How to get to the Kelso Sand Dunes, Mojave National Preserve

How to get to the Kelso Sand Dunes, Mojave National Preserve, California: Pack up the car with hiking gear, camping gear, and camping food. Look up the weather and think "32 degrees in December, I can handle that." Drive past large joshua trees, stopping for a skate sesh, then to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center, listen to the rangers call us crazy for camping this time of year and share they don't think the sunset from the dunes is that great. Detour, dirt road, to the Mojave Lava Tubes and take ghostly cave photos. Continue on and drive more dirt/sand roads to the Kelso Dunes to find a camping spot which is basically just a pile of rocks that have surrounded fires before. Set up tent by a few RVs and set out on the sand dune trek. Hike among the cute rodent tracks in the sand, plants that miraculously grow in sand with less than 4 inches of rain a year, and march up an incredibly steep dune that your friend describes as the hardest thing she has ever done in her life. Sink deep into sand, fill your boots with sand, enjoy the beauty and expansive dunes, appreciate great friends and thank Mother Nature for all her glory. Watch your adventure besties take beautiful sand dune photos in a sand dune photo shoot and take a few dune photos yourself. At the top turn around and gasp at one of the top 5 most beautiful pink, orange, red, sunsets that you have ever seen. When the chill and darkness sets in, return down the dune, listening to the hum of sand avalanching down the steep side. Hike back in the dark except for the light of a Space X satellite launch, a crescent moon and our headlamps. Light a campfire, shiver in freezing temperatures and make friends with the most adorable Desert Kit Fox that you have ever seen. Refrain from sharing people food, because we don't feed wild animals but do share a cup of fresh water with the thirsty creature. Attempt camping in the what feels like the coldest camping situation ever and swear never to camp again this time of year in this location but secretly hope you'll be back next year. Plan next camping and hiking trip!