14 Attractions to Explore Near Kelso Dunes

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Kelso Depot Visitor Center

Kelso Depot Visitor Center

13.32km from Kelso Dunes

It is located in the Mojave Desert within the National Park Service Mojave National Preserve, on Kelso Cima Road at the junction of Kelbaker Road in Kelso, California, between Baker and Interstate 15 to the north and Interstate 40 to the south. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and along with the adjacent ghost town of Kelso, was declared a United States Historic District in 2000.

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

The Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is located in the Providence Mountains, within the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California. It is also home to the Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve. The Recreation Area is located on the east side of the Providence Mountains range and has dramatic views of the surrounding Mojave Desert. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and also attracts many tourists.

Mitchell Caverns

Mitchell Caverns

20.18km from Kelso Dunes

Mitchell Caverns is three solution limestone caves, only two of which are open to the public. It was created primarily by the dissolution of sedimentary limestone and metamorphised limestone by ground water high in carbonic acid content. The "Tecopa" and "El Pakiva" caves are connected by a man-made tunnel and are open to guided tours led by California State Park rangers. These caves are the only limestone caves in the California State Park system.

Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert

26km from Kelso Dunes

This is an arid rain-shadow desert and the driest desert in North America. Its boundaries are generally noted by the presence of Joshua trees, which are native only to the Mojave Desert and are considered an indicator species. This place is now a tourist spot and a lot of people come here to spend some good times here.

Mojave National Preserve

Mojave National Preserve

30.45km from Kelso Dunes

Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Natural features include the Kelso Dunes, the Marl Mountains and the Cima Dome, as well as volcanic formations such as Hole-in-the-Wall and the Cinder Cone Lava Beds. The preserve surrounds Providence Mountains State Recreation Area and Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve, which are both managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Amboy Crater

Amboy Crater

41.17km from Kelso Dunes

Amboy Crater is a dormant cinder cone volcano that rises above a 70-square-kilometer lava field in the eastern Mojave Desert of southern California, within Mojave Trails National Monument. The Federal Bureau of Land Management recommends using the Western Cone Trail to reach the volcano peak's rim, a steep and rocky hiking trail.

Teutonia Peak Trail

Teutonia Peak Trail

47.91km from Kelso Dunes

This 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.Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 31 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

The World's Tallest Thermometer

The World's Tallest Thermometer

50.3km from Kelso Dunes

The World's Tallest Thermometer is a landmark in Baker, California, US. It is a steel electric sign that commemorates the weather record of 134 °F recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913. It stands 134 feet tall and is capable of displaying a maximum temperature of 134 °F (57 °C), both of which are a reference to the temperature record.

Castle Mountains National Monument

Castle Mountains National Monument

70.09km from Kelso Dunes

Castle Mountains National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in the eastern Mojave Desert and northeastern San Bernardino County, in the state of California. The park protects 20,920 acres, located between the interstates I−15 and I−40, and northwest of the Colorado River. The national monument protects a section of the Castle Mountains, a range located in San Bernardino County and Clark County, Nevada.

Oasis of Mara

Oasis of Mara

91.51km from Kelso Dunes

Oasis of Mara is a spring in San Bernardino County and has an elevation of 600 metres. A paved, level, half mile loop path winds through the oasis, which contains one main group of palms, centered on a spring, and a few other trees nearby, not all living; one section has a somewhat forlorn appearance, with several dead trunks having lost their crowns, rising above piles of long-discarded leaves.

The Integratron

The Integratron

92.14km from Kelso Dunes

The Integratron is a 38 feet tall cupola structure with a diameter of 55 feet designed by ufologist and contactee George Van Tassel. The Integratron machine was started in 1957, the structure erected in 1959. It was financed predominantly by donations, including funds from Howard Hughes.

Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum

Located on 10 acres of open land near the town of Joshua Tree, California, the museum contains over one hundred works of art, including large scale assemblages, environmental sculptures, and installation art created by the artist between 1989–2004. While giving the appearance of a salvage yard with tires, bathroom fixtures, TVs, ragged clothes, toys and vacuum cleaners, each piece has a story to tell.

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

95.2km from Kelso Dunes

Fortynine Palms Oasis is a three-mile, out and back trail located in Joshua Tree National Park in California, with a 300-foot elevation gain in both directions. The trail starts at Fortynine Palms Parking Area, goes up and over a ridge dotted with barrel cacti, and descends to a palm oasis in a rocky canyon.The oasis is frequently used as a watering hole for bighorn sheep.

Dumont Dunes

Dumont Dunes

96.66km from Kelso Dunes

Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area encompasses 7,620 acres of public land.. Bordered by steep volcanic hills and the slow running Amargosa River, the region is easily recognized from a distance by its distinctive sand dunes. The remote location and variety of terrain appeal to those seeking primitive camping opportunities, off-road adventures, fabulous scenery, and opportunities for solitude.

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Kelso Dunes

Kelso Dunes

Kelso Dunes, California, USA

This is the largest field of aeolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert. The region is protected by the Mojave National Preserve. The dune field covers 45 square miles and includes migrating dunes, vegetation-stabilized dunes, sand sheets, and sand ramps.