San Bernardino County destinations: Kelso Dunes – Welcome to San Bernardino County

Sunset over sand dunes with a vibrant blue, yellow and orange sky.

Sunset over Providence Mountain with scattered vegetation below it.

Early morning view of Kelso Dunes showing textured sand patterns with a large sand dune lit by sunlight in the background.

Sun setting over sand dunes with textured sand patterns.

View of the Kelso Dunes with mountain ranges in the background.

We would like to thank Gary Mumaw of Rancho Cucamonga for submitting stunning photos of his favorite San Bernardino County destination.

The Kelso Dunes rise to more than 600 feet tall and form a vast playground of sand. Over thousands of years, winds swept sand from the nearby Mojave River sink and carried it across the desert until it reached the Providence and Granite Mountains. As the winds encountered these ranges, it released the sand and formed the beautiful slopes that are visible today.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the three-mile roundtrip hike to the top of the dunes or explore the many varied windswept shapes along the way. On quiet days, you may be able to hear the dunes singing (a low-pitched booming sound).

The Kelso Dunes supports a unique and fragile ecosystem. Rare plant species grow there, and it also provides a habitat for insects found nowhere else in the world. Wildlife such as sidewinder snakes and Mojave fringe-toed lizards are also among some of the animal inhabitants. For more information, please visit the National Park Service.

Additional County Update News – January 29