Salt Basin Dunes
White gypsum dunes on the west side of the Guadalupe Mountains, set against towering mountain walls. Few people come here, making it a good place for photography.
The dunes are made of gypsum and quartz sand, rising about 30 meters. They contrast sharply with the cliffs of the Guadalupe Mountains to the east, and look most striking at sunset. From the parking area, it is about 1.6 km on foot to the edge of the dunes, with no marked trail. You need to drive around to the west side of the park, and the final roughly 13 km is gravel road. The drive from Pine Springs takes about 1.5 hours. There is no water and no facilities, so bring plenty of drinking water and check road conditions before you set out.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Guadalupe Peak
- El Capitan
- Devil's Hall Trail
- Frijole Ranch
- McKittrick Canyon
- Sitting Bull Falls
- Slaughter Canyon Cave
- Rattlesnake Springs