2018 Map of Kelso

About this map

The high desert landscape of the Mojave National Preserve is defined here by dramatic topographic shifts and the essential drainage systems of the arid San Bernardino County interior. At the center of the sheet, the Kelso Mountains rise toward Kelso Peak, while the surrounding terrain is etched by the meandering paths of Kelso Wash and Cedar Wash. These seasonal waterways are critical markers in the Mojave Desert, shaping the transportation and settlement patterns that converged at Kelso. The proximity of the rail line to the wash system highlights the historical reliance on these natural corridors for traversing the basin. Surveyed in the early 21st century, the map details the transition from high mountain peaks to the broad, sandy plains where the desert's infrastructure is most concentrated.