December 16, 2009 Eureka Dunes

It had been perhaps a dozen years since I had visited the Eureka Valley in eastern California.  I have been here a few times in my life, and I can’t imagine ever NOT wanting to return!  Like its adjoining basins—Owens Valley, Saline Valley, Deep Springs Valley—the Eureka Valley is rimmed by spectacular mountains and is stark, desolate, dry, and wonderfully empty.  The valley contains the absolute best sand dune field in the state, if not the nation, in my opinion.  The Eureka Dunes are a photographer’s dreamland.  Yes, they are remote, but the dunes can be reached fairly easily by conventional automobiles.  My SUV had no trouble on the unpaved road into Eureka Valley and on the ten-miles from Death Valley Road to the dunes, but in places the road was a nasty washboard.

What makes the dune field so spectacular?  The dunes rise rather abruptly about 700 feet above the surrounding terrain, making them the tallest in California.  And, they are nestled close to the beautifully striated Last Chance Mountains.  There is a complete absence of anything man-made in the area, save for the road, a few small signs, and a port-a-potty.  People are also in short-supply.  I would be surprised if there are any full-time residents in the Eureka Valley.  I saw about four folks during my five-hour visit — two in a car leaving the dunes, and two walking on the dunes.

Entering Eureka Valley

I entered the basin on its west side via Death Valley Road.  It was about 3 p.m., so I couldn’t dawdle too much, as I wanted to give myself at least an hour or so at the dunes prior to sunset.  The first three images below are from the west side of Eureka Valley, looking northeast towards the Sylvania Mountains, and then southeast towards the sand dune field, about 20 miles distant.  The final three are from the junction of Death Valley Road and the side road that heads to the dune field:  northeast to Horse Thief Canyon and the Sylvania Range, and southeast down the road towards the Last Chance Range.

Approaching The Dunes

The road to the dunes is pretty bad—ten miles of bad washboard and not-so-bad washboard.  It seems that with every mile I am compelled to stop and take pictures.

On The Dunes
There was a couple of folks traipsing up the nearest sand dune when I parked and headed for the highest dune.  Fortunately, they stayed out of my way!  I made it to the top of a dune with a beautiful view of the entire basin.  There was a slightly higher dune to the south, but the sun was about to set and I needed to take pictures.

Apparently the last seven images below are not opening up in the proper fashion.  You, the web surfer, are going to have to  make the necessary adjustments.  Good luck.