2015 Map of Kelso Dunes

About this map

Kelso Dunes dominates this portion of the eastern California landscape, where shifting sands and arid drainage patterns define the geography of the Mojave National Preserve. The settlement of Flynn stands as a lonely human outpost along the northern rail corridor, while the evocative Devils Playground sits to the west. This desert expanse is characterized by its complex network of seasonal watercourses, including Kelso Wash, Winston Wash, and Cottonwood Wash, which carve through the Mojave Desert floor. Transport across this environment is restricted to a few established routes such as Kelbaker Rd and Kelso-Amboy Rd, alongside industrial spurs like Vulcan Mine Rd. The mapping illustrates the stark isolation of the High Desert at the beginning of the twenty-first century, preserving the township and range lines that structured early land claims.