Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

WHY VISIT? 1. The landscape is unique and certainly differs from the rest of the park. 2. There is a certain amount of excitement knowing it was the location for several popular movies and television shows. 3. Good size parking lot. 4. Little time investment required. Spend 20 minutes or an entire afternoon. 5. Very easy to explore. Those with mobility issues should be able to navigate the terrain easily… traveling as far away from the parking lot as desired. WHY SKIP? The view is pretty much the same no matter where you look. The same can be said for the Badwater Salt Flats, but I felt a mysticism in that area that kept my fascination train running at full speed. I would only recommend the dunes if visiting the park for three or more days.

Pretty cool area. There is a parking lot and you can walk into the sand dune area. The sand is super fine and had sand everywhere! But very interesting location. Didn't walk too far in and can get monotonous but the hills are cool to climb!

Exploring the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Like many first-time visitors, my first introduction to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes occurred while driving through Death Valley National Park on CA-190. Noticing the sign and the cars parked in the lot, I pulled over. Before stopping there, like many other visitors to Death Valley, I was surprised to discover that it was not covered with sand everywhere. Later, I learned that less than one percent of the valley is covered in sand dunes! The sand dunes of Death Valley National Park are excellent places for photography and short hikes. The parking lot is about two miles east of Stovepipe Wells and is very easy to access. While many visitors take longer hikes and venture deeper into the area, others prefer to walk a short distance to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The dunes are named for the mesquite tree, which grows abundantly in the area. You can see many of these trees around. There is also plenty of wildlife, including sidewinder rattlesnakes, so be very careful where you step! Because the Dunes create dramatic shadows at sunrise and sunset, they provide a beautiful setting for photography enthusiasts. They are also a great place to observe the dark night skies for which Death Valley is famous.

This is a unique landscape of very fine sands across miles of rolling dunes. A fun walk and interesting photo opportunities. Some families brought cardboard boxes to slide down the smooth hills.

Went at the end of October and it was beautiful. The dunes are full of mesquite trees. Did not see any sidewinders (I didn't go looking though). It's an easy hike up and down the dunes, you can see the parking lot from most of the dune peaks so it's easy to keep track of where you are. Sunset is a beautiful time to go.