This happens whenever the climate is dry enough to expose the raw material of dunes, sand, to the wind. In fact, most of the eastern part of the Kelso Dunes formed when water-filled Soda Lake and Silver Lake dried up, exposing the lake bottom sediment. The entire dune system was stacked up in five major pulses over the past 25,000 years. As you explore the dunes look for tracks left behind by the many creatures that call these dunes home. This photo was taken early in the morning.
Most desert animals are active during the coolest time of day.
This site is a cooperative project of the US Geological Survey Western Earth Surface Processes Team and the National Park Service .