Afton Canyon to Kelso Dunes Route

This 35-mile desert route connects Afton Canyon — dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Mojave — with the towering Kelso Dunes through some of the most diverse terrain in the East Mojave National Preserve. The trail follows old mining roads and railroad grades past the abandoned Kelso Depot, where the Union Pacific once stopped for water and crew changes. You’ll cross the Mojave River at Afton Canyon, where cottonwoods and cattails create an oasis that supported everything from Spanish explorers to steam locomotives, before climbing into the volcanic mesas toward the 650-foot singing dunes.

Any stock 4×4 or high-clearance 2WD can handle this route, though sand conditions at Kelso Dunes can trap the unprepared. The best months are October through April when desert temperatures are bearable. No permits required, but bring plenty of water — this is legitimate desert where summer temps hit 120°F. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent. What you get is a perfect introduction to Mojave Desert overlanding, with opportunities to camp under some of the darkest skies in California and hear the dunes ‘sing’ when conditions are right.