Is it hot enough for you? Is there enough sand to enjoy? While California's beaches get much glory and fame for their sand, there's nothing quite as stunning as a visit to Death Valley to see the sand dunes.

Mesquite Flat Dunes are the best known and easiest to visit in the national park. Located in central Death Valley near Stovepipe Wells, access is from Hwy. 190 or from the unpaved Sand Dunes Road. Although the highest dune rises only about 100 feet, the dunes actually cover a vast area. This dune field includes three types of dunes: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Polygon-cracked clay of an ancient lakebed forms the floor. Mesquite trees have created large hummocks that provide stable habitats for wildlife.