View source for Kelso Dunes

{{Short description|Dunefield in the Mojave Desert, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox landform
| name          = Kelso Dunes
| type          = [[Dune field]]
| image         = Mojave National Preserve Kelso Dunes (49461666752).jpg
| caption       = Kelso Dunes at [[Mojave National Preserve]], [[California]]
| map           = USA California
| relief        = yes
| area          = {{cvt|45|sqmi|km2}}
| height        = {{cvt|650|ft|m}}
| coordinates   = {{Coord|34.9034962|-115.7180508|dim:{{Infobox dim|area_mi2=45}}_region:US-CA_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref    = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1660830|name=Kelso Dunes}}</ref>
| elevation     = {{cvt|3074|ft|m}}
| elevation_ref = <ref name=gnis/>
}}

'''Kelso Dunes''', also known as the '''Kelso Dune Field''', is the largest{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} field of [[Aeolian processes|aeolian]] sand deposits in the [[Mojave Desert]]. The region is protected by the [[Mojave National Preserve]] and is located near the preserve's visitor center in [[Kelso Depot]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm|title=Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref> The nearest major town is [[Baker, California|Baker]]. The [[dune|dune field]] covers {{Convert|45|sqmi}} and includes migrating dunes, [[Sand dune stabilization|vegetation-stabilized]] dunes, [[sand sheet]]s, and sand ramps. The tallest dunes rise up to {{Convert|650|ft}} above the surrounding terrain.

[[File:KelsoSandMarch2010.jpg|thumb|left|Sand from the Kelso Dunes]]

==Geology==
The dunes are composed predominantly of light-colored [[quartz]] and [[feldspar]], most likely [[erosion|eroded]] from the [[granite|granitics]] of the [[San Bernardino Mountains]] to the southwest. [[Magnetite]] and [[amphibole]] can also be found, often accumulating at the dune crests.

Kelso Dunes represent part of a much larger sand transport system, which includes the nearby [[Devils Playground]] region. The composition and morphology of the sand grains indicate that most originated from the [[Mojave River]] sink near [[Afton Canyon]], which lies to the west of the dunes' current location. The sand has accumulated at the southeastern end of the [[Soda Lake (San Bernardino County)|Soda Lake-Kelso basin]], where the [[Granite Mountains (eastern San Bernardino County, California)|Granite Mountains]] and [[Providence Mountains]] form a barrier to prevailing winds. At present, only the area around the Mojave River sink and the westernmost parts of Devil's Playground are receiving new sand through this system; sand is no longer accumulating at Kelso Dunes itself.

==Geography==
The Kelso Dunes are composed of five stacked sets of dunes, each set corresponding to a period of climate change over the last 25,000 years. During dry climate episodes, a decrease in stabilizing vegetation exposed surface sand to wind [[erosion]], which ultimately brought the sand to the dunes (most of the eastern part of the Kelso dunes was formed when nearby Soda Lake and Silver Lake dried into their current [[Dry lake|playa]]s). However, once the sand was emplaced, vegetation began to grow, locking much of it into place.

The Kelso Dunes are also notable for the phenomenon known as [[singing sand]], or "booming dunes". Enthusiasts sometimes climb to the top of the dunes and slide down slowly, generating a low-frequency rumble that can be both felt and heard. This effect has also been noted at the [[Eureka Valley Sand Dunes|Eureka Dunes]] in California, [[Sand Mountain (Nevada)|Sand Mountain]] in [[Nevada]], and the Booming Dunes in the [[Namib Desert]] of Africa. The booming is much more pronounced when the dunes are extremely dry.

[[File:Hiking Kelso Dunes ridge.jpg|thumb|left|Hiking to the top]]

==Access==
Kelso Dunes are closed to any vehicles, but are completely open to hikers. The trailhead is at the end of a three-mile (5&nbsp;km) graded dirt road splitting from [[Kelbaker Road]]. This road can be accessed from both [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]] (at Baker) and [[Interstate 40 in California|Interstate 40]] (east of [[Barstow, California|Barstow]]). The dunes themselves lie just southwest of the [[Kelso, California|Kelso]] [[ghost town]] and the Park's Visitor Center located in the historic [[Kelso Depot]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm|title=Visitor Centers - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref>

==Endemic Species==
Like many southern California dune systems, the Kelso dunes have a number of [[Endemism|endemic]] animal species. The list includes at least ten species of insects, such as the [[Macrobaenetes kelsoensis|Kelso giant sand treader cricket]] (''Macrobaenetes kelsoensis''), the [[Ammopelmatus kelsoensis|Kelso Jerusalem cricket]] (''Ammopelmatus kelsoensis''), ''[[Rhaphiomidas tarsalis]]'' (a rare [[Mydas fly]]), and the [[Kelso shieldback katydid]] (''Eremopedes kelsoensis'').

Although not strictly endemic, several plant and reptile species are rare outside of these dunes. One example is the [[Mojave fringe-toed lizard]] (''Uma scoparia''), which is specialized in its ability to "swim" under sand.
{{clear right}}
{{wide image|KelsoSunset.jpg|x160px|align=center|align-cap=center|width=65%|Sunset over Kelso Dunes in California.}}

==See also==
* [[Kelso, California]]
* [[Kelso Wash]]
* [[Amboy Crater]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm Official Mojave National Preserve website]
* [https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm Kelso Depot Visitors Center]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090507121206/http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/mojave2/index.html Photo tour of Mojave National Preserve], from [[USGS]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052051/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/afton.html Afton Canyon Natural Area website]

{{Protected areas of California|NPS}}
{{sister bar|auto=1|voy=Mojave National Preserve}}

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[[Category:Mojave National Preserve]]
[[Category:Dunes of California]]
[[Category:Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Mojave Desert]]
[[Category:Landforms of San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Protected areas of San Bernardino County, California]]