Exploring California’s Imperial Sand Dunes Near Yuma, Arizona
July 23rd, 2017
Imperial Sand Dunes in Brawley, CA
The desert encompasses far more than most people imagine. In one desert land, there is hard dry earth scattered with creosote bushes. In another, desert trees like ironwoods and palo verdes are sprinkled across the landscape.
Then there is a place in the desert called the Imperial Sand Dunes. Located in California about 25 minutes from Yuma, the Algodones Dunes, as they are also known, are made up of rolling hills and endless waves of sand. Just sand. Nothing else for miles except wind, blinding sunlight, and the occasional hum of ATVs.
The point is, to truly explore the desert, you have to experience its many forms because no two deserts are ever exactly alike.
Shots from the road
On the road to the dunes, the thrill starts long before the first wave of sand rises out of California. It begins along the empty stretches of Arizona highway where the road turns desolate and civilization feels righteously left behind.
Traveling those long open highways never gets old. It is one of the most freeing feelings imaginable… nothing but endless road, the occasional structure, and the distant mountains that ride along with you for miles.
It’s that sense that the farther you drive, the farther removed you become from everything else that really does it for me.
Petroglyphs
Along that stretch of highway, I stopped off at the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site.
The ancient basalt boulders covered in layers of petroglyphs were left behind by people who crossed this land long before highways existed. Spirals, symbols, figures, markings whose meanings I’d love to travel back in time for.
Also standing there, it felt impossible not to think about how many travelers this part of the desert has watched pass through.
Wanderers, explorers, runaways, dreamers, those in search of solitude, and those just drawn to the desert.
The road eventually journeyed me to Yuma, where the atmosphere shifted slightly but still carried that borderland feeling… dusty storefronts, old signs, weathered buildings, and that sun-faded color that looks baked onto everything. If you’ve been in desolate desert towns, you know what I mean.
Downtown Yuma
If you’re traveling through Yuma, stop off at Bandanna Books for a nice variety of reads, pictured below. The cute store front and name drew me in.
Near the border, the mood kind of changed…
I pulled over beside several warning signs near the Mexico border. I had to, those dramatic government notices feel both surreal and cinematic with warnings about crossing and danger and harsh terrain.
Traipsing the borderlands
Crossing into California, I stopped to photograph the remnants of a dead tree still standing in the Sonoran desert.
It looked almost sculptural.
There’s something beautiful about dead things in the desert because the dryness preserves them, holding them in place.
This tree is in Winterhaven, California off of exit 159, Ogilby Rd. East.
And then finally, the dunes appeared.
The road to the Imperial Sand Dunes is really hilly. The dunes rose out of the landscape almost unexpectedly after a huge dip. The dunes reminded me of the ocean. Not only because of the sand but also because of the wave-like shapes of the dunes.
I literally saw in real time the wind moving constantly across the surface, reshaping ridges and erasing footprints almost as quickly as they appeared. Standing engulfed within the dunes, I felt like I was walking across another planet.
It makes sense learning that portions of Star Wars had been filmed within the Imperial Sand Dunes. Specifically, some Tatooine scenes from the original Star Wars were filmed in the Imperial Dunes.
By sunset, the dunes had turned gold, then amber, then even bronze. I’m not playing, the dunes really seemed to change color.
Know Before You Go
Visiting the Imperial Sand Dunes is a bucket-list experience, but the desert can be harsh and unpredictable. Conditions change quickly, especially during the hot months.
✦ Bring plenty of water. The desert heat and dry air can become dangerous fast, even during cooler seasons.
✦Wear sunglasses, sunscreen, and lightweight clothing. The sunlight reflecting off the sand can feel intense and almost blinding at times.
✦ Expect sand everywhere. Similar to the sand on a beach, it may collect in cameras, shoes, vehicles, and clothing.
✦ Cell service may become unreliable in remote areas.
✦ If driving into sandy terrain, make sure your vehicle is capable and avoid venturing too far off established areas without preparation.
✦ Wind conditions can change rapidly and create blowing sand with reduced visibility.
✦ Temperatures drop quickly after sunset during cooler months.
✦ The busiest time to visit is fall through early spring, when ATV and off-road activity is most active.
✦Respect protected areas, wildlife, and the fragile desert environment by paying attention to warning signs and remaining mindful of where you walk and drive.
