Kelso Dunes - Mojave Nat'l Preserve

Another cool spot to visit when you are in Vegas is Kelso Dunes Mojave Nat'l Preserve.
That is, when you are a desert junkie like I am... ;-)

Kelso Dunes is a unique and isolated dune system located in the Mojave National Preserve about 120 mls south of Vegas. Those remarkable dunes rise 600 feet above the desert floor. Check out desertusa.com for some more information, it's really interesting! Cars are not allowed to go near the dunes, so plan for an extra 3 hrs to hike to the dunes. Don't forget to bring plenty of water, unless you are there in January. At first glance, the dunes look like they were just in front of you. But after a one hour walk you'll realize that the dunes are further away than you expected. So be careful!

Kelso Dunes is a 3 hrs trip by car from Vegas.
Go I-15 south, take exit 286 at Nipton Rd., then go right to Ivanpah Rd and follow the road south to Cima and then Kelso. In Kelso go left on Kelbaker Rd, then follow Kelso-Dunes Rd. The last few miles of the road is unpaved gravel, so you better not drive there with your lowered sports car. But a standard rental car like a Taurus or Focus or something will do just fine.

As you'll probably be on the road all day long, plan for a stop in Primm/Stateline on your way back.
They have a nice outlet mall there, Fashion Outlets of America. Also, you supposedly are hungry and wanna grab a bite in one of the Casinos or the mall's food court.

Although the trip can be very exhausting, the scenery is worth it!

Oh, and if you plan to go there on January, 1st , you better forget about it!
The traffic on I-15 will kill you, I can tell you that! I've never seen a traffic jam that bad! The cars literally were standing in line from Vegas to L.A., no shit!