Death Valley National Park Looking for Dune Wreckers

The National Park Service (NPS) is on the hunt for joyriders who decided to turn the serene Eureka Dunes into their personal playground over the holiday season. Late December and early January saw unauthorized vehicles tearing across the tallest dunes in California, leaving behind a trail of environmental mayhem.
“I’m saddened that someone would disregard the survival of a rare species for a few minutes of joyriding,” Superintendent Mike Reynolds said. He pointed out that nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas like Dumont Dunes are perfectly suited for off-road enthusiasts, implying that the culprits had options but chose to play reckless adventurer in a protected habitat instead.

The aftermath? Over two miles of tire tracks marred the pristine landscape, directly damaging Eureka dunegrass (Swallenia alexandrae)—a threatened species—and potentially harming five other rare plants, including the once-endangered Eureka Dunes evening-primrose. While one plant bore the brunt of the direct assault, eight more suffered root damage, setting back conservation efforts by months, if not years.
Eureka Dunes, standing tall at 680 feet and stretching three miles long by one mile wide, are not just any sand hills. Designated as a National Natural Landmark, these dunes are a fragile ecosystem that supports species found nowhere else on Earth. The damage inflicted isn’t just a scar on the landscape; it’s a blow to biodiversity and the delicate balance of this unique environment.

The NPS is now urging anyone with information to step forward. “You don’t have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know,” Reynolds implored, offering multiple channels for tips, including a dedicated tip line and an online submission form. Perhaps a little peer pressure is needed to coax the culprits into coming clean—after all, leaving a pristine natural monument in tatters isn’t exactly Instagram-worthy.
In the meantime, the NPS biologists are hard at work assessing the full extent of the damage, hoping that restoration efforts can keep pace with the unwelcome marks left by these errant off-road enthusiasts.
Here’s how to contact the park if you happen to have any tips on this topic:
- Call the NPS Tip Line 888-653-0009
- Email nps_isb@nps.gov
- Online form go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.