Kelso Dunes Trailhead

The parking area sits at the base of 650-foot dunes that stretch across three square miles of the Mojave. The trail is actually a route—no marked path, just follow the ridgelines upward for about 3 miles round trip to the summit. The dunes ‘sing’ when conditions are right, creating an eerie humming sound as sand grains shift. Views from the top span the entire East Mojave landscape including Cima Dome and the Granite Mountains.

Access via Kelso Cima Road, which is paved but can be sandy near the parking area. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best light and cooler temperatures. No shade, no water, and the soft sand makes for a surprisingly tough hike. Popular with photographers during wildflower years when desert lupine blooms at the base.

Singing dunes of the East Mojave