Mojave National Preserve
Trailie
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Mojave at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- 2–4 days
- Don't miss
- Hike the Kelso Dunes
- Nearby city
- Kelso, CA
Explore this park
Alerts(7)
Fire restrictions in place
NPS detailsFire restrictions are in place at Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument. Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted. Most camp stoves are. See fire restriction order for additional details.
Hart Mine Road Closed
Hart Mine Road Closed.
NPS Visitor Wifi
Visitor wifi and wifi calling is now available in The Kelso Depot parking lot for calls including emergencies. Go to the bulletin board at the Kelso Depot restrooms for instructions.
Delays up to 1 hour are possible at Kelbaker Road Railroad Crossing near Kelso Depot
In the event there are train siding operations at the crossing near Kelso Depot, delays may be up to one hour. Please plan accordingly for this possibility with extra fuel and drinking water. Union Pacific Contact: 1 800 848-8715
Kelso Depot Visitor Center closed
Kelso Depot Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation of the heating and cooling system. We expect to reopen the depot in 2026. The restrooms beside the depot are open.
Rough and damaged roads
NPS detailsDrive slowly and exercise due caution when driving in Mojave National Preserve. Rough and damaged roads exist on both paved and unpaved roads. Watch for potholes.
Common questions
Planning Mojave National Preserve
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 1 reservation type on the Permits tab, including Joshua Tree National Park Tours. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
