Kelso Dunes Wilderness Study Area

These 650-foot-tall rose quartz and feldspar dunes create one of the most surreal landscapes in the Mojave, rising like golden mountains from the creosote flats. The dunes are famous for their ‘singing’ — a deep humming sound produced when sand avalanches down the steepest faces, audible for miles on calm days. The three-mile round-trip hike to the tallest dune offers 360-degree views of the preserve’s volcanic cinder cones and distant mountain ranges.

The trailhead sits at the end of Kelso Dunes Road, a well-graded dirt road accessible to any vehicle in dry conditions but impassable when wet. Early morning and late afternoon provide the best light and cooler temperatures for the challenging sand climb. No shade or water available — bring more than you think you need.

Singing sand dunes rising 650 feet from desert floor