Castle Mountains National Monument in California, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-11. Check linked official notices before travel.

Castle Mountains National Monument protects Joshua tree woodland and desert grasslands on the California side of the Nevada line. Plan the drive before choosing where to stop. NPS lists the monument’s rough interior roads as four-wheel-drive only, and Hart Mine Road is closed.

Joshua trees and open desert grassland

The monument sits between Mojave National Preserve and the Nevada border. Its Joshua tree stands and grasslands are the main sights on a drive along open routes.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for remote roads

Check the NPS road conditions just before departure. Use a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle on the interior roads. Fill your tank and stock food and water before entering the area. Mojave National Preserve has no fuel, food or drink sales. Carry a current paper road map and enough supplies to turn back. GPS can route you incorrectly here. Cell service is unreliable, so plan for stretches where you cannot call for help. On foot, watch where you put your hands and feet. Rattlesnakes occur in the desert.

Use open roads and existing campsites

Use a street-legal vehicle on open designated roads. Off-highway vehicles, including ATVs, are prohibited even if another state licenses them for road use. Use previously disturbed backcountry campsites outside day-use areas. Do not camp in developed parking areas, roadside pullouts, picnic areas or trailheads. Camp more than 200 yards from any water source. Stay at least a quarter mile from paved roads unless the campsite is formally designated. Camp no more than 30 days total per calendar year. Store food so wildlife cannot reach it. Check for temporary fire restrictions before lighting a fire. Where fires are allowed, use an existing ring or a fire pan at an eligible site. Put the fire out completely whenever it is out of use. It must be cool to the touch. Pack out all ashes. Keep pets on a leash of six feet or less when they are outside your vehicle. Take human waste and toilet paper out where there are no public toilets. Read the NPS compendium for the applicable rules.

Plan camping by park unit

The monument has no developed campground. Its fees and camping page separates primitive camping in the monument from campground options in Mojave National Preserve.

Choose a Nevada or Mojave approach

The NPS directions describe Walking Box Ranch Road off Nevada State Route 164 and dirt approaches from Lanfair Road in Mojave National Preserve. The graded portion of Walking Box Ranch Road does not represent the condition of the interior roads. If driving through the preserve, note that South Kelbaker Road closes between Kelso and the preserve’s southern boundary on November 16, 2026. NPS also closes Kelso Dunes, its primitive camping area and the Granite Pass/Kelbaker Boulders primitive camping area during that construction phase.

Nearby desert stops

• Mojave National Preserve. The preserve borders the monument. Use its road information for the Lanfair approach.
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area. From Searchlight, take Cottonwood Cove Road east to the Lake Mohave shore.

Take a drive on open routes

Plan time for slow travel on rough roads. Stop where you can pull off safely and look across the grassland and Joshua trees. Use the road table to choose an alternative if your route is closed.

Carry supplies into the monument

There is no developed campground in the monument. For maps and ranger advice, stop at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center in neighboring Mojave National Preserve. The indoor area of the Kelso Depot Visitor Center is closed. Check current road conditions if you plan to drive through the preserve.

A protected piece of the Mojave Desert

The monument protects nearly 21,000 acres along the California–Nevada boundary. Joshua trees and open desert grassland share the landscape.

Desert wildlife

Desert tortoises, bighorn sheep and golden eagles are among the animals the NPS lists in the Mojave Desert. Watch for animals from a distance.

Ask NPS about road access

Call 760-252-6100 or check the Castle Mountains National Monument page before setting out.