A Day Trip to the Mojave

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’d been wanting to explore the Mojave Desert since last winter. Being one of the hottest places on earth, the smart move is to visit during the cooler months. We had plans earlier this year, but California’s wet season had other ideas, and we ended up shelving the trip.

Come spring, the itch was still there. And this time, my daughter’s growing obsession with all things geology gave us a perfect excuse. She’d been reading about caves and rock formations, so when I stumbled across Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Preserve, the trip basically planned itself.

We decided to do it as a day trip from Orange County on a Sunday. Two stops. One day. Let’s go.

Stop 1: Mitchell Caverns

If you take Exit 100 off the I-40 and drive about 20 miles into the preserve, you’ll reach the Mitchell Caverns area. These are abandoned caves from the Gold Rush era that have since been restored and opened up for guided tours. Tours run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with two time slots available. We grabbed the 11 AM slot.

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area entrance

Want to visit? You can book your cave tour here on the California State Parks website. Slots fill up fast, so plan ahead!

We got there around 10:30, checked in at the visitor center, and the tour kicked off on time. Our guide, Catherine, clearly loved what she did. She didn’t just walk us through a cave, she broke down the science behind how these formations came to be, pointed out the local flora and fauna along the way, and made the whole thing feel like a proper geology lesson disguised as a hike.

Sweeping views of the desert landscape surrounding Mitchell Caverns

The walk to the cave entrance is roughly a mile, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s just a commute. Catherine stopped several times along the trail to explain the desert landscape around us, which honestly made the hike just as interesting as the cave itself.

Hiking up to the cave entrance through the Providence Mountains

Inside? The limestone formations were stunning. Stalactites, stalagmites, and columns that have been forming for thousands of years. The kind of thing that makes you go quiet for a second.

Close-up of limestone stalactites inside Mitchell Caverns

Wide view of the incredible cave formations inside Mitchell Caverns

The whole tour lasted about two hours. At the end, they gave us two choices: exit through a separate cave exit, or walk back the way we came. We chose to walk back through the cave. Why wouldn’t you? It’s like watching your favorite movie twice and catching things you missed the first time.

One thing to note: nothing is allowed inside the cave. No water, no bags, no snacks. You leave everything outside. Cameras and phones are fine though, because let’s be honest, what’s the point of visiting if you can’t take pictures?

Back at the visitor center, they gave us complimentary stickers and postcards, which my daughter was probably more excited about than the cave itself.

Since we were there in spring, the area around Mitchell Caverns was full of wildflower blooms, which meant butterflies everywhere. As someone who spends way too much time chasing butterflies with a camera, I may have held the family up a bit getting shots of these little beauties.

Painted Lady butterfly spotted near Mitchell Caverns during the spring bloom

Stop 2: Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center

About 20 minutes from Mitchell Caverns is the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center. This was the only active visitor center in the preserve at the time, since the main one at Kelso Depot was closed for maintenance. We stopped in, grabbed a few souvenirs, and mapped out our next move.

Old Glory waving proudly at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center

Stop 3: Kelso Sand Dunes

The main event. There are two ways to reach Kelso Dunes: cut through the interior of the preserve, or loop back out to the I-40 and re-enter. We took the I-40 route.

Most of the road to the dunes is paved, but the last three miles are unpaved and bumpy. If there’s been any recent rain, I’d skip this stretch entirely. It’s not worth the risk.

Kelso Sand Dunes rising from the desert floor

The dunes themselves were incredible. The only other dunes we’d seen before were at Death Valley, and these are noticeably bigger and taller. After parking, it’s about a 20-minute walk just to reach the base. We didn’t go all the way to the top, but we watched others make the full climb up and back down. The complete hike to the summit and back takes roughly three hours. You can find the trail on AllTrails if you want the full route.

The long walk toward the base of the Kelso Sand Dunes

Kelso Dunes are known for producing a deep booming sound when you walk across the sand near the top, caused by the grains vibrating against each other. I’d recommend doing this hike early in the morning or in the evening since it gets brutally hot out here during the day.

One Important Tip

There are no gas stations inside the Mojave National Preserve. None. Plan accordingly and fill up before you enter. We topped off in Ludlow on the way in and were glad we did.

This was one of those trips that reminded me why day trips are underrated. No hotel bookings, no elaborate itinerary. Just load up the car, pick a direction, and go see something new. The Mojave delivered on every front.

Desert on Anand's Blog

A Day Trip to the Mojave

Stop 1: Mitchell Caverns

Stop 2: Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center

Stop 3: Kelso Sand Dunes

One Important Tip