Kelso Dunes & Depot: A Journey Through the Mojave National Preserve
July 2020 // Mojave National Preserve
Camera:
Sony α6000
Lenses:
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens
Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens (SELP1650) *renewed
Locations:
Kelso Depot Visitor Center
Mojave National Preserve
Kelso Dunes
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When I think back to the summers of my childhood in Pennsylvania, I remember warm, humid days filled with the scent of damp earth and the occasional afternoon thunderstorm rolling through. The summers there were lush, thick with greenery, and punctuated by the calls of cicadas as the heat lingered into the evening. It’s a stark contrast to the climate of Kelso Dunes on a sweltering July afternoon - an environment that feels like another planet altogether.
The Kelso Dunes, located in the Mojave National Preserve in California, experience a climate that is vastly different from Pennsylvania. In July, daytime temperatures frequently soar well above 100°F (38°C), and the air is bone-dry. Today, the temperature hit 104°F (40°C), and you could feel every degree. There’s no relief from humidity here - just an intense, oppressive heat that radiates off the sand. The dunes absorb and reflect the sun’s energy, creating a shimmering, almost surreal atmosphere.
Spending a day observing the Kelso Dunes from a distance offers a unique perspective on the vastness and isolation of this desert landscape. I spent time observing the dunes from the trailhead. The sky was an unbroken stretch of blue, and the silence was only interrupted by the occasional gust of wind carrying grains of sand across the terrain. This area isn’t typically very busy, but the pandemic is on full display here - I haven’t seen any other visitors in the park.
At a distance, the dunes seem almost serene, their massive forms appearing frozen in time. But even from afar, the heat is undeniable - waves of it rise from the ground, distorting the horizon and making the landscape shimmer. The thought of trekking up those dunes in the midday sun seemed daunting, so instead, I let myself appreciate their beauty from a distance, where the extremes of the environment felt just a little less punishing.
Driving through the Mojave National Preserve, I stopped at the Kelso Depot, a historic train station that once served as a key hub for railroad operations in the desert. Unfortunately, the visitor center was closed, its doors locked and its interior silent. The once-bustling station, now a relic of a bygone era, stood still under the relentless sun.
Even with the depot closed, its presence added a historical depth to the landscape - a reminder that even the most desolate places have stories to tell.
Gallery
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