GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE
Mojave Desert
Overview
The Mojave Desert stretches across parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, making it one of the most iconic desert landscapes in North America. Known for its striking rock formations, wide-open skies, and otherworldly Joshua trees, the Mojave offers campers a chance to disconnect and experience true desert solitude. It's the driest desert in the U.S., but don't let that fool you — this "empty" landscape is full of life, color, and adventure.
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
11:50 AM
1:10 PM
2:50 PM
3:20 PM
3:55 PM
4:15 PM
4:35 PM
Itinerary
4:35 PM
8:00 PM
9:30 PM
5:30 AM
7:00 AM
8:10 AM
11:10 AM
12:55 PM
1:35 PM
Overview
A two-day adventure takes you deep into the heart of the Mojave Desert, blending exploration, adventure, and rest under some of the darkest skies in California. Day one starts with a scenic drive out to the desert, a stop for lunch, and an up-close look at the region's ancient volcanic lava tubes before making camp near the towering Kelso Dunes — where the evening winds down with a home-cooked dinner and stargazing through a telescope. Day two kicks off with sunrise over the dunes, a hearty breakfast, and a hands-on hike up Kelso Dunes with the option to sandboard down before heading back home by mid-afternoon.
Along the way, you'll pass through Kelso Depot, take in desert landscapes shaped over thousands of years, and get a true taste of what makes the Mojave one of the most striking wilderness areas in the country.
Drive to plaza with restaurants (110 min)
Meet at Meeting Point (30 min)
Drive to Lava Tubes (100 min)
Lunch at plaza with restaurants (80 min)
Drive to Kelso Depot (35 min)
Explore Kelso Depot (20 min)
Drive to Kelso Dunes (20 min)
Make dinner
Stargazing with telescope (90 min)
Depends on night conditions
Retire for the night
Sunrise
Hike Kelso Dunes + Sandboard (180 min)
Optional: If too hard, hike only halfway (no sandboard)
Drive to lunch (105 min)
Drive (90 min)
Arrive back at meeting point
Wake up, pack up, eat breakfast (70 min)
Explore Lava Tubes (30 min)
Setup camp
Lunch at plaza with restaurants (40 min)
3:05 PM
Campfire + Smores
After sunset
We provide the essentials so you can travel light. Below is everything included in your trip, plus a few extras we recommend packing for comfort.
What We Provide
Sleeping Bag
Included
Sleeping Mat
Included
Tent
Included
Dinner
Included
Snacks
Included
Water
Included
Breakfast
Included
Water bottle
Bring Your Own
Jacket
Nights can get cold
Bring Your Own
What we recommend you bring
Sunscreen
Bring Your Own
Personal sleeping bag
Optional — we provide one, but bring your own if you prefer
Bring Your Own
Toiletries
Bring Your Own
Sanitary wipes
Bring Your Own
Change of clothes
Bring Your Own
What to
Expect
Preparation is key when visiting the Mojave. Expect limited cell service, vast distances between water sources, and incomparable stargazing opportunities under some of the darkest skies in the country. Hikers should be prepared for steep elevation changes and loose gravel terrain. The silence of the desert is profound, offering a rare sense of peace for those who journey deep into its heart.
