Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center: 10:00AM - 4:00PM
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About the Park
Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places.
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What to See & Do
Hike the Kelso Dunes
Hike the Kelso Dunes
Hike the Rings Loop
The Rings Loop Trail is a popular 1.5 mile hike that takes you past beautiful scenery and ancient petroglyphs, and up a series of metal rings. This is a moderately difficult hike, and generally flat until the rings climb.
Visit Kelso Depot
Kelso Depot Visitor Center and Museum contains a wealth of information on the human and natural history of the area. Come learn about the plants, animals, and people who have called this area home at some point in history. Rangers are available to answer questions and distribute maps. There is an auditorium featuring a 20 minute film, which is a good introduction to Mojave National Preserve.
Visit a Lava Tube
Come explore underground in a lava tube! Around 27,000 years ago, lava flowed across the surface here. As the red-hot liquid lava stream flowed, its top cooled in the air, blackening and solidifying like a freezing creek in wintertime. The liquid lava beneath continued to flow under the solid surface, which left behind this hollow tube: frozen in time.
Teutonia Peak trail
The Teutonia Peak Hike is a great way to examine the aftermath of the Dome Fire up close. The hike is three miles round-trip and takes between 2 and 3 hours for most people.
Wander Through the Joshua Trees
The densest concentration of Joshua trees lies along Cima Road. Although about 1/3 of the Preserve's Joshua Trees were burned during the August 2020 Dome Fire, many healthy individuals remain on Cima Road. This makes it a a wonderful spot to observe Joshua trees, icons of the Mojave Desert! Explore by car or foot. We recommend walking the Teutonia Peak trail if you want to get close to Joshua trees impacted by that fire. This area is hot during the summer, so plan ahead.
Visitor Centers
Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center
Information, park brochures, drinking water, and passport stamps are available. Limited maps, books, postcards and other items available for purchase with the Western National Parks Association. Public Wifi available for paying campground fees on Pay.Gov. Park maps and Passport to your National Park Stamps available after hours on front porch, to the right of the main entrance door.
Kelso Depot Visitor Center
Originally opened in 1924 as a train station, Kelso Depot was renovated and reopened in 2005 as a Visitor Center for Mojave National Preserve. Exhibits include a baggage room; ticket office and two dormitory rooms have been furnished to illustrate depot life during the first half of the twentieth century. Note: Kelso Depot is temporarily closed for rehabilitation. Wifi calling is available at the Kelso Depot parking lot. The contract is underway, and work is being performed according to schedule.
Barstow Headquarters Information Desk
A small visitor center lobby is located in the front of our Barstow Headquarters.
Where to Stay
Mid Hills Campground
The Hackberry Fire swept through the Mid Hills area in June 2005, burning much of the vegetation. About half of the 26 campsites were left unburned and remain surrounded by pinyon pine and juniper trees. At 5,600 feet in elevation, Mid Hills is much cooler than the desert floor below. The access road is unpaved and not recommended for large motorhomes or trailers. Water is not available at this campground.
Hole-in-the-Wall Campground
At 4,400 feet in elevation, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is surrounded by sculptured volcanic rock walls and makes a great basecamp for hikers. Thirty-five campsites accommodate RVs and tents; two walk-in sites are also available. Maximum RV or trailer length is 30 Feet.
Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground
The Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground is ideal for larger groups. The group site is available to groups of up to 50 people and up to 30 campers at the equestrian site. Reservations are required.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
Note: There is no fuel inside the Preserve. Please fill up with gas BEFORE you enter. Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow and 90 miles west of Las Vegas at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads. Kelso Depot is currently closed for renovations.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Note: There is no fuel inside the Preserve. Please fill up with gas BEFORE you enter. Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow and 90 miles west of Las Vegas at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads. Kelso Depot is currently closed for renovations.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Mojave National Preserve — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Operating Hours
Park Operating Hours
Outdoor areas of the Mojave National Preserve including trails, roads, campgrounds are OPEN 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Be sure to check Alerts and Conditions for any temporary closures.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Photos
Spring wildflowers carpeting the desert floor
A desert tortoise rest in the shade of a bush near some hikers
A lonely desert trail leads to tall sand dunes
A man standing on a mountain peak in front of a wide desert landscape
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Mojave
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.