Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
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Though arid and harsh, the Mojave Desert is home to over 200 endemic plant species and only one kind of tree, the Joshua Tree.
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Camper20772
Naples, Florida11 contributions
This March, we went to Las Vegas on vacation. Vegas is one of the greatest spots in the US for a vacation, but we wanted to experience more! We love the desert and mountains in Nevada and California. It seemed like a perfect spring day to drive to the Mojave dessert. My boyfriend and I had read a lot about what to see in Vegas, but didn't have a clue as to what we might find in the Mojave. The drive there took us over an hour on the free-way, Route 15. Our first stop was in Baker, California, which is the starting point for Kelbaker Road into the Mojave. It is one of those towns that are one-of-a-kind, that almost feel like a movie set. There, in the middle of nowhere, is the world's largest thermometer, the "Mad Greek" restaurant, and a quaint country store. We visited the Mojave National Preserve Desert information center and got, what proved to be vital, a map of the Mojave area. We made sure we had plenty of gas and water and then took off for our adventure.
We discovered that spring in the desert is fantastic. Our first views were of flat sandy desert, covered with wild yellow flowers and the mountains in the background. The terrain became more rolling as we came up to the cinder cones and lava beds. It is one of the only areas of this kind in the United States. The black rocks reflecting the sun were unexpectedly beautiful. There are miles of the flow and we took a short hike off the road to see more. The area was dotted with purple and yellow flowers and cactus in bloom in fire red. Continuing down the road, the scenery is amazing. The Granite and Providence Mountains are magnificent in purple against the blue sky, with their jagged cliffs etching purple zigzag lines across the top. As we drive towards the Kelso Dunes , we see the top white peaks of sand in front of the mountains in the distance. They are down a 3 mile stone road and it can be very bumpy after a rain (we know!) But, the drive is well worth every bump! What we saw ahead was nothing like what we could have imagined. The dunes are huge 700 feet high dunes covering 45 square miles that were created over 25,000 years by sand trapped by the mountains. The scenery here is well worth the trip from Vegas. It’s as if you are on another planet. There were several people hiking up the dunes, but I doubt if this is done in the heat of summer. It is so magnificient, we could barely pull ourselves away from here, but continued on to the Kelso Depot. It is one of the only man-made things you’ll see in the desert. It's a picturesque Old West rail station, built in 1924 for the Union Pacific Railroad which is now being renovated into a park information center. We turned onto Cima Road and then on to Morning Star Mine Road. Along the road you will see part of the densest Joshua tree forest in the world. Many are huge 7 to 8 ft. trees. This road ends at Nipton road. Take a left and you’ll be back to Route 15 and civilization.
Our trip to the Mojave was unforgettable. In the spring, it was fantastic, but we were imagining how hot it must be in the summer. A couple of words of caution. There are only a few outside toilets, no place to buy anything, and at times, even very few people to be seen. It’s a sharp contrast to Vegas. We are so very glad that we took the time to drive here and see the magnificence that nature has to offer. So far, no one has built anything on the strip to equal it!
We discovered that spring in the desert is fantastic. Our first views were of flat sandy desert, covered with wild yellow flowers and the mountains in the background. The terrain became more rolling as we came up to the cinder cones and lava beds. It is one of the only areas of this kind in the United States. The black rocks reflecting the sun were unexpectedly beautiful. There are miles of the flow and we took a short hike off the road to see more. The area was dotted with purple and yellow flowers and cactus in bloom in fire red. Continuing down the road, the scenery is amazing. The Granite and Providence Mountains are magnificent in purple against the blue sky, with their jagged cliffs etching purple zigzag lines across the top. As we drive towards the Kelso Dunes , we see the top white peaks of sand in front of the mountains in the distance. They are down a 3 mile stone road and it can be very bumpy after a rain (we know!) But, the drive is well worth every bump! What we saw ahead was nothing like what we could have imagined. The dunes are huge 700 feet high dunes covering 45 square miles that were created over 25,000 years by sand trapped by the mountains. The scenery here is well worth the trip from Vegas. It’s as if you are on another planet. There were several people hiking up the dunes, but I doubt if this is done in the heat of summer. It is so magnificient, we could barely pull ourselves away from here, but continued on to the Kelso Depot. It is one of the only man-made things you’ll see in the desert. It's a picturesque Old West rail station, built in 1924 for the Union Pacific Railroad which is now being renovated into a park information center. We turned onto Cima Road and then on to Morning Star Mine Road. Along the road you will see part of the densest Joshua tree forest in the world. Many are huge 7 to 8 ft. trees. This road ends at Nipton road. Take a left and you’ll be back to Route 15 and civilization.
Our trip to the Mojave was unforgettable. In the spring, it was fantastic, but we were imagining how hot it must be in the summer. A couple of words of caution. There are only a few outside toilets, no place to buy anything, and at times, even very few people to be seen. It’s a sharp contrast to Vegas. We are so very glad that we took the time to drive here and see the magnificence that nature has to offer. So far, no one has built anything on the strip to equal it!
