The Southern California Kelso Dunes Are The Coolest Thing You'll Ever See For Free
By Natasha Kayes|Published December 08, 2022
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
California is large state and has a vastly diverse landscape, from wide sparkling beaches to statuesque mountains, and from lust green forests to arid deserts. It is the deserts that seem to get the least attention, but one California desert has at least one sight absolutely worth seeing. It is hard to believe we have these mind-blowing sand dunes in Southern California. This is by far one of the coolest things you will see without having to pay a cent.
There is much to explore in Mojave National Desert Preserve, but as you make your way to Kelso Dunes, it is apparent that this is a very unique landscape - immense wind-swept piles of sand in the middle of nowhere.
As you would expect, the Mojave Desert has a lot of sand, but the largest area of sand dunes is known as Kelso Dunes. These strangely beautiful dunes stretch out over 45 square miles.
Walking through any area of the sand dunes is permitted, and it requires a strenuous effort to climb the dunes which gain 600 feet of elevation from the base. While it is not an easy hike to the top of the dunes, but an unbelievable view of expansive rolling sand hills.
The patterns and shapes of the Kelso Dunes change constantly, even daily, and look different in summer than they do in winter due to winds coming from varying directions.
Have you ever heard of “booming dunes” or “singing dunes,” as they are also known? When conditions are just right and sand cascades down one of the dunes, it produces a low, almost otherworldly rumble that you can not only hear but feel through your body. Kelso Dunes are one of only seven fields of sand dunes in North America where you can experience this phenomenon.
To many, the sand dunes seem completely still and devoid of life, but if spend some time here and keep your eyes peeled, you may see a Mojave fringe-toed lizard, fox, jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, coyote, or even a Desert tortoise.
Have you ever hiked through these sand dunes in Southern California? Tell us all about your experience in the comments. If you want to learn more and plan your trip to Kelso Dunes, visit the National Park Service website. We also recommend checking out these other natural wonders in Southern California.
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