News Release

Fatality at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Grapevine Mountains

NPS

News Release Date: November 9, 2021

Contact: Carma Roper (Inyo County Sheriff's Office)

Contact: Abby Wines (Death Valley National Park), 760-786-3221

DEATH VALLEY, CA – A 27-year-old woman died last weekend while hiking in Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park.

The woman and her aunt started their hike from the sand dune parking lot around 11:00 am on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The pair split up around 11:30; the aunt returned to the parking lot and the woman said she would return in one or two hours. The woman was an experienced hiker.

After a few hours, the aunt hiked back into the dunes but was unable to locate her niece. She contacted park rangers around 5:00 pm to report her niece overdue. Park rangers searched unsuccessfully that evening. A larger group of park rangers searched the next morning. Around 9:00 am, one of the search teams found tracks matching the missing woman’s hiking boots.

The deceased woman was found at 9:22 am. She was in the flats north of the sand dunes, about 1 ½ miles from the parking lot. Park staff used a wheeled litter to carry her body to the parking area.

The Inyo County Coroner’s Office is investigating. However, foul play is not suspected.