There isn’t really a trail you can just walk out to whatever dunes you want. This is a 2.4 mile loop hike with 500 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 1-2 hours to complete. Depending on your own pace and fitness level, the total hike could be anywhere from 2-4 hours. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Fun, sandy hike! Please respect this special place by packing out all of your trash and steering clear of the vegetation. Went about 30 minutes before sunset but didn’t consider how early the light would disappear since the sun sets behind the mountains; had literally a few seconds of light on the dunes so go a full hour before ideally. A two mile drive up the gravel road on the western edge of Stovepipe Wells delivers hikers to the Mosaic Canyon Trailhead. There are restrooms at the trailhead, but no trash receptacles, so you must pack out what you pack in. Just take a trip to Death Valley and check out these filming locations for Star Wars Episode IV–A New Hope and Star Wars Episode VI–Return of the Jedi. Really crowded but if you walk about a mile in or more you lose the crowds. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from November until March. This is what people imagine when they think Death Valley. Amazing ! If you walk about a mile in it’s less crowded. Busy parking lot. Please avoid the temptation to take a soak yourself. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes located in Death Valley National Park near Stovepipe Wells, is the largest dune field in the park. There aren’t any trail makers you’re kind of just walking out into the dunes wherever you want. Instead you may park along the shoulders of Highway 190 and improvise your own route into this remarkable 14 square mile landscape. They’re centrally located, easily accessible, fun to hike, and beautiful for photos. Through their knowledge, stories, and personal passion, guides can bring a place to life in a way that’s much more difficult to do on your own. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are some of the most accessible desert dunes in the country, located off a paved road just a mile out of Death Valley National Park's Stovepipe Wells Village. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail est un sentier aller-retour de 2.8 miles très fréquenté situé près de Death Valley, Californie. From Stovepipe Wells, the parking area is 2 miles east on CA-190 on the left. This spring-fed stream is the water source for the nearby hamlet of Panamint Springs. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a family-friendly sand dunes system located very close to Stovepipe Wells which are generally filled with bus loads of tourists and large areas of trampled sand. - See 1,181 traveller reviews, 1,089 candid photos, and great deals for Death Valley National Park, CA, at Tripadvisor. Jumped down the tallest dune in the area - 125 feet down. Joining a Death Valley backpacking tour is a worry-free, adventurous way to experience Death Valley National Park. If you’re going on a backpacking trip, you can read about more about the, Current Operating Guidelines & New Booking Terms →, Death Valley National Park backpacking trip, Explore Yellowstone With Wildland Trekking. These aren't Death Valley’s tallest sand dunes (those are the Eureka Dunes, … All Content & Photos Copyrighted by WTC © 2021, We strongly recommend abiding by all Leave No Trace ethics guidelines and practices so that our national parks and public lands are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations and for the people and animals who call these places home. Beyond these narrows, the canyon opens to a large wash, but the fun doesn’t have to end here. On Inn-based hiking tours you'll hike by day and at night sleep in cabins, hotels, or lodges. Death Valley’s proximity to Hollywood, California made it a hot spot for filming throughout the 20th century. In 1947, on the porch of the Emigrant Ranger Station, Stan Jones (“The Singing Ranger”) wrote one of the most recorded songs in history, “Ghost Riders in the Sky.”  The next year, he was sent to supervise the filming of John Ford’s movie “3 Godfathers” to ensure that no park rules were being violated. Beyond the trailhead area, there is no trail; this is just a place to wander about the windswept dunes and enjoy the sighs and sounds. https://wildlandtrekking.com/blog/mesquite-flat-sand-dunes-trail Another unique area in Death Valley. The landscapes of Death Valley National Park often appear alien and otherworldly. Mosaic Canyon is a perfect hike for families and seasoned desert hikers alike. Take a walk along the loop trail at the rim of the crater and explore several other smaller, more eroded craters. If high winds are present, moving sand can be quite stinging and make hiking the dunes less enjoyable. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail is a 4.5 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Death Valley, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. It’s different than most trails you’ll go on obviously because it’s sand. From Furnace Creek, take CA-190 W 23.1 miles to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes parking area. Although this accessibility makes the dunes an extremely popular destination, the almost cinematic landscape makes this a spot that can't be missed in North America's hottest, driest, and lowest place. There is no official trailhead, nor do any maintained trails lead into them. To go to the tallest sand dune, it might take about 30-60 minutes of walking in the sand. Simple things like packing out your trash, obeying national park rules, and respecting the peace and quiet of our national park trails is a great start. Below is a photo tour showing the progression from the beginning of the hike to the peak of the highest dune. For some reason I have been referring to them as Panamint Dunes, which are located in the western part of Death Valley National Park in … Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Worth a hike across the dunes - See 1,181 traveller reviews, 1,087 candid photos, and great deals for Death Valley National Park, CA, at Tripadvisor. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a centerpiece of Death Valley National Park. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the most photographed dunes at Death Valley National Park. Nomenclature: Some websites refer to this as the Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes, but Mesquite Flat seems to be the most proper. Very serene. Sunsets can also be an awe-inspiring experience when viewed from the dunes. Several primitive trails work their way up the canyon to even more narrows, dry falls, and other fun discoveries. The hike begins like many others, in a gravelly, barren wash typical of Death Valley’s bone-dry landscape. Death Valley National Park charges a fee to enter. There are no official trails in the dunes, so explore to your heart’s content. It’s so beautiful to see the sunset here. Let your inner child run wild and have fun in nature’s sand box. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Three types of dunes are found in the dune field: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Sand filled my shoes within 7 minutes through the “breathable” areas of my sneakers. An expert on Death Valley flora, Jones cheerfully informed Mr. Ford that “You can’t get any water out of that kind of cactus!”  Furious at being corrected mid-scene, Mr. Ford demanded to know what made Jones such an authority on cactus. Guided tours include gear (backpack, trekking poles, crampons in winter), meals, accommodations, local transportation, and a professional Death Valley hiking guide. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. It has its own small parking area with public restroom facilities.

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