Castle Mountains includes some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert. Nestled between the Nevada state line and Mojave National Preserve, its nearly 21,000 acres contain Joshua tree forests, unbroken natural landscapes, rare desert grasslands, and rich human history. The area offers serenity and solitude from nearby metropolitan areas. Its weather changes with the seasons, bringing freezing winter temperatures with occasional snow, spring days that are mildly warm with cooler nights and, with enough rain, spectacular wildflower displays, much hotter summer months with temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, strong late-summer monsoonal storms that may cause flash-flooding in low-lying areas and hazardous road conditions, and a cooler fall respite after the summer heat.