Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
Not true dunes, the Pinto Basin Sand Dunes in the north-central part of the park are a modest layer of fine sand covering an elevated ridge along a fracture.
Plan Around Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
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Pinto Basin Sand Dunes Details
Not true dunes, the Pinto Basin Sand Dunes in the north-central part of the park, are a modest layer of fine sand covering an elevated ridge along a fracture. There's no maintained trail leading to the dunes, but the ridge is easily visible from Turkey Flats, and visitors can reach them by taking a fairly direct north-northeast path. If rainfall is adequate, the area becomes covered in dune primrose and desert lily in the spring. Terrain is soft and flat, but watch for desert tortoise burrows. Parking is available at the Turkey Flats backcountry board, 13.8 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
Compare nearby parks around Pinto Basin Sand Dunes when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Pinto Basin Sand Dunes
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Pinto Basin Sand Dunes while the map context is still fresh.
3.8 mi away
Ocotillo Patch
A 30-minute drive from Cottonwood Campground is the Ocotillo Patch, a roadside stand of cacti that put on a dramatic floral display after even a light rainstorm.
6.5 mi away
Cholla Cactus Garden
The Cholla Cactus Garden exists in the unique ecosystem created by the merger of the upper Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert.
6.5 mi away
Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail
Despite its nickname as the "teddy bear" cactus, hikers had best beware of the cholla cactus, which has small, stick-tight needles that will go right through clothes.
6.7 mi away
Pinto Basin
The 200-square-mile Pinto Basin is a large, open swath of the Sonoran Desert within Joshua Tree National Park.
6.9 mi away
Black Eagle Mine Road
Beginning at the same point as Old Dale Road, Black Eagle Mine Road heads east along the southern edge of the Pinto Basin.
