Mojave National Preserve
| Mojave National Preserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Joshua trees along Cima Road in the Mojave National Preserve | |
Interactive map of Mojave National Preserve | |
| Location | San Bernardino County, California, US |
| Nearest city | Baker, California |
| Coordinates | 34°53′N 115°43′W / 34.883°N 115.717°W |
| Area | 1,542,776 acres (6,243.39 km2) |
| Created | October 31, 1994 |
| Visitors | 424,864 (in 2024) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | www |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| “Can a fire-ravaged forest of Joshua trees be restored?”, Tien Nguyen, Knowable Magazine, March 4, 2022. |
Mojave National Preserve is a US National Preserve located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. Established in 1994, it is the third largest unit of the National Park system within the contiguous United States, and the largest national preserve.
The preserve spans 1,542,776 acres (6,243 km2). It surrounds Providence Mountains State Recreation Area and Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve, which are both managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Natural features include the Kelso Dunes, the Marl Mountains and the Cima Dome, as well as volcanic formations such as Hole-in-the-Wall and the Cinder Cone Lava Beds. The Joshua tree forest covering Cima Dome and the adjacent Shadow Valley is the largest and densest in the world.
The preserve contains the ghost town of Kelso. The defunct Kelso Depot serves as the park's official visitor center, though it is temporarily closed as of 2025.