The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are at the northern end of the valley floor and are nearly surrounded by mountains on all sides. Due to their easy access from the road and the overall proximity of Death Valley to Hollywood, these dunes have been used to film sand dune scenes for several movies including films in the Star Wars series. The largest dune is called Star Dune and is relatively stable and stationary because it is at a point where the various winds that shape the dunes converge. The depth of the sand at its crest is 130–140 feet (40–43 metres) but this is small compared to other dunes in the area that have sand depths of up to 600–700 feet (180–210 metres) deep. The primary source of the dune sands is probably the Cottonwood Mountains which lie to the north and northwest. The tiny grains of quartz and feldspar that form the sinuous sculptures that make up this dune field began as much larger pieces of solid rock. In between many of the dunes are stands of creosote bush and some mesquite on the sand and on dried mud, which used to cover this part of the valley before the dunes intruded (mesquite was the dominant plant here before the sand dunes but creosote does much better in the sand dune conditions).
Directions
The location is very well known for all Death Valley national park visitors. Just set the navigator to "Mesquite Sand Dunes," and it will drive you to the parking lot. It's around a 1-mile hike to the location. You can try to find some excellent compositions without walking so long, but most likely, it would be a lot of footsteps on the sand. The farther you go, the better "pristine" sand patterns you can find. Speed might be slower than average since you need to hike through the sand with heavy equipment. I would suggest estimating this hike around 1 hour to ensure you will be at the photo spot at the right time. It's a dessert, so don't forget about hydration and bring your water bottle with you.
GPS Coordinates
36°37'7.992" N 117°6'55.896" W
Lens & Equipment
Both a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens will work in this location. Use your wide-angle as low as possible to get lovely sand patterns as foreground. Shooting further dune with a telephoto lens gives you great composition compression with mountains in the background. Use your blend and try to shoot right into the sun. It's windy there. Dust might come into the camera. It would be best if you thought twice when changing your lens.
Time of the year
Death Valley is one of the hottest places on the Earth. Late fall, winter, and early spring work best for this location.
Time of the day
Sunset of sunrise both works. However, you need to be aware that mountains surround that spot. Sun will disappear around 40minutes earlier than projected. Keep that in mind while planning your trip.
