The Panamint Dunes are the most remote set of large dunes in the park. They are also the least visited set of dunes in the park. It’s about a 4 mile one way hike and most of the hike is relatively moderate until you reach the sand and uphill on sand begins. You’ll begin to move a little slower this way. A high clearance vehicle is recommended for the dirt road to access the dunes north of highway 190 in the Panamint Valley. The turn off is easy to miss but it’s a few miles east of Panamint Springs and you can easily find it on a park map. At the end of the road there is a small parking area. From here you walk across the alluvial fan towards the dunes, there is somewhat of a foot path but no trail so keep in mind the angle of where you parked the car. A compass should help you find your car if it gets dark and you can’t make out the mountains near telescope peak.
What I liked about this hike, for the most part you walk through mostly creosote the whole way you’ll end up smelling like the Mojave Desert when you get back. On the dunes instead of human footprints you’re more likely to find lots of animal patterns and birds landing on the dunes to eat a bug or two, maybe even a few birds of prey. I’ve seen a golden or two in my travels here. You’ll also encounter a few fly byes of F-18′s from China Lake if you’re lucky. More so during the week, they’ve had control of the airspace before Death Valley was a National Park or Monument so we have to share the skies with them. Best of all you can enjoy one of the off the beaten path places in park with another view of Telescope Peak off in the distance. Snow on the peak give the scene a beautiful contrast to vastly open desert below.
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Tags: Death Valley, dunes, hiking, mojave desert, national park, panamint, photo, photograph
January 10, 2012 at 1:28 pm |
Excellent! I hope to attend one of your workshops here one year.
January 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm |
Jay, thanks for stopping by. I know you and your backpacking hikes a lot attitude would love this set of dunes! I can get you somewhere good.
January 11, 2012 at 7:31 pm |
Neat! I usually don’t like seeing people in landscape images (including my own stuff!) but in this case, the top image is made better and we are able to get a sense of perspective. Thanks for sharing, makes me want to visit!!
January 12, 2012 at 8:46 am |
What a special place these dunes. Deserted, magnificent and beautiful.
January 13, 2012 at 3:22 pm |
Panamint Valley is a special place and hiking to these dunes is a great way to enjoy it. Another remote dune field is the Ibex Dunes near Saratoga Springs located on the southeast border of Death Valley N.P.
Cheers,
Cliff Bandringa
http://BackRoadsWest.com
Trip blog: http://www.backroadswest.com/trips
January 15, 2012 at 8:30 pm |
Oh, I so like the first shot, Steve. Wonderfully done, it makes me want to see what the photographer is seeing.
Sharon
February 4, 2012 at 4:35 pm |
Beautiful use of light in the first photo – the contrast with the mountains in the background is striking. The cool white balance in the second photo really adds to the feeling of isolation, as well.
February 6, 2012 at 5:30 pm |
Thank you Logan, lots of isolation out there!