Backpacking Trip: Panamint Dunes in Death Valley National Park

A visit to Panamint Dunes is an excellent way to experience the beauty of Death Valley National Park without the crowds that come with the more popular landmarks. The Panamint Dunes are a gorgeous set of dunes located on the West side of Death Valley National Park near the small community of Panamint Springs. They require a little work to get to, but you will be rewarded with excellent views, solitude, adventure, and the opportunity to get off the beaten path. A visit to the dunes can be completed as a long day hike or a leisurely overnight backpacking trip. Seasoned backpackers will appreciate the unique experience of camping right on sand dunes, while novice backpackers will welcome the straight forward navigation and relative ease of this overnight trip.

Just The Facts

• Location: Death Valley National Park, CA
• Distance: 8 Miles- round trip
• Days required: 2
• Route type: Out and back
• Type of trail: No trail, cross-country
• Vertical Ascent: 900 feet
• Max Altitude: 2,375 feet
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• When to go: November to March
• Permits: Free, voluntary
• Entrance fee: $25 (Park entrance fee)
• Maps: Trails Illustrated Death Valley National Park
• Dogs allowed: No

Why you should go

• Ideal if you want to take pictures of dunes without footprints everywhere
• Very few visitors
• Navigation is straightforward, you can see the dunes from the parking area
• Unique experience of camping on sand dunes
• Beautiful spot for sunrise and sunset

Things to consider before going

• There are no water sources
• Campfires are not allowed, use a campstove
• There is no shade along the entire route
• No cell reception
• There is no trail, while the route is easy to follow, you will be walking in sand and climbing in and out of dry washes

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When to visit Panamint Dunes

The best time of year for this trip is between November and March when the weather is cooler. This trip should not be attempted during the summer! There is no shade or water along this route so hiking in the heat would make this trip miserable.

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Getting to the trailhead

If coming from the West on CA-190: From the Panamint Springs gas station, head east on CA-190. After 4.5 miles look for an unnamed dirt road on the left (north) side of the road. You should see a moderate sized isolated foothill several miles down the road in front of you. Travel along the dirt road for 5.8 miles until the road bends to the right. Here you will see a little dirt parking lot to the left where you can park.

If coming from the East on CA-190: From Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station, travel west on CA-190 for 24 miles. After traveling up and over Towne Pass you will reach the valley floor. From this point continue on CA-190 for 2 more miles. Look for an unnamed dirt road  on the right (north) side of the road. You should see a moderate sized isolated foothill several miles down the road in front of you. Travel along the dirt road for 5.8 miles until the road bends to the right. Here you will see a little dirt parking lot to the left where you can park.

The dirt road is rough, but it is usually passable with a sedan.

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Difficulty

• Distance: 8 Miles, round trip
• Type of trail: No trail, cross-country, sand
• Vertical Ascent: 900 feet
• Max Altitude: 2,375 feet
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Difficulty is a subjective ranking and depends upon your individual fitness, background, pack weight, and current conditions.

This overnight backpack deserves an easy rating due to the low mileage, minimal elevation gain, and ease of navigation. But it also deserves a moderate rating because it is off trail in soft sand- with no shade- and no water sources.

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Permits and Fees

Although a permit is not required, the park requests that backpackers obtain a free backcountry permit at either the Furnace Creek Visitor Center or the Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station.

You will also need to pay the Death Valley National Park entrance fee using a credit card at either location. If you plan on visiting other National Parks or Federal Recreation Areas, then investing in the America the Beautiful Pass may save you money.

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Campsites

There are no designated campsites, so setup camp where you wish. If you do not have a freestanding tent (one that will stand without tent stakes), bring stakes or anchors that can hold in the soft sand. In good conditions you can forgo the tent and just sleep under the stars.

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Itinerary

This trip is often tackled as an 8 mile day hike. However, the most magical time to physically be on the dunes is at sunset and sunrise. To avoid hiking in the dark, I highly recommend making this into a leisurely overnight trip. Start hiking in the late afternoon to allow time to relax, setup camp, and watch the sunset. The following morning, get up early to watch the sunrise before heading back.

Day 1: Parking area to Panamint Dunes

Distance: 4 miles
Time to hike: 2-3 hours
From the parking area, the Panamint Dunes are visible to the north. The route is straightforward, walk towards the dunes. Along the way you will be walking on moderately firm to soft sand and travel in and out of dry washes. The route towards the dunes travels gradually uphill the entire way. Plan on 2-3 hours to reach the foot of the dunes.

Day 2: Panamint Dunes to Parking Area

Distance: 4 miles
Time to hike: 1.5-2.5 hours
To return to parking area, simply reverse the previous day’s route. The second days walk will be a gradual downhill.

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Maps and Guidebooks

• Trails Illustrated Death Valley National Park – This is a waterproof, tear-resistant map for all of Death Valley National Park. This is great if you like to have a durable physical map to use for the entire park.
• Hiking Death Valley National Park: A guide to the Park’s Greatest Hiking Adventures – This book has very detailed route descriptions for 57 day-hikes and backpacking trips in Death Valley.
• I also use the website Caltopo to research locations, routes, and to print paper maps.

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Water

There is no water along this route. Plan to carry enough water for hiking and cooking. For this reason, I highly recommend planning this trip during the colder months, as well as hiking in the late afternoon and early morning to avoid the hottest part of the day.

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Additional Information

Thanks so much for checking out my guide for backpacking to Panamint Dunes. I Hope that this guide will help you have an excellent trip. As always, please remember to follow the Leave No Trace principles to preserve the natural state of the places we love. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions, suggestions, or good vibes you want to share. If you found this guide useful, please like, pin, and share using the “share” icons below.

• My Complete Guide to Death Valley National Park
• Death Valley National Park Backpacking Page 
• Death Valley National Park Backcountry Camping Page

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THANKS!

Thanks so much for checking out my guide to backpacking Panamint Dunes. I hope that this guide will help you plan an excellent trip. As always, please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve the natural state of the places we love. Feel free to comment below if you have any questions, suggestions, or good vibes you want to share. If you found this guide useful, please like, pin, and share using the “share” icons below.

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