Sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Capturing the Beauty of Death Valley National Park
The sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is one of the most mysterious and exciting experiences we’ve had at a national park.
Death Valley is known for its wide variety of terrain. There are mountain tops and low valleys, badlands and basins.
But the sand dunes were one of our favorite experiences on our one day itinerary. To be honest, we didn’t even really know there were sand dunes in the park (shows the amount of research we do!)
We loved seeing the sand turn from nearly white to beautiful gold and orange. The dramatic backdrop of the surrounding mountains made it feel like we were on another planet.
The wind was swirling during our visit, so we got sand just about everywhere.
But it was worth it to see something so spectacular – the sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes!
Let us tell you all about it!
What Time is Sunrise and Sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes?
Sunrise and sunset time will vary throughout the year (see the table below).
But you can expect sunrise in Death Valley between 5:30am-7am.
I put together this table below from various data on the internet and it’s the best resource I’ve got when it comes to finding out the sunrise time in Death Valley National Park!
| Month | Sunrise Time | Sunset Time | Day Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:00 AM | 4:44 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:17 AM | 5:43 PM | 11h 26m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 7:10 PM | 12h 38m |
| May | 5:53 AM | 7:36 PM | 13h 43m |
| June | 5:31 AM | 8:01 PM | 14h 30m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 8:10 PM | 14h 36m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 7:53 PM | 13h 58m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 7:15 PM | 12h 55m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 46m |
| November | 7:12 AM | 5:51 PM | 10h 38m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 4:32 PM | 9h 50m |
Why Sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is Worth It
The sunrise at Mesquite Flat was beautiful because we got such a variety of colors and hues:
- The sand dunes turned gold.
- The sky slowly burned from blue to orange.
- The cracked earth glowed a golden brown.
- The bushes and brush went from nearly black to dark green.
- The mountains in the background were mysteriously dark until they lit up all around us.
It made for a lovely photography opportunity – an art form I have personally loved for a long time.
Logistically, Mesquite Flat is the first attraction you will find coming in from Panamint Springs on the CA side of Death Valley.
We stayed in Trona (Searles Valley) and stopping at the sand dunes made the most sense as our first stop. It was about 1.5 hours from Trona to Mesquite Flat.
Prior to visiting Death Valley, I had never been to a sand dune. So it was special not only to experience what sand dunes are like, but also to see the sun rise over them.
Where are the Mesquite Sand Dune Located?
The dunes are located just past Stovepipe Wells Village (less than 2 miles) and about 40 minutes from the Panamint Springs entrance of the park (west side).
CA-190 cuts right through the heart of Death Valley and is the road you will take to get to Mesquite Flat.
From Mesquite to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center is about 25-30 minutes – overall, not very far.
The dunes are easily accessible and do not require a 4WD car. If you follow the signage, you’ll be taken right to the lot where you’ll find plenty of space to park.
And the dunes themselves are located 50 feet (or less) from the parking lot. The most challenging part of the entire adventure will be dusting the sand off your clothes and shoes – not bad!
Tips for Exploring the Mesquite Dunes
The dunes are fairly easy to explore and see – as are most of the popular attractions in the park. But here are a few tips we wish we knew before visiting!
Tip 1: No Trail Signs
Once you get to the dunes, you can venture out in whatever direction you want. We thought there would be maybe be a particular trail, but there were folks hiking around in every single direction.
The tallest dune is about 100 feet high and about 1 mile from the parking area. We did not venture out that way (something to go back for!), but we certainly saw people standing far off in the distance.
You can walk 100 feet and feel satisfied or you can venture out half a mile (like we did) and see a bit more of the area.
Be safe, of course! But explore however you’d like!
Tip 2: Avoid Heat Exhaustion
It’s no secret that Death Valley is among the hottest and driest places on the entire earth. The dunes provide no relief from the heat.
Besides getting there for sunrise (when it will be a LOT cooler), be sure to bring the necessary items to avoid heat exhaustion: water, hat, sunscreen, and a plan.
Even though we were only there for a short time after the sun was up, we were already beginning to feel the heat of the sun.
Most importantly, have a plan. Know where your next stop for water or snack is going to come from. Your safety is your responsibility!
Tip 3: Prepare for Sand to be Everywhere
When we finally arrived back home after our trip (we live in Minnesota), I started unpacking my bag and found – no kidding – a little mound of sand at the bottom of my bag.
Fair warning: if you hike out into the dunes, you will get sand everywhere.
Nobody lives the feeling of sand. It’s grainy, it’s crunchy, and you always seem to find it in surprising places.
But if this was the worst thing to happen while visiting Mesquite Flat, we’ll count it as a win!
Dust off your boots before you get in the car. Shake off your jacket and shirt. You’ll thank yourself later.
Tip 4: Fuel up at Stovepipe Wells
A bit of an unconventional tip, but we almost found ourselves without gas (again, poor planning). Luckily, there is a gas station in Stovepipe Wells – less than 5 minutes from Mesquite Flat.
You don’t want to find yourself in a position like this. And we certainly had other opportunities to fuel up prior to this (we pushed it a little bit). But, again, we were fortunate to find a gas station right there in Stovepipe Wells.
Plan the Rest of Your Day at Death Valley National Park
With sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes checked off the list, you have the rest of the day before you at Death Valley.
We wrote an in-depth Death Valley Beginner Guide and a one day Death Valley Itinerary that will give you plenty of ideas for the rest of your day.
Here are 3 must-see spots in Death Valley:
We really, really loved visiting Death Valley National Park. It’s in our top 5 places we’ve ever visited. We think it’s highly underrated – especially among all the parks in California.
And the best part might have been seeing the sunrise at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It was the perfect way to start our day.
