The Pinto Basin formed as opposing fault lines stretched and pulled the earth’s crust apart, forcing mountainous uplifts on either side while the expanding space in between sank. This depression once held a shallow lake that disappeared with a warming climate. The Pinto Basin Sand Dunes are not true dunes, but rather a modest layer of fine sand covering an elevated ridge along a fracture in the Earth. There is no maintained trail leading to the dunes, however the ridge is visible from Turkey Flats and a fairly direct N-NE path can be taken to them.

Desert Sand Verbena is a sprawling annual plant with sticky stems that can bloom en masse after drenching rains

The soft terrain hides tortoise burrows which pock the basin floor and pose an occasional pitfall

The Pinto Basin area spans the ecological transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado deserts

There is no maintained trail leading to the dunes, however the ridge is visible from Turkey Flats

Marigolds carpet the vast space between Turkey Flats and the dune ridge

Purple Lupine also covers the vast basin floor

Sidewinder rattlesnake and jackrabbit are at home within the dunes

The Pinto Basin Sand Dunes are not true dunes, but rather a modest layer of fine sand covering an elevated ridge along a fracture in the Earth

The purple lupine seen here is also referred to as Mojave Lupine

The Hexie Mountains (south) and Pinto Mountains (north) surround the Pinto Basin Sand Dunes area