Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — Attraction in Beatty

I'll probably be talking about my stupidity for a long time. For reference, I am 50, I'm 5'-5" and about 220 lb and I'm not in the worst shape... but I'm definitely not any type of athlete. I average about 2 mi of walking per day.

I would like to publicly apologize to my 16-year-old for making it so that he basically had to haul me back to the parking lot.

Here's the thing, it very clearly says Don't Go Out There after 10:00 a.m.. that means that if you're attempting to get to the farthest dune when it's hot you need to leave earlier than 9:00 a.m. So I failed to calculate that it was going to take a lot longer to get back, particularly because I was exhausted just getting out there. And then all of the sudden it was like I was in the middle of the Sahara desert and my legs were shaking and I just could barely make it over each dune. And it was seeing how far away my car was and knowing how tired and exhausted I was AND that it was just going to get hotter and hotter that was scary to me.

There are other factors to consider. Just remember that if it's forecasted to be close to 90-100F what it really means is that by about 11:00 a.m. it will be the same temperature as the surface of mercury. That's an awful lot of exertion in heat that most people (moi) are not really prepared for.

In my favor: I thought a couple things through correctly, like bringing a backpack with water. Rehydration tabs. Wear a hat. Bring somebody really strong that can push you back to your car. *But there is no amount of "hydration" that's going to make it less than 9,000° out there. It basically doesn't matter.

Also, as a nurse I walk a lot on the floor of the hospital but that's nothing compared to the amount of workout required to basically do a stair master that's made out of sand and doesn't let you progress upwards when you get tired .

I'm 50 and although I'm very cute, I'm also pretty overweight and not a very athletic person. Just the idea that I could make it all the way out there and then back to my car was just so many different kinds of stupid. I'm lucky I didn't have a stroke or pass out.

Don't...

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are stunning!! The soft, fine sand makes for a different walking experience than other parts of the desert where the ground is more solid. You don’t have to walk far into the Dunes to appreciate the view, but walking in further allows you to feel transported to another world.

If you go during the day, you are treated to colors of creams and off white from the dunes complemented by the browns of the mountains. We went during sunset, and being in the dunes at that times gives you a beautiful view of pink coloration against the mountains. You can explore the dunes, themselves, and on lower levels you can also see mudflats. While everything here looks “the same”, it is wild to walk around and let yourself get immersed.

Fun Fact: For Star Wars fans, this is one of the many filming locations from “A New Hope”.

Note on time: We entered the park from the East and moved our way west making our way to the Dunes for sunset. It seemed easier to exit west and get to the 5 freeway from that end. It was about 60-70 miles mostly uphill. Given the dark atmosphere and my Prius struggling to go uphill that long, it took us about 2 hours just to get out of the park. Be aware of your car’s capabilities, account for timing, and be safe when exiting should you visit the Dunes...

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...