Ripples

Eureka Dunes-Post 2

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

More from Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California.

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The Last Chance Mountains and Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California

The Incredible Eureka Dunes

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

One of my favorite places on Planet Earth, Eureka Dunes is in a very remote part of Death Valley National Park. The dunes reach some 700 feet into the California sky and stretch for about 2 miles on the ground. I come here at least once a year and visited a spot I hadn’t been to. On this visit, no Navy Jets buzzed me but that may have had something to do with the brief government shutdown.

This is the first of two posts.

The Remote and Remarkable Ibex Sand Dunes

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

These sand dunes in a remote part of Death Valley National Park are amazing. Very few people visit here so the dunes are pristine. One other couple showed up there when I did but we decided to go separate ways so we wouldn’t disturb each other’s photos.

Me and my shadow. i think that’s my shadow.

Not sure what made these tracks in the sand. They kind of stop and start up again. A bird?

Eureka Dunes In Detail

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

The finer details of Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park.

Some More Sand Dune Images

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

Patterns and ripples produced by erosion are the dominant features of Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley’s Sublime Eureka Dunes

California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, National Parks

This is probably the eight time I’ve visited Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park and I still get a thrill from the experience. Once again I was buzzed by fighter jets but these jets from nearby China Lake Naval Base. I spent a couple of days here so I’ll have 2 or 3 posts from here. What’s great about sand dunes is that they are always shifting so you may see something you hadn’t seen before including your own shadow!(See Below) Is that my shadow or someone else standing down there?

It was pretty warm out there(80 F) and there was no shade and the heat was bouncing off the sand. Hiking dunes can be an exercise in futility. — It was pretty warm out there(80 F) with no shade and the heat bouncing off the sand. Hiking dunes can be an exercise in futility. I was afraid to make tracks in these amazing sand patterns because they were so pristine. Eureka Dunes is in a remote part of Death Valley and has few visitors.

The road to Eureka Dunes. — The road to Eureka Dunes, wash boarding and teeth rattling included.

Those are the Last Chance Mountains in the background, a somewhat fitting name for Death Valley

Patterns and ripples produced by erosion are the dominant features of Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California — Andy Warhol couldn’t design patterns this cool.

DV Jet_7637 — These jets come onto you real fast. You don’t hear them until they pass although another flew about 200 feet right above me. My camera was not close unfortunately. Next time these pilots should call me and let me know they’re coming.

Campground site in a remote area of Death Valley National Park, California — It got down into the mid 30sF during the night as a full moon was rising. I was stalked by a kangaroo rat while sitting around the fire. They are similar to a field mouse but like to run around on their hind legs, hence the name. Next time I’ll get a pic. Then the zipper on my tent broke and I was afraid that rat would join me during the night.

Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes-Part 2

California, Desert Southwest, National Parks

The dunes and the area around it.

The sagebrush and desert landscape at Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California

Storm clouds threaten Eureka Valley at sunset at Death Valley National Park, California

Rock formations in the Eureka Valley at Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley’s Eureka Dunes- Part 1

California, Desert Southwest, National Parks

After I endured the buzz over of that fighter jet, I headed up the sand dunes. Hiking sand dunes with camera gear can be exhausting. The key is to hike on firm sand, not the soft stuff. A cloudy day was producing flat light. With flat light, you don’t get any shadows which is vital to bringing out the ripples in the sand. However, there was a dark soot or dirt embedded in the sand that provided some good contrast that made these images pop!

The sun struggles to appear through the clouds at Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California

Shifting patterns and lines of sand at the Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California — There are actually people at the top which gives you a sense of scale. I was about a 1/3 of the way up

Death Valley’s Remote Eureka Dunes

California, Desert Southwest, National Parks

After my visit to Racetrack Playa, I motored over more rough roads for 45 miles to Eureka Dunes. It’s in a remote part of Death Valley National Park so not many people go there. The dunes are 700 feet tall, amongst the tallest in North America. Low hanging clouds, a few sprinkles and a beautiful rainbow made for good photos.

A Favorite Place Of Mine-Eureka Dunes

California, Desert Southwest, Photography

Death Valley National Park is huge. In fact, it’s the largest national park in the continental United States. The park contains many remote areas that are difficult to get to but well worth the effort. One such is Eureka Dunes in the northern section of the park. They reach some 700 feet into the California sky. You have to drive about 40 miles on a severely washboarded road to get there from the center of the park. Most visitors go to the Stove Pipe Wells Sand Dunes but bus loads of tourists leave their tracks in the sand there. I’ve been to Eureka Dunes numerous times and enjoy camping at the somewhat primitive campground. The dunes are at the foot of the aptly named Last Chance Mountains and the sands are forever shifting. Nature is amazing!