Mojave National Preserve is a National Preserve in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Mojave
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Mojave. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Sand Dunes (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Mojave the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:51 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:54 PM | 245° | 10h 03m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 7:04 AM | 4:50 PM | 5:25 PM | 255° | 10h 56m |
| March | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:50 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 283° | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:40 PM | 294° | 14h 00m |
| June | 5:28 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:59 PM | 300° | 14h 31m |
| July | 5:40 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:21 PM | 7:58 PM | 297° | 14h 18m |
| August | 6:03 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 288° | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:51 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:49 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:08 PM | 260° | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:18 AM | 6:55 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:38 PM | 248° | 10h 20m |
| December | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:32 PM | 242° | 9h 48m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.1249, -115.5168); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Mojave, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:20 AM – 5:00 AM | 0.7 | 15° |
| March | 3:34 AM – 5:24 AM | 1.8 | 23° |
| April | 1:34 AM – 4:34 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| May | 11:38 PM – 3:58 AM | 4.3 | 26° |
| June | 9:45 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 9:40 PM – 2:10 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:05 PM – 12:05 AM | 3.0 | 26° |
| September | 8:16 PM – 10:06 PM | 1.8 | 23° |
| October | 7:32 PM – 8:12 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Mojave Desert experiences change with the seasons. In winter, freezing temperatures and strong winds can be expected, with rain and snow in the mountains. With enough moisture, spring wildflowers may carpet the desert floor with vivid colors. Summers are hot, and temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit are typical. In summer, adventurers head for the higher elevations such as Mid-Hills and the New York Mountains. The cooler temperatures of fall mark hunting season.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 17% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (44%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Note: There is no fuel inside the Preserve. Please fill up with gas BEFORE you enter. Park headquarters in Barstow, California is 60 miles from the Preserve, and offers maps and information. Our main visitor center, Kelso Depot, is located inside the Preserve, 95 miles east of Barstow and 90 miles west of Las Vegas at the intersection of Kelso-Cima and Kelbaker Roads. Kelso Depot is currently closed for renovations.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Auto Off-Roading
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
Nearby parks
CA
CA
AZ/NV
NV