Interpretive programming includes ranger-led walks, talks and illustrated evening programs covering a variety of topics and themes. Most programs are offered Labor Day through Memorial Day. See below for dates and times.
Daily
Kelso Depot Talks (On request, subject to staffing availability)
Inquire at the front desk in Kelso Depot.
Join a park ranger for a 20-minute talk on the preserve, its natural and cultural history, and the depot's place in it all. Then explore for yourself all three-floors of this 1924 restored train stop.
Saturdays
Plant Detectives Nature Walk (November-May)
8:30 a.m. Meet at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center
Learn to identify desert plants and their unique adaptations for survival.
Dunes Walk (November-May)
11:00 a.m. Meet at the Kelso Dunes Trailhead
Hike to the base of one of the largest and most extensive sand dune fields in the United States. Learn about the geologic forces that created Kelso Dunes and the mysterious booming sounds they make. Explore the unique adaptations of the plants and animals that call the dunes home. This easy 1/2 mile hike (one-way) will take 30-45 minutes. Please bring water and dress for the weather.
Petroglyphs: Rocks that Talk (November-May)
3:00 p.m. Meet at Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center
For thousands of years the Mojave Desert has been home to diverse cultures. The artifacts they left behind are both beautiful and mysterious. Discover how previous cultures survived in this harsh desert climate and the meanings of the rock art they left behind. This easy 1/4-mile walk (one-way) will take about one hour.
Evening Program - "Mining in the Mojave" (November-May)
7:00 p.m., Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center (meet inside if conditions are poor)
After dinner, spend part of your evening with a National Park Ranger as he talks about the history of mining in the desert. Gather behind the visitor center at the amphitheater and munch on some popcorn (provided) while we talk of special places in this lovely, lonely desert.
Sundays
Coffee with a Ranger (November-May)
8:30 a.m. Do you have specific questions or would you just like to chat with a ranger? Bring your own mug and meet Ranger Greg at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center.
Geology of the Mojave (November-May)
9:00 a.m. Meet at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center
Hole-in-the-Wall's seemingly tranquil landscape has not always been this way. Great geologic forces have altered this area both subtly and abruptly. Discover the meaning behind the name and what carved the dramatic slot canyon that lies within it. Following coffee with a ranger, meet at the Hole-in-the-Wall information center to start this one-hour, easy walk.
