Wilderness area

Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Kelso Dunes Wilderness is a 144,915-acre wilderness area in San Bernardino County, California. It rises from about 1,146 to 3,867 ft. The nearest town is Baker, 17.2 miles away in a straight line.

Kelso Dunes Wilderness map

Kelso Dunes Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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Fire restrictions

Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.

Common questions

Baker, CA is the nearest town, 17.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 95 miles west of Barstow.
The highest ground in Kelso Dunes Wilderness is about 3,867 ft, and its lowest about 1,146 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Broadwell Mesa, about 2,894 ft.

Who manages Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 144,915 Not on record Not on record Not on record Needles Field Office, 760-326-7000

Getting to Kelso Dunes Wilderness

  • Baker, CA is the nearest town, 17.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
  • The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 95 miles west of Barstow.

Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Kelso Dunes Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.

Named summits, canyons, and springs in Kelso Dunes Wilderness

  • Broadwell Mesa summit about 2,894 ft
  • Hyten Spring spring

Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.

Public lands next to Kelso Dunes Wilderness

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

Other wilderness areas in California

California wilderness areas