Written 14 May 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Intlxpatr
Pensacola, FL1 615 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We had thought that this day of the trip would be purely awful, crossing the Mojave Dessert, and we were in for a happy surprise. In March, it was beautiful! It is a little desolate, very rural, agricultural, but interesting, with a large variety of strange looking plants and cactus. We saw the old Twenty Mule Team boron digs, and skirted testing grounds. We experienced some frightening gusts of wind on long stretches of road. It turned out to be an unexpected adventure, not a drudge.
Written 27 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spysmum
Rolleston123 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
If you have done the sights, the casinos and the well organised tours from Las vegas, then this is a trip we can really recommend.
By taking the 95 road south out of the city, heading for Boulder and Searchlight, you soon find yourself well away from the concrete and glitz.Pass throug the wonderfully named Railroad Pass, a small community with a truck stop type bar and coffee shop- and a fantastic original , working, one-arm bandit.Turn towards Searchlight,, driving through beautiful scenery dotted with quirky looking cacti and joshua trees. Soon you arrive at the wonderful old mining town of Searchlight, with the remains of the many gold mines that brought enormous wealth to Nevada in the early 20 century. a railway was built to carry away the ore, but a storm washed away the tracks long ago. Derelict mine remains dot the area, and are fascinating to see.
Carry on south towards Needles, but before reaching this town you turn west onto a well preserved section of Route 66 which follows the same route as the railway. Regular 100 wagon freight trains ,slowly hauled by 3 monster engines lumber along the route, blowing the mournful whistle as you overtake them.
As you stop to admire the lovely, but desolate scenery, it is wonderful to hear nothing but the wind and the birds. The only other traffic last month seemed to be the occasional pair of well wrapped up motor cyclists riding this iconic road.
By turning north again at the small town of Goffs with its huge open air collection of mining equipment and memorabilia, you enter the Mojave Native Indian reservation. small ranching communities all around, raising cattle.
Very soon, paved road ends, and a gravel road continues though wonderfully wild terrain. We were lucky to spot eagles overhead and a distant coyote running away from the sound of our car.
In places it is clear that rainstorms wash away the road, but the road is easy, though rough and rutted in places.
after about 50 miles you reach a signpost pointing to Nipton, which soon brings you to the Califoria/Nevada stateline town of Primm, worth halting to have a look at the Whiskey Pete's casino display of Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia, and having a snack at the Mad Greek cafe. the enormous Shopping Mall is what brings most visitors to this town, and the Outlet shops have many bargains.
By taking the 95 road south out of the city, heading for Boulder and Searchlight, you soon find yourself well away from the concrete and glitz.Pass throug the wonderfully named Railroad Pass, a small community with a truck stop type bar and coffee shop- and a fantastic original , working, one-arm bandit.Turn towards Searchlight,, driving through beautiful scenery dotted with quirky looking cacti and joshua trees. Soon you arrive at the wonderful old mining town of Searchlight, with the remains of the many gold mines that brought enormous wealth to Nevada in the early 20 century. a railway was built to carry away the ore, but a storm washed away the tracks long ago. Derelict mine remains dot the area, and are fascinating to see.
Carry on south towards Needles, but before reaching this town you turn west onto a well preserved section of Route 66 which follows the same route as the railway. Regular 100 wagon freight trains ,slowly hauled by 3 monster engines lumber along the route, blowing the mournful whistle as you overtake them.
As you stop to admire the lovely, but desolate scenery, it is wonderful to hear nothing but the wind and the birds. The only other traffic last month seemed to be the occasional pair of well wrapped up motor cyclists riding this iconic road.
By turning north again at the small town of Goffs with its huge open air collection of mining equipment and memorabilia, you enter the Mojave Native Indian reservation. small ranching communities all around, raising cattle.
Very soon, paved road ends, and a gravel road continues though wonderfully wild terrain. We were lucky to spot eagles overhead and a distant coyote running away from the sound of our car.
In places it is clear that rainstorms wash away the road, but the road is easy, though rough and rutted in places.
after about 50 miles you reach a signpost pointing to Nipton, which soon brings you to the Califoria/Nevada stateline town of Primm, worth halting to have a look at the Whiskey Pete's casino display of Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia, and having a snack at the Mad Greek cafe. the enormous Shopping Mall is what brings most visitors to this town, and the Outlet shops have many bargains.
Written 24 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrsblizz
Hanover, PA135 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
What really sets this national park apart from others in the area is the Kelso sand dunes. Amazing! The dunes are about 40 square miles and is suitable for all ages. To climb to the top is a two mile hike in very soft and steep sand, but the views from the bottom and middle are also breathtaking. Can't say enough good things about it. There is a small gift shop and cafe close by and restrooms right at the bottom of the dunes. I can see where this would be too hot to visit in the summer, but early March is beautiful.
Written 10 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Double "Ollie" Winner
Riverside, CA2 502 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Definitely plan your drive to include sunset. If you're able to hit Baker on queue, that's where I think the most beautiful mountain views can be had in all directions. The entire experience of changing colors lasts about an hour. (Fill your gas tank before you drive across the desert or you'll experience true highway robbery.)
