Kelso Dunes Road curves right towards the dunes and quickly arrives at another primitive campsite (4.0 miles out) with tall athel trees that provide the only shade for miles around.

Kelso Dunes RoadKelso Dunes Rd (now paved)

Continuing, the road ends about 100 yards beyond the campsite at two day-use parking areas. There is deep, soft sand in this area, so without 4WD, don't drive past the campsite. In my jeep, I drove the road in 2WD, but got stuck here and had to shift into 4WD to get out.

Back at the 3-way fork, the other two roads continue west (parallel) about 0.3 miles and end, although two side roads cut north into the camp area.

Kelso Dunes Road
Approaching overflow parking (view W)
Kelso Dunes Road
Restrooms; trailhead must be close (view NW)
Kelso Dunes Road
Approaching Kelso Dunes Trailhead (view W)
Kelso Dunes Road
Kelso Dunes Trailhead (view W)
Kelso Dunes Road
Kelso Dunes Trailhead (now paved; view NW)
Kelso Dunes Road
Start of Kelso Dunes Trail (now paved; view N)
Kelso Dunes Road
Restrooms and trash cans at trailhead (now paved)
Kelso Dunes Road
Kelso Dunes Road (view W; still dirt)
Kelso Dunes Road
Approaching 3-way fork (view W)
Kelso Dunes Road
Right-most of the three forks (view NW)
Kelso Dunes Road
Arriving in the primitive camp area (view N)
Kelso Dunes Road
Primitive campsite (view S)

Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Verified
0121 Kelso Dunes Parking 618950 3861679 34.89233 115.69824 2,789 Yes
0838 Kelbaker Rd at Kelso Dunes Rd 623497 3862721 34.90118 115.64833 2,815 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 210803

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