California / Inyo County / Death Valley National Park

Eureka Dunes Primitive Campground

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations available. Death Valley National Park entrance fee required. Access roads may close during inclement weather. Limited to 14 consecutive nights per 30-day period.

About

Eureka Dunes Primitive Campground sits at 2,880 feet elevation at the base of the tallest sand dunes in California. The remote dunes rise over 680 feet and are home to several endemic plant species found nowhere else on Earth. This primitive backcountry campground offers 7 first-come, first-served sites in a fragile desert environment where high-clearance vehicles are required due to rough unpaved roads. The campground provides vault toilets year-round but no water or other amenities. Visitors must be self-sufficient and prepared for remote desert camping. The dunes themselves produce a rare phenomenon known as singing or booming sand, creating mysterious rumbling sounds under the right conditions. The area was added to Death Valley National Park in 1994 to protect this unique ecosystem. Access requires significant off-highway driving on graded dirt roads that can become impassable during inclement weather. Visitors should carry extra water, fuel, and supplies. The area offers unparalleled solitude with rugged cliffs boldly striped with pink, gray, and black rock formations towering above the dunes. Only foot travel on the dunes is permitted to protect this fragile environment.

Directions

Off of CA-190 at the junction for Scotty's Castle Road, travel north 38 miles and turn right on unpaved Big Pine Road. Travel 34 miles on Big Pine Road and turn left on South Eureka Valley Road. Travel 10 miles south to the campground at the base of Eureka Dunes.

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