Written 4 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelley P
Glen Mills, PA78 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
We really enjoyed our trip to the Mojave Desert. Going in December meant that we didn't need to be concerned about the hot temperatures, but could still see and enjoy the area. Keep in mind that there is little chance of cell service and although there are restroom facilities at Kelso Depot and the Kelso Dunes (for instance), there is not gas station so make sure to fill up! We drove first to the visitor's station at Kelso Depot. What was a railroad depot is now a small museum, theatre (with a short movie of the area) and there are a few snacks available. The ranger and volunteers were very helpful, suggesting things to look for and places to stop. The size of the park makes it too large to see everything so it might be a good idea to research first and prioritize where you want to go. We went to the Dunes and loved it! It's a "singing" dune, one of only a handful in the world. Something about how the wind can cross the dune makes the sands shift and you can hear this deep, almost pipe organ sound as it does. Hiking all the way to the top (it's maybe 1/2 mile from the parking lot- there is a bathroom, but no water) would take several hours so plan accordingly. The dunes are quite large and lots of varied terrain as there's shrubs and other plants all over. The climb is not a straight ascent- there are small hillocks to climb up or down up to the point of getting to the last couple hundred feet. Then it is pretty much straight up. We made sure to have plenty of water with us, too. Even though the temps were not terribly hot (low 70s when we started), it's still possible to get dehydrated. I took lots of pictures because this desert was not like what I imagined- there are hills, lots of plant life... not just sandy like I had expected. Although we had only allotted half a day we could easily have spent the whole day. Apparently, there are even 2 campgrounds (one where you can bring horses) and they allow camping a couple of other places to, but since we weren't camping I don't know much more about it.
Written 5 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marco S
Rineyville, KY144 contributions
Aug 2014
My wife and I were in Vegas and thought we drive the 70 miles to see the Mojave Desert for something to do one morning. Well, let me tell you that it was just that, a desert. Yes it had rocks, bushes and sand. No big deal if you ask me. Would not recommend making a special trip to see it, but if your passing by go ahead and stop.
Written 14 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ws120
Harwinton, CT6 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
There is a lot to see and do here if you like the outdoors and exploring more than sight seeing. I rented a 4wd out of Vegas and did some exploring on the off highway roads. Its dry now, and most of the roads have firm sand. Never had to air down....so I'm returning the tire inflator and shovel to Walmart before I leave for home.
There are quite a few abandoned mines, and the photography from up high is stunning. Recommend you hike Teutonia Peak and Kelso dunes...great shots at sunset. Consult the ranger at Kelso junction for locations where you can car camp.
Good resources are National Geographic's map or the free map at the rangers station at Kelso.
There are quite a few abandoned mines, and the photography from up high is stunning. Recommend you hike Teutonia Peak and Kelso dunes...great shots at sunset. Consult the ranger at Kelso junction for locations where you can car camp.
Good resources are National Geographic's map or the free map at the rangers station at Kelso.
Written 31 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah
Chicago, IL1 051 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
This is the first time I have been to a desert. Being from the Midwest, this was a new and very different landscape for me. Lots of sand, brush, open spaces, and Joshua trees. I had never seen a Joshua tree before (my only knowledge of a Joshua tree was the U2 album of the same name), and at first I didn't even know what it was. I experienced the Mojave mostly in the "High Desert" area, which is not too far from San Bernardino's forest parks. It was beautiful in a brutalist kind of way, with blue skies and mountains in the background. During my two weeks here, I grew to appreciate the solitary sight of the random Joshua tree in the middle of nowhere.
I visited at the mid through end of September. Temperatures had actually fallen to the mid- to upper-80's during the day (the weeks immediately preceding my trip were more in the 100's range). I was SHOCKED that the early mornings were actually cold! Apparently a 40 to 50 degree difference in temperature between the high and low is normal.
Very educational for a Midwesterner. Probably best to visit in fall when the temperature is more bearable.
I visited at the mid through end of September. Temperatures had actually fallen to the mid- to upper-80's during the day (the weeks immediately preceding my trip were more in the 100's range). I was SHOCKED that the early mornings were actually cold! Apparently a 40 to 50 degree difference in temperature between the high and low is normal.
Very educational for a Midwesterner. Probably best to visit in fall when the temperature is more bearable.
Written 6 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
knightes
Glendale, AZ92 contributions
Great stop. Well maintained. Great, informative signage, ravens everywhere
Beautiful mountains. Wow
What friendly staff. Truly enjoyed the respite from the road.
Beautiful mountains. Wow
What friendly staff. Truly enjoyed the respite from the road.
Written 29 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi all,
My friend and I are doing a trip from San Diego, to Salvation mountain then through the Mojave to Vegas. It will be our first day driving so want to stop somewhere in the Mojave.
What's the easiest place to access and stay?
Would really appreciate any advice!
Jensine
Written 3 July 2018
I am heading to Laughlin NV next week and I am going to be renting a car....is there anyplace that I should stay away from ? and The Mojave Desert is there any warnings I need to be aware of ?
Written 5 January 2015